Meet The Team

Robbie Warke MIA CIC, Managing Director/Owner

Robbie has been involved in climbing for over 30 years. Cutting his teeth on the polished limestone of Chudleigh rocks he has travelled the world climbing in the greater mountain ranges as well as cragging throughout Europe and the States. New routing has been a major part of his climbing career and he has put up significant new climbs both in the UK and around mainland Europe. He has also made second ascents of many major climbs around the World.

Robbie was involved in the early development of Mile End climbing wall in London and has worked around climbing walls for over 30 years, his route setting skills are second to none and he tries to bring a natural element to all his indoor climbs.

As a caver, cave diver and mountaineer he has been involved in some hardcore exploration and, when not on the crags, he can usually be found either underground or underwater! He is a motorcycle/cafe racer obsessive and also presents his DarkSignals radio show on SoundartRadio,  you may even occasionally hear him play guitar and sing! 

As an MIA, CIC and industrial rope technician he is at the helm of everything Dart Rock Email  [email protected]

Jamie Mark Langler - NICAS Course Director and Duty Manager

Jamie has always been fascinated by the outdoors, and holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Outdoor Adventure Education.  He is also accredited by Mountain Training UK as a Rock Climbing Instructor, Climbing Wall Development Instructor, Development Coach, and Mountain Leader.  Jamie has also attended British Mountaineering Council coach education workshops; Fundamentals of Movement, Fundamental of Technique, Fundamental of Advanced Technique, Physical Training for Climbing, Advanced Physical Training for Climbing, Coaching Children, & Nutrition for Climbers. Similarly, he also holds a whole range of other coaching CPD such as the Coachwise awards and UKAD Anti-Doping Advisor accreditation.

A regular climber since the opening of Dart Rock several years ago, he can regularly be seen behind the reception drinking coffee, coaching our fantastic Dart Rock Youth Team and other clients at the centre, or out on the nearby local crags taking customers on their outdoor adventures.

His main roles are to ensure that the climbing Centre is used to its full potential, maintained to an exceptionally high standard whilst also offering users safe, exciting and challenging routes to climb in a safe and user-friendly environment, and to provide supervision and advice to individual and group climbers as required – he honestly believes he couldn’t be in a much better line of work.  Give him an email on [email protected] 

Mark Matthews - Duty Manager

Mark joined the staff of Dartrock in 2016 after having been a regular to the wall for some years.
Alongside being an artist, nurse, storyteller and manufacturer of organic beverages (among other things) he has maintained a love of the outdoors and spent more time under canvas than he can reasonably recall.  He spent his youth here on Dartmoor and developed a bond with the place that has never left him.  He is a great proponent of adventures large and small, you'll often hear him urging people to; Just go out and do it!

Mark is accredited by Mountain Training UK as a Climbing Wall Instructor. He has also attended British Mountaineering Council coach education workshops; FUNdamental 1: Movement, and FUNdamental 2: Technique.
If you're really lucky you might even find him on the moor, building roundhouses and telling stories. Email [email protected]

Jade Dove 

Julian Mann Instructor/Duty Staff

Since 1978, Julian has been actively involved in hill-walking, mountaineering and climbing, and has been leading groups since the early 1980s. He has worked with a wide range of clients with differing needs, including adults, young people, beginners and those with experience. He has led groups in many locations from South West sea cliff climbing to expedition in Iceland. He is Lead Tutor for Outdoor Education at a local secondary school and is also the Training Officer for Devon Cave Rescue Organisation.

He holds the following qualifications.

• Mountain Leader (S).
• Single Pitch Award.
• Local Cave Leader level 1.
• DofE Gold Assessor.

He is a member of the BMC, BCA and MTA. He has up-to-date 16hr Outdoor first aid, DBS and safeguarding certificates.

MEGHAN (Megsy) Warke (Mascot) November 2013-October 2019

Meghan passed away at 8.30am on 31st October 2019, she is terribly missed by her Mum and Dad and everyone who ever met her RIP Monkey

I’m a border collie with a very important job around here.  I bring things to customers.  They throw them.  I bring them back.  Etc.  If you don’t play with me, I’ll have to put my toys inside your rucksack.  You really should play with me.  I don’t feel like I’m doing my job if you don’t. 

Besides fetching, I have the very important job of keeping all the cake crumbs off the floor.  I love cake.  I love chasing balls.  I especially love doing tricks. I'm getting quite old and blind now so I spend more time behind reception but I'm always up for some soggy toy throwing fun!  Ask Paula and she will show you how she puts me through the paces. Please throw the toy, I know it is wet and soggy, but I’ll love you forever if you throw it.  Throw it.  Throw it now.  You know you want to... Email [email protected]