North Stars:

Diversity & Inclusions

Wildlife Ecosystems

Gender Equality

“Those who spend a lot of time in the great outdoors know that it’s fundamentally a community-driven space.”

When we think of the iconic explorers of the great outdoors and the poets and writers that made wild places famous, we often think of a solitary man, out on the moors, absorbed in their own company, finding peace and tranquility. While there is something beautiful about spending time alone in nature, the emergence of small outdoor adventure groups offers an alternative to those looking to experience the great outdoors without the risk or fear that comes with going it alone.

Over the years, I’ve been on a few small group adventure trips. From learning to surf in Sri Lanka to hiking Hadrian’s Wall to taking on high-altitude huts in the Swiss Alps, I enjoy a physical and mental challenge on my travels. I’m also not a stranger to the solo outdoor escape. Wandering unfamiliar trails on my own gives me a chance to reflect, but also the opportunity to get out of my own head. However, with outdoor adventure group travel on the rise, it seems I’m not alone with a desire to do both.

Exploring Together

The reason behind this industry shift became unwaveringly clear on a recent trip to the Lake District with Outdoor Adventure Girls, the U.K.’s largest female adventure community with 100,000 members across the country.

As a confessed introvert, meeting new people is always an anxious experience, no matter how many shared interests are on the table. However, quickly, over a pie and pint with waterfront views of Lake Windermere, it was clear that everyone was in the same proverbial boat. The awkwardness was done away with in favor of discussions around trips we’d been on before.

On these kinds of small group outdoor weekends, most people come on their own. It’s about joining a group for safety, reassurance, and to allow you to try something you perhaps wouldn’t ordinarily do. However, a few people in this particular group had met on previous OAG trips and organized to come together, having loved them so much.

This weekend consisted of a workshop with OS Maps, a 9-hour hike around some of the best Wainwrights in the area, and a paddleboarding session. Interspersed between the outdoor excursions were social activities, opportunities to explore Ambleside and go wild swimming, and time for plenty of reward points at the YHA Ambleside Hostel. 

Finding Community in Fairfield

Upon further investigation of the intimidatingly long and incline-filled Fairfield Horseshoe hike – a staggered 21km and 2,862 feet of elevation change – many newer hikers in the group started to seem concerned, as did some of the more seasoned veterans. However, with the aid of two amazing mountain guides and the joviality of the group as a whole, the time (and the incline) seemed to whizz by.

This route sweeps across the stunning greenery of the Lake District, spanning 8 Wainwrights (the 214 legendary hills of the Lakes, similar to bagging Munros in Scotland). We climbed steadily, hiking poles firmly in hand, looking back across the glimmering surface of Lake Windermere and the town of Ambleside below. Scrambling over rocks, triumphantly tapping trig points, and spotting the iconic Rydal Cave on our descent into Ambleside, it’s easy to see why this landscape has been so important for adventurers and writers alike over the centuries.

Considering that not 24 hours ago, few of us knew each other, the shift within those nine hours of hiking was stark. From creating in-jokes, chatting about the stresses of work, and singing Lord of the Rings soundtrack snippets whenever we passed over a particularly impressive ridge, or to get us through a tricky uphill section, I felt as if I’d known some of the women for years.

After a knee-jarring downhill section back towards the town of Ambleside, the realization that we only had 2km of flat pavement to go ignited us. The promise of a chilled pint and sweet release from hiking boots, now welded to our feet, made those final stretches the fastest split of the entire day. 

The relief, elation, and joy of completing a mammoth day hike united all of us. From those who’d completed multi-day strenuous expeditions to those who’d only just started hitting the trails, there was a bond forged throughout the day of getting through the hard bits, enjoying the peaks, and keeping each other going along the way. 

Why the Outdoors Is Better Together

There’s a camaraderie to group adventure trips that helps people forge longer-lasting friendships that surpass the check-out time of the trip. Even now, a few of us are planning our own weekend getaway to the Peak District, despite living all across the country.

This idea of building communities out of a group of strangers is so pivotal to spending time in the great outdoors. Even when I solo hike, I chat with other people on the trail or ask for advice on conditions or extra directions when the path seems to disappear.

Those who spend a lot of time in the great outdoors know that it’s fundamentally a community-driven space. It’s through the hard times on the trails, the joy of spending time in nature, and the discovery that you’re capable of more than you thought that makes you want to share your experiences with other like-minded people.

It is in this that you can find a community out of strangers, and it is a huge part of why small adventure groups and outdoor communities like Outdoor Adventure Girls are growing in popularity. We’re all out here looking to touch grass and build connections. In these spaces, it’s easy to achieve both.

Outdoor Adventure Groups to Know

Of course, if you’re in the U.K., Outdoor Adventure Girls is one of the largest female-centric hiking and adventure groups in the country. I’ve been away with them on the Lake District trip, and they run amazing events, with a great mix of social activities and active excursions. They have regional groups on Facebook that you can join and also organize U.K. and overseas hiking and adventure trips. These regional groups organize local day hikes and meet-ups, and if you sign up for the email newsletter, you see the upcoming events for that month.

For a more low-intensity option in the U.K., Soft Girls Who Hike is geared toward more moderate adventures, making hiking and hill walking more accessible. They also tend to prioritize routes with public transport access for sustainable vibes.

In the U.S., check out Hike Clerb, a BIWOC outdoorsy community-led non-profit with events and hikes across LA, San Francisco, and New York. 

U.S.-based Explorer Chick runs group adventure trips and meet-ups across the world, but with a focus on U.S. outdoor group trips. While their planned trips are a minimum of two nights, they also have a range of city-based groups on Meetup.com. This way, you can find like-minded people in your local area and do cool day hikes, cycles, or even ski adventures.