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If you have all the gorpcore gear but no idea, the prospect of heading out on a hours-long hike can be quite intimidating. What if you get lost? What if it’s too tough? What if there are no good pubs at the end of it? But that’s why hiking groups exist – to introduce more people to the great outdoors and show that hiking is not nearly as intimidating as it might first seem.
Intrigued? Well, sportswear brand Columbia has revealed that it’ll be hosting 30 free hikes across the UK. Columbia Hike Society has planned out group trips led by outdoor experts, giving you the opportunity to explore new places, connect with likeminded people and make new pals.
So far, details for six of those walks have been revealed. In May, for seasoned hikers, there’s a challenging seven-and-a-half-hour trek across eight Lake District Wainwrights, led by Sam Matthew (aka @peaksandpubs on Instagram). For those who prefer a more leisurely stroll, there’s a three-hour walk through west London’s hidden natural spaces hosted by London wildlife ranger Lira Valencia (@outsidewithlira).
Amina Hassan, aka Adventures with Amina, will lead a five-hour walk through the Surrey Hills in June while Natalie Hawk will guide a group on the Alport Castles Hike in the Peak District in July and take another group up The Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District in August. Then, in September, there’s a six-mile hike along the Jurassic Coast planned with a sauna and sea-swimming session thrown in.
A spokesperson for the society said: ‘The Columbia Hike Society has always been about removing the barriers between people and the outdoors.
‘With so many of us feeling chronically online and experiencing digital burnout, there has never been a better time to disconnect and reconnect with like-minded people outside.’
You can keep an eye out for tickets going live for each Columbia Hike Society trip here.
The 13 most breathtaking hikes in the UK
Plus: This rare bird of prey is set to return to England after 150 years.
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