When Helen decided to surprise her friend Clare with a personalised OS Map centred on Grasmere, it was more than a thoughtful gift, it was a symbol of the journeys they’d shared and the adventures still to come. That map marked the start of something special: their first joint women-only walking holiday in the Lake District. What began as a simple gesture of friendship became a celebration of connection, confidence, and the joy of exploring the outdoors together.
Finding Our Way: Wild on a Hill
I began guiding women‑only walking holidays in 2008, and by 2012 I took the leap and launched my own company – Wild Rambling. Clare and I had crossed paths for years, but it wasn’t until she started Her on a Hill in 2019 that our friendship really blossomed. We share the same love for the outdoors, and the same belief in creating supportive spaces for women – even if we are technically rivals!
In 2024, we decided to join forces and co‑host our first “Wild on a Hill” holiday in the Lake District. It happened to coincide with a special birthday for Clare, so I gifted her a personalised OS Map centred on Grasmere, where we were staying.
In a deeper sense, maps aren’t just pieces of paper marked with contour lines and paths; they reflect friendships, shared adventures, and the landscapes that shape our life. Maps are a symbol of the connections we build when we walk together.
That sense of connection is what inspired both of us to create women‑only walking groups. It’s not about exclusion, but about fostering a dynamic that feels safe, encouraging, and empowering. In these spaces, voices that might otherwise be quiet come forward, confidence builds, and women discover the joy of the outdoors in a safe, supportive and fun way.
Over the years, I’ve seen women who once doubted whether the outdoors was “for them” take huge strides, both literally and figuratively. We have built new communities; where friendships are forged on windswept ridges, or over shared flasks of tea and slabs of homemade cake.
Of course, we’re passionate about empowering women who want to head out on their own. Clare runs women‑only navigation courses, giving women the skills and confidence to plan routes and explore independently. One of our long‑standing Wild Ramblers guided her very first walk for us this year, an experience she described as “a dream come true.” Watching her confidence grow steadily over the past ten years, step by step, until she reached this milestone has been nothing short of inspiring.
At Wild Rambling and Her on a Hill, we want to encourage more women to step outside; to see the hills as welcoming, not intimidating. Stories like ours – of friendship, of maps that guide us, of groups that nurture confidence – are reminders that the outdoors belongs to everyone. And sometimes, all it takes is a supportive space, a good map to find your way, and the courage to take that first step.
More about Helen & Clare
I’m a Yorkshire lass who found her way to the far west of Cornwall, where I live with my partner and our three border collies (yes, three – they keep us busy!). Ten years ago we made the move from Cumbria, and while I sometimes miss the snow, Cornwall has become home, with its wild coastlines and endless horizons.
My love for the outdoors started at school, where we had the choice between PE or Outdoor Education, and since I was hopeless at team sports, but fascinated by maps, the decision was easy.
By day, I work full‑time in marketing, so I run Wild Rambling in my spare time, and usually host four or five holidays a year, scattered across the UK. Each one is a chance to share my lifelong love of the outdoors; from the dramatic coastlines to the rolling countryside, and to explore the unique history that has shaped these landscapes.
For me, it’s about more than just walking. It’s about connection to the land, its stories, and to each other.
I’m a qualified Mountain Leader and National Navigation Award Scheme Course Director, and I’ve been lucky enough to work in the outdoor industry for almost 25 years. My career began with one of the UK’s most respected adventure travel companies, where I led walking holidays across the world – from the Dolomites in Italy to the Himalayas in Nepal, the deserts of Morocco, and as far afield as Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Austria, and Spain.
In 2016, I set up Navigation for Women, a project close to my heart. It was designed to help women gain confidence with map and compass skills, and to put those skills into practice in the UK’s hills. Passing on this knowledge has been deeply rewarding, opening up a whole new world of walking for those who take part.
By 2019, I was ready for the next chapter: founding Her on a Hill. Running my own walking company for women had long been a dream, and while it’s been both exciting and daunting, it’s now a reality I’m proud of. Today, I’m delighted to offer a varied programme of memorable guided walking activities all over the world, designed to inspire, empower, and connect women through the outdoors.
