Women UK Hiking and wild camping adventure
Guided walking weekend to build skills and confidence in the outdoors and navigation
Reconnect with nature and explore a beautiful countryside location
We provide a tent and backpack, you’ll need a sleeping bag and camping mat
Easy access from London by train
Created for beginners with some previous hiking experience
Challenge yourself with your first overnight expedition!
The Adventure
Join Gusty Girls on our women-only, UK Hiking weekend in the beautiful Gloucestershire Cotswolds! A walking weekend adventure in this picturesque, unspoilt area of England where we’ll hike and wild camp in secret locations while learning navigation skills in the stunning Cotswolds countryside.
You’ll be in expert hands on our Cotswolds weekends which are led by former Royal Marine Commando, Expedition Leader and photographer Ian Finch who will guide us through how to navigate the land sans technology. Ian knows this part of the countryside inside out, including the most gorgeous, hidden spots to unwind and wild camp in at the end of the day!
This is an immersive two-day adventure that will help you to really connect with nature as we explore and camp in secluded landscapes, learning about natural navigation, map reading, weather patterns and camp craft as we go.
We provide all most of the gear you’ll need for this adventure, it’s a great opportunity to get away from the city this summer and boost your confidence in the outdoors while making meaningful new friendships with women just like you!
location
The Gloucestershire Cotswolds is a gorgeous slice of quintessentially English countryside! This stunning landscape offers rolling green hills and valleys, ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows, winding streams, picturesque farmland and honey-coloured stone cottages.
We can’t wait to navigate our way through this beautiful part of the UK, taking in incredible views and a lungful of fresh, country air!
HIKING adventure
Our Cotswolds Hiking, Navigation & Wild Camping Weekend is beginner friendly, however you will need to have previous day hiking experience. You don’t need to have any experience of navigation or wild camping as Ian will guide us every step of the way, and you’ll leave the weekend with brand new skills that you can put into practice on your own adventures!
WHAT TO EXPECT
This trip is rated moderate. A good to high level of fitness is required to fully enjoy the experience.
Experience: You must have some previous hiking experience and be comfortable with the distances. No need for overnight trip experience.
Duration: Expect to hike for 6-7 hours daily, with breaks included.
Distance: Each day involves a 15km hike.
Terrain: Be prepared for hills, you should feel comfortable with both ascents and descents, especially when carrying a backpack.
Backpack: You’ll be carrying approximately 15kg on your back throughout the hikes.
Consecutive Days: The hike spans over 2 consecutive days, which can be demanding.
Camping: You’ll spend one night camping under the stars, without access to bathrooms.
navigation
Learning to navigate without the use of technology is a great way to boost your confidence and feel more independent in the outdoors. We’ll be using a natural navigation technique called hand railing over our weekend hike, which involves using line features like paths, streams and fences to find safe routes to our destinations.
Ian will also talk to us about map reading, planning solo and joint trips, reading the landscape, weather patterns and camp craft. These are timeless skills that will benefit every hiker, from amateur to expert, and you can try them out for yourself on future walks!
Camping
We’ll be wild camping on the Saturday night, pitching our tents on an enchanting hidden hillside! We’ll eat, chat and relax under the stars before resting up for our second day of hiking.
You’ll be provided with tents and backpacks but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag and mat for this adventure.
food
Your dinner and breakfast will be covered by us, and dinner will be a top quality rehydrated meal, eaten around bubbling stoves. Let us know if you have any dietary requirements and of course we can cater for your needs. Please note you’ll need to bring along your own lunch and snacks for this adventure.
community
Gutsy Girls is an incredibly friendly, inclusive and supportive community of like-minded women. We’re all about encouraging you to reconnect with nature - and yourself in the process - by nurturing confidence and self-growth in the outdoors at your pace, whatever your ability or background.
Most of our guests join Gutsy Girls’ adventures solo, and they leave with new, meaningful friendships!
THE PLAN
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We’ll kick off our Cotswolds Hiking, Navigation & Wild Camping Weekend from the pretty village of Uley, near Dursley, at noon on the Saturday. Our first day’s hike will take us on a beautiful route with high views of the Severn Estuary across the scenic Gloucestershire countryside. We’ll use a type of natural navigation called hand railing to find our way, using landmarks such as Norman forts and timeless Cotswolds valleys to get to our secret camp location!
We’ll pitch our tents in a gorgeous hidden hillside spot overlooking lush green valleys, cooking and eating our dinner on campfire stoves. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about and build your confidence around navigating the natural landscape as Ian will share his many years’ of experience and knowledge with us over the evening.
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We’ll begin Day 2 of our weekend adventure by heading down into the pretty market town of Dursley for a café breakfast and hot drinks before trekking upwards to forested hilltops, following a long loop through undulating woodland trails. We’ll take in majestic forested tree lines and make our way through dense thickets before crossing sweeping lowland fields, returning to Uley for an approximate 2pm finish to our adventure.
Price £300
Full payment required at the time of booking.
Dates
Sat 29 - Sun 30 June
Sat 3 - Sun 4 August
Sat 17 - Sun 18 August
Sat 5 - Sun 6 October
Sat 12 - Sun 13 October
What’s Included
2 days of guided hiking
1-night camping
Navigation and outdoor skills coaching
Backpack, 1 man tent and camping stove provided
Cooked breakfast at local café
Top-quality dehydrated dinner
Gutsy Girls mug and beanie
Expert guiding
Gutsy Girl host supporting you on this adventure!
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
Travel to Uley
Sleeping bag & Sleeping mat (see packing list)
Lunches and snacks
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The Gutsy Girls community is filled with bold and badass women from 18-70+ years old, we never ask your age, just that you are up for an adventure!
As a rough guide, most Gutsy Girls guests are 24-60 years olds, with around 60% in their 30s-40s.
We can’t stress enough that your age doesn’t matter for our adventures! You’ll leave our trips with a group of great new friends, whatever your age.
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This trip is rated moderate. A good to high level of fitness is required to fully enjoy the experience.
Experience: You must have some previous hiking experience and be comfortable with the distances. No need for overnight trip experience.
Duration: Expect to hike for 6-7 hours daily, with breaks included.
Distance: Each day involves a 15km hike.
Terrain: Be prepared for hills, you should feel comfortable with both ascents and descents, especially when carrying a backpack.
Backpack: You’ll be carrying approximately 15kg on your back throughout the hikes.
Consecutive Days: The hike spans over 2 consecutive days, which can be demanding.
Camping: You’ll spend one night camping under the stars, without access to bathrooms.
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Over 95% of our guests join our trips solo.
Once you’ve booked your spot, you’ll be invited to a WhatsApp group, and many guests choose to travel together.
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This trip has a maximum of 7 guests.
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Full balance is required at the time of booking
REGISTER INTEREST FOR 2024
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PACKING LIST
On this hiking expedition, you will carry all your kit with you from beginning to end, so we recommend keeping your pack as light as possible.
We will provide tents (if required) and cooking stoves. We do recommend sharing a tent with another guest to lighten the load if you feel comfortable doing so. Gear you decide not to take with you on the hike can be stored in our guide’s vehicle at the start.
Personal Clothing
Good pair of waterproof walking boots / shoes (BOOTS WITH ANKLE SUPPORT PREFERABLE - you will not be allowed to hike in trainers)
Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Trousers
Warm jumper or fleece
Insulated Jacket (down or synthetic) to wear around camp
Fast drying T Shirt / long sleeved top
Quick dry hiking trousers or hiking leggings
Thermal Top for sleeping
Thermal Bottoms for sleeping
Hiking Socks - one pair per day
Underwear (Not cotton, synthetic that is fast drying)
Warm Beanie/Hat
Gloves
Flip flops/sandals/crocs (optional for around camp)
Cap / sun hat
Sunglasses
Gear
50 - 60L Hiking backpack (optional - we can provide this)
One man tent (optional - we can provide this)
3 season down or synthetic sleeping bag (comfort Rating of 0 to 5 degrees - mandatory for your comfort)
Sleeping mat (mandatory for your safety and comfort)
Headtorch
Spork / camping cutlery
Camping mug
Walking poles (optional but highly recommended)
3 litre water carrying capacity (ie. 3 x 1 litre bottles or hydration system
Drybags - Selection of sizes or one large to fill your day pack
Spare bag (e.g. duffle,tote) to leave spare kit at vehicles not required for the trek
Small trowel
Personal Items
Packed lunch for day one
Snacks for both days. You will finish at around 2pm on day 2 after a cafe breakfast, so bring enough food to keep you going until then.
Small sun screen
Small bio soap (optional)
Small pack baby wipes (optional)
Small hand sanitizer
Any other toiletries or prescription medicines you may need
Light travel towel (fast drying)
Travel toothbrush and toothpaste
Eye mask (optional)
Ear plugs (optional)
Personal First Aid/Blister Kit: bandage, tape, plasters, blister kit, painkiller
Small trowel for wild pooping!
Loo paper - only bring what you might need (ziplock bag to carry it out)
Kula Pee Cloth (Optional)
Sanitary products - (ziplock bag to carry it out)
External Phone Charger and lead