Made Wild Hiking Courses in the UK: What to Expect

Sep 3

5 min read

Ever wanted to get into hiking but had absolutely no idea where to start?

What kit do you actually need? How do you read a map? What happens if the weather turns? And how do you know whether you’re actually “fit enough” for the mountains?

These are all questions I had when I started and it’s exactly why I created Made Wild hiking courses. They’re designed to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to get outside and start having your own adventures without feeling like you need to already know everything.

Here’s a little more info on what you can expect.

What is a beginner hiking course?

Think of it as your “where the hell do I start?” guide to hiking because as silly as you may feel, we’ve all been there and there’s absolutely no shame in it. As I always say, when it comes to being out in the mountains, it’s better to be overprepared than not at all.

Our beginner courses combine guided walks with practical outdoor skills, so you’re not just learning about hiking, you’re actually getting out there and putting it into practice.

Depending on the course, we’ll cover things like navigation, route planning, clothing and kit, mountain safety and building confidence outdoors. Of course, there’ll be plenty of walking, snacks and questionable jokes along the way 🤪

Who is it suitable for?

Our beginner courses are for women who want to feel more confident outdoors, whether you’re completely new to hiking or you’ve done a few walks but still don’t feel like you really know what you’re doing.

You don’t need to be super fit, own loads of expensive kit or know how to use a compass. All you need is to be up for learning, getting outside and giving it a go.

If you’re worried about being the least experienced person there, don’t be. That’s literally why we’re here.

What you’ll learn

The exact skills depend on the course, but we’ll cover the practical stuff you actually need to feel more confident outdoors.

This might include:

How to plan a hike
Basic map reading and navigation
How to use a compass
What to wear and pack
Understanding British mountain weather
Pacing yourself and managing your energy
Basic mountain safety
Making sensible decisions in changing conditions
Building confidence and trusting yourself outdoors

The aim isn’t to turn you into a mountain expert in one weekend, it’s to give you a solid foundation so you can keep learning and exploring afterwards.

What equipment do you need?

The TLDR version is it’s probably less than you think.

We’ll always send you a kit list before the course so you know exactly what you need. For our beginner courses, you definitely don’t need a wardrobe full of fancy outdoor gear. You’ll generally need sturdy footwear, waterproofs, a backpack, food and water, plus suitable layers for the conditions.

If you do happen to think you’re missing something, just ask. I’m always happy to point you in the right direction, suggest some gear hire companies or might have some items you can borrow. I’m much more interested in getting you outside than making you buy a load of stuff you don’t need.

How do we keep you safe?

Safety is always our priority, but that doesn’t mean wrapping you in cotton wool.

Our courses are always led by qualified, experienced outdoor professionals who will assess the route and conditions and adapt the plan where needed. Our guides are fully qualified, insured and first aid trained. And by guides, I mainly mean me 🙋🏻‍♀️. We occasionally have other guides join us, but for the majority of our trips, you’ll be stuck with my Dad dancing moves and relentless energy.

We’ll also teach you how to make your own sensible decisions outdoors, because the whole point is for you to eventually feel confident to head out on your own.

Thanks to the good old reliable British weather, sometimes it does mean changing the route or in some rare and extreme conditions it means turning around. I never make this decision lightly, but my number one priority is always to keep you safe, and unfortunately sometimes it reluctantly has to be done. The mountains aren’t going anywhere and there will always be another day so rest assured if we can get out we absolutely will but I will never take you in to any forecasted unsafe conditions.

Upcoming courses

We run different hiking courses and skills weekends throughout the year, from beginner hiking and navigation through to scrambling and winter skills. In fact, I’ve just added some 2027 dates.

LEARN TO WILD CAMP 🏕️ - Lake District National Park

Fri 11th - Sun 13th Sept - 2 SPACES LEFT

INTRO TO NAVIGATION 🧭 - Peak District National Park

Fri 18th - Sun 20th Sept - 2 SPACES LEFT

3 DAY KNOYDART EXPEDITION 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - Knoydart, Scottish Highlands

Fri 2nd - Sun 4th Oct - FULLY BOOKED

WOMEN’S WINTER SKILLS COURSE ❄️ - Cairngorms, Scottish Highlands

Fri 29th - 31st Jan BRAND NEW - 3 SPACES LEFT

MORE ADVENTURES

Frequently asked questions

There’s a full FAQs page on our website, but some of the most frequent questions I get asked are:

I’ve never hiked before. Is this really for me?

Yes! Our beginner courses are specifically designed for people who are new to hiking or lacking confidence outdoors.

What if I’m not very fit?

We’ll always make sure that nobody is left behind and keep at a pace that works for everyone in the group. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you do need to be able to comfortably walk for the duration and distance stated on the individual course. Every trip has its own difficulty level, so check the details before booking.

Can I come on my own?

Absolutely, lots of people do. Made Wild is a brilliant way to meet other women who also want to get outside. You won’t be the only person arriving solo, promise!

What happens if the weather is bad?

Welcome to hiking in the UK 😂 We’ll always keep an eye on the forecast and make decisions based on the conditions. Routes can be adapted or changed if necessary but having an adventure doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. As I mentioned above, unfortunately in extreme cases, we may have to postpone, but this is always a last resort.