Scouts Honor: What was missing in my life was the outdoors

Growing up on the south coast of England, I've always been aware of the natural beauty around me and how lucky I am to have it on my doorstep. I explored beautiful places within the New Forest National Park and surrounding coastlines with my family growing up.

However, at the age of five, my parents divorced, and accessing the outdoors wasn’t as easy any more. I missed out on many outdoor school trips. I didn’t have so much exposure to the outdoors in my early teens – although I always wanted to join in on these adventures. That is, until Year 10 of secondary school when it all began to change for me, as I began to realise the value the outdoors brought to my life.

Testing my limits

I remember applying for the Ten Tors challenge in Year 10 (which had no participation costs). This was the annual 35-mile Army endurance challenge in the northern part of Dartmoor. Over 2,400 teenagers take part, resulting in 400 teams of six. You have to visit ten ‘Tors’ in two days or less, while carrying enough equipment to make sure you and your team are supplied for the days and nights. I borrowed equipment from school teachers and bought the essentials for hiking.

At the time, most people thought I was mad, as I didn’t have any experience in that sort of thing, but I was determined to give it a shot. You train in remote landscapes, with all types of terrain in all types of weather. The nature of the challenge is difficult enough, and it's only heightened by the competitiveness of the teams. I did the training for Ten Tors throughout six months, and at the time, that was the hardest thing I’d ever done. 

From my school, there were three girls and twelve boys who applied. In the end, I was the only girl selected, and I thought this is it: this is my moment. This is huge. It was my mentality, as well as my physicality, that got me there.

After that experience, I felt a part of me blossom when I was outside, and I quickly began to realise the value the experience had brought to my life.

Going further

Next was The Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award – and this time, the expedition was on the south coast in Wareham. Compared to Ten Tors, this was much easier for me. But this is when my love for the outdoors really grew. It made me realise how much my mind had transformed – and it was the outdoors that helped me do that.

For the service element of the award, I volunteered at my local church with a project that supported young people with after school activities. I enjoyed it so much that I did two nights a week volunteering with them – stemming from my love of helping people and feeling part of a community. I was so happy to spend my time with the people who needed it.

After Ten Tors and DofE, I realised these were some of the best moments in my life, and I wanted to spend as much time as possible outside. Then in the summer of 2018, going into sixth form, I found a lot of my friends didn’t want to visit national parks, and naturally, I slowly spent less and less time outdoors.

I then went to university in London, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 – and really struggled. I hadn’t been in that environment before, and especially under those circumstances, I became really low and out of touch with myself as a person. I needed to do some self-reflection and I realised what was missing was time spent adventuring in, and appreciating, the outdoors.

Key moments

All those moments and memories from my time spent in the outdoors from school came flooding back and I realised those experiences were missing in my life.

In my second year of university, I moved back home as I could study from there. It was a much better base to access nature regularly compared to London. In my final year, I could travel further and explore new places, especially the National Parks which I did with my partner.

The Peak District is very special to me, as it was my first trip away to a national park with long (and elevated) adventures planned. I remember talking to my partner about my dreams of seeing a sunrise cloud inversion as they’re so rare. On the morning of my 21st birthday, we got up at 4am to head up Mam Tor and we were so lucky to witness one, just as we approached the summit.

We came back and I was beaming. I knew, at that moment, that this is what I was going to do with my life. Tears of happiness were shed upon this realisation, as I pictured all the wonders of the world I wanted to experience. 

I then found myself using any spare time I had planning for trips away (I love planning and researching for expeditions). We explored places in the Brecon Beacons – like the Four Falls Trail and Pen y Fan. Then we headed to Eryri (formally Snowdonia) – we hiked Tryfan with friends and it was incredibly hard and not for the faint-hearted. I then set my sights even higher.

More recently, I took part in the Komoot Hiking Rally x Pennine Way 2024 expedition in the Peak District. I've just returned from a trip to the Yorkshire Dales, because I'm trying to tick off all the UK’s National Parks. I'm heading back to the Brecon Beacons in October for some colder autumn adventures.

Accessing the outdoors

Accessibility to the outdoors is very important to me. You have to really prioritise your money (and that’s assuming you’re lucky enough to have some disposable income in the first place), to make trips to national parks, especially if you’re down in the south like I am.

There can be a perception that the outdoors and countryside is boring, and for the older generations. But that’s not my experience, and that’s a contributing reason to why I started sharing my adventures online.

My message for young people thinking about getting into the outdoors is: you don’t know what it can do for you until you’re out there. You can start small. Kit can be second hand. You can do small, achievable adventures to start off with and then build your way up. National park or not, any local green space is great; get outside and enjoy all the wonders it brings. Planning these trips and taking time to be outdoors can do so much for you – but you never realise it until you’re out there.

It’s so important for us to switch off, connect with nature and look after the things around us. The outdoors is incredible for wellbeing, especially for young people. It takes you away from everything else going on in your life and gives you headspace.

Skills for life

Being outdoors gives you so many skills. I think that’s largely because it really tests your fitness and mentality. It gives you confidence, the ability to navigate and solve problems. Most importantly, it encourages grit and determination, two attributes that you can carry with you across all ventures of life.

I remember being in the Lake District on Blencathra with my partner. At the summit, the wind speeds reached 65 mph and the conditions were brutal. It was clouding over, and we had to decide the best and safest action plan quickly. You have to be prepared for all types of weather in the mountains.

Moments like these are when you realise that safety is paramount, no matter how big or small your adventure. Make sure that the people who know you know where you are. It’s wonderful out there, but you always need to be prepared.

What’s next?

My next big plan is to head to Scotland and the Dolomites, which will be incredible. I’m also continuing to grow my community as an outdoor influencer. I’m lucky enough now to be able to promote apps, gear and places to my audience.

I’ve just worked with New Forest National Park, which was an incredible achievement for me as that’s where I loved spending my time when I was young, and where my passions truly began. It really was a full circle moment, and upon reflection, I realised I created the lifestyle I had always dreamt of.

Spending time in the outdoors (whatever the adventure or activity) can transform your mental and physical health. I can truly vouch for the transformative effects that the outdoors has on both of these factors.