The outdoors can be many things. A place to challenge ourselves. A place to find peace and perspective. A place where friendships are formed and confidence quietly grows.
But for many women, stepping into outdoor spaces hasn’t always been straightforward. Whether it’s confidence, access, representation, kit, or simply finding others to go with, the path outside can sometimes feel harder than it should.
Thankfully, there are women quietly working to change that.
Across the UK, passionate women are creating welcoming spaces for others to experience the outdoors; leading rides, guiding hikes, sharing knowledge and encouraging women to take those first tentative steps into something new.
They may not all seek the spotlight. But the impact they have is huge.
In this blog, we’re celebrating a few of these unsung heroes - women we’ve had the joy of working alongside - who are opening doors, building communities and helping more women feel at home outside.
From mountain biking to paddleboarding, wild swimming to high mountain adventures, each of them is helping others feel a little braver, a little stronger, and a little more confident stepping into the outdoors.
Aneela McKenna & Emma Neale - Co-Founders of the FNY Collective
What began as a small group of women heading out for a ride together has grown into something far more powerful. When Aneela McKenna and Emma Neale co-founded the FNY Collective, their aim was simple: to create a welcoming space for women who wanted to ride mountain bikes and enjoy the outdoors together.
Since then, that small gathering on two wheels has evolved into a thriving charity dedicated to supporting women through cycling. Through leadership programmes that train women to guide and mentor others, inclusive events designed for riders of all levels, and a strong sense of community that sits at the heart of everything they do, FNY has become a place where women can build both skills and confidence.
What Aneela and Emma have created isn’t about competition or elite performance. Instead, it’s about connection, encouragement and opening the door for more women to experience the joy of riding. By creating spaces where women feel supported and included, they are helping ensure the outdoors and the trails feel like a place where everyone belongs.
Jo Moseley - Author, Paddleboarder and Speaker
Jo Moseley is a wonderful example of someone rewriting the narrative around age and adventure. A paddleboarder, speaker and author, she has built a loyal following by sharing her outdoor experiences with warmth and honesty, showing that trying new things later in life can be joyful, empowering and sometimes a little messy too.
After discovering paddleboarding in her fifties, Jo began documenting her journeys on the water, from quiet stretches of river to long-distance coastal adventures. Along the way, she has written several books, led community paddles and used her platform to encourage others to give it a go, no matter their age or experience. Her story is a powerful reminder that adventure doesn’t have an expiry date.
What makes Jo particularly inspiring is the way she talks about the reality behind the adventure. She doesn’t present the outdoors as something reserved for the super-fit, fearless or endlessly confident. Instead, she speaks openly about the nerves that come with trying something new, the self-doubt many women carry with them, and the courage it takes simply to begin.
Photo credit - Jumpy James
By sharing the ups and downs, the wobbles as well as the wins, Jo helps make the outdoors feel far more accessible. Her message is simple but powerful: you don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to be fearless, and you certainly don’t have to start young. Sometimes the bravest and most rewarding adventures are the ones we begin later in life, simply because we decide to give them a try.
Julia Wilson Nimmo - Actor, Author and Wild Swimmer
There’s something deeply reassuring about the way Julie Wilson Nimmo approaches wild swimming. Best known to many through the BBC series Jules and Greg's Wild Swim, Jules brings a sense of warmth, humour and openness that makes the idea of stepping into cold water, or any new outdoor challenge, feel far less daunting.
Alongside her husband, Greg Hemphill, Jules has travelled the length and breadth of Scotland, discovering beautiful wild swimming spots. But what resonates most with many women isn’t just the places she visits, it’s the honesty she brings to the experience, and the people she meets.
Jules speaks candidly about life’s ups
and downs, from navigating menopause to dealing with grief, and the role that time in nature can play in helping us process and move forward.
That openness creates space for others to feel seen and understood. Rather than presenting the outdoors as something only for the bold or fearless, Jules reminds us that it can also be a place for reflection, healing and connection. Her journey into becoming a yoga teacher later in life adds another layer to that story, a reminder that it’s never too late to explore new paths and find new ways to care for ourselves.
Through her warmth, humour and willingness to share the realities of life, Jules helps make wild swimming feel welcoming, fulfilling and human. In doing so, she quietly encourages others to take that first step.
Mollie Hughes - Adventurer, Speaker, Author
Mollie Hughes is perhaps best known for her remarkable achievements in the high mountains, becoming the youngest woman to summit Mount Everest from both the north and south sides. But beyond the headlines and high-altitude records lies a deeper commitment to helping others discover what they are capable of in the outdoors.
Through her company Ocean Vertical, Mollie now guides and mentors people on adventures that challenge both body and mind. From mountain expeditions to confidence-building outdoor experiences, her work is about far more than reaching a summit; it’s about helping people push beyond the limits they may have placed on themselves.
What makes Mollie’s approach particularly powerful is the way she encourages others, especially women, to step into environments that have traditionally felt intimidating or inaccessible. By sharing her knowledge and experience, she helps build the skills, resilience and self-belief needed to take on bigger challenges.
For many women, the idea of climbing mountains or embarking on remote expeditions can feel far removed from everyday life. Mollie’s work helps bridge that gap, showing that with the right support, preparation and mindset, extraordinary experiences are often far more achievable than we might imagine.
In doing so, she’s not just leading people into the mountains; she’s helping them return with a renewed sense of confidence in their own strength and potential.
You Can Do This
What connects women like Aneela, Emma, Jo, Jules and Mollie isn’t just their love of the outdoors.
It’s their willingness to share it.
By creating welcoming spaces, building supportive communities and encouraging women to try something new, they are helping reshape what the outdoors looks like — and who feels they belong there.
Because adventure doesn’t always begin with something big.
Sometimes it begins with a conversation.
A friendly invitation.
Someone simply saying, “Come along — you can do this.”
And thanks to women like these, more and more of us are doing exactly that.
Sunday Inspiration
Favourite Book
In Breathe, Mollie Hughes explores the lessons her biggest adventures have taught her and how they apply far beyond the mountains.
Don't forget!
We have 15% off Jules & Greg's Wild Swim this month to celebrate Alex's appearance on the BBC Series! As a bonus - each copy is signed by Jules and Greg themselves! Get yours here!
Favourite Quote
Favourite Song
Sisters are Doing it for Themselves - Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin
It says it all!
