Curius Blog

Spoiler: Yes, babe. Let’s get this out of the way early. You do not need to be super fit, sporty, fast, fearless, or built like a trail runner to walk Hadrian’s Wall. You just need a bit of preparation, and the right kind of support.

Yes, we often have to spell it out. Why no “o”? This is the story of how we landed on the name Curius Compass, what it means, and why it fits the way we guide people along Hadrian’s Wall and beyond. It’s our brand story, and it’s closely tied to how we walk, guide and welcome people in Northumberland.

When you bring a group of women together, though, something slightly different happens. I’m sure men experience their own version of this too, but as a woman walking with other women, there’s an immediate sense of ease. Barriers drop. People settle into themselves. Conversations begin to flow, and the anxieties and tensions we carry start to dissolve into the landscape around us.

Hadrian’s Wall is full of surprises — sweeping views, Roman ruins, and the occasional sheep watching with quiet judgement. But there’s one thing every walker eventually faces that rarely makes it into guidebooks: loo logistics.

We still live in a world that often tells women what we can’t do... too busy, too old, too out of shape, too late to start. Adventure is the remit of the young, the beautiful, the athletes, and the adventurers... not us ordinary women. But what I have come to know is that the idea of who qualifies to take part is hogwash, balderdash, utter tripe and nonsense. Taking part in a long-distance adventure is for everyone regardless of age, experience, body size or shape.

I covered 20 miles in blazing heat... sometimes running, sometimes walking, sometimes having a boogie. What does an event that touts itself as being the Glastonbury of running events have to do with long-distance walking, you may be saying out loud to your computer screen? Read on, my friend, read on.

The Dales Way took us from Ilkley to Bowness along rivers, over stepping stones, through villages and valleys, across open fell, and over more wall stiles than we could count. Many were narrow gaps at the top of stone walls, each with a small wooden gate and a very eager spring. Fun at first, then surprisingly tiring on the legs after a while.

Being out on the trails takes serious preparation, training, planning, navigation and the right kit to keep you safe. But once that’s in place, give yourself over to the fun. For the long answer, read on... If you’ve spent any time on our Curius Compass socials, you’ve probably noticed the tutus. They’re a regular feature of our run/hike/walk attire. So, what’s the story? Are we marking a milestone? Raising money for charity? Training for a dance recital? Nope, we wear tutu

You’ve probably heard the quote: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” A lesser-known translation puts it even better: “A journey begins beneath the feet.” And it’s true: your feet do all the work. It’s worth taking the time to get your footwear right.

I have not always been a runner or even a walker, and certainly not someone who enjoyed endurance or long distances. I started out in my late thirties in a couch to 5K group, who became a slow runner who entered a few races, who then set herself a few challenges, who fell in love with the trails who met a community of runners who surrounded her with positivity and encouragement, who then decided to combine it all ...