Can women walk long distances?

“I’m not fit enough.”

“I could never walk that far.”

“I’d hold everyone back.”

"I'm too old."

These are the quiet doubts so many women carry when they hear about long-distance walking. If you had asked me 15-20 years ago, I would have probably said the same thing. As a girl, I wanted nothing more than to be the type of person who laces up their trainers, leaves the house, and just runs, but I was too fat, my ankles too weak, my body too uncoordinated, confidence too tied to the messaging I'd heard my whole life about what girls can and more loudly, cannot do. "Like a girl' was a pejorative, one that I used myself to suggest someone wasn't strong enough, fast enough, capable. Research shows that by the age of 14, girls are dropping out of sport and physical activity at twice the rate of boys (Women in Sport, 2022). The reasons? Lack of confidence, fear of judgment, and feeling like they don’t belong.

The End of St Oswald's Way

By adulthood, these early messages have often taken root. Many women grow up believing that movement is something they have to earn, that fitness means fitting a mould, and that adventure is something reserved for someone else. Long-distance walking quietly, persistently challenges that idea.

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 do a lot of long-distance running, also called ultra running, which, to be fair, is best described as long-distance walking in running gear whilst eating every thirty minutes with a bit of running on the downs and flats. If you are not a runner, you may rule out an activity that has long-distance in the description, but hear me out before you close this tab. Long-distance walking could be just what you are looking for. It doesn’t just challenge your legs; it challenges your self-perception. It doesn't just challenge you; it changes you.

You don’t need to be fast. You don’t need to be fearless. You just need to

begin. One mile becomes five. Five becomes ten. And somewhere in between the laughter, the sore feet, the weather, and the shared stories, the voice that said “you can’t” starts to quiet down. It doesn’t disappear all at once, but it gets drowned out by confidence, community, and the gloriousness of being outside, on the trails.

Science Backs It Up

Solo end to St Cuthbert's

Studies show that walking—especially in nature—has a powerful impact on mental wellbeing. A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that long walks in natural environments significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and negative thought patterns. For women, who often carry invisible emotional labour and social pressure, that space to breathe can be transformative.

Other research from the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that time spent walking in nature boosts self-esteem and self-efficacy—the belief that we can cope with challenges and succeed. And women who participate in group outdoor activities consistently report stronger social connections, mood improvement, and a renewed sense of personal capability (Outdoor Industry Association, 2022).

In short, walking isn’t just about building healthy bones, muscles, heart and lungs. It rebuilds your relationship with yourself.

Long-Distance Walking for Women

One of the reasons I loved the Dream Crazier campaign is that it reminded me how deeply the messaging around what women are “supposed” to do reaches all of us. We can push hard, put ourselves first, and set ambitious—even unrealistic—goals. We can also be silly, wild, and a little unhinged. We can embrace our gloriously complicated, sometimes contradictory nature.

We can find ourselves, accept ourselves, and challenge ourselves—and there’s nothing quite like putting one foot in front of the other and discovering just how capable we really are. For me, that’s not crazy; that’s strength.

At the Start of Round the Rock

When I did my first ultra event in 2018, I got 43 miles into a 50-mile ultra event and timed out at the last checkpoint around 2 am. I had been on the go for 18 hours, and we missed the cutoff by thirty minutes. But 43 miles! 10-year-old Claire, even 20- and 30-year-old Claire, would not have believed she was capable of such a thing.

In August of this year, Katie and I took on Round the Rock in Jersey (the Channel Islands) with three friends. I was doing the marathon with Debs and Julie, top adventuring friends, Katie was doing the full circumference of 48 miles, and the other Katie was doing the half-marathon. We had 10 hours, and Katie only 12. I made it around the 26.1-mile route, in great company, with 10 minutes to spare. Katie was in the equally fantastic and supportive company of the team of tail runners, along with the feed station volunteers and random people who stopped to cheer us all on as we passed. Katie realised partway through that she wouldn’t make the rather brutal 12-hour cut-off. No medals are given to anyone who doesn't meet the cutoff, but she kept going. The tail runner offered her a shortcut that would shave five miles off the route and get her to the finish. Katie happily took it and crossed the finish line, having covered 43 tough, amazing miles. What an achievement. We all finished tired, but elated! We came, we took the challenge on, and we felt victorious.

This is why we created Women Walk the Wall.  It’s more than just a walking challenge; it’s time and space to find your strength, your joy, your confidence — and your community of wild women. Women who embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey more than the destination. Who share their doubts and lift each other up. Who show up exactly as they are — and are loved for it.

There is nothing remarkable about me or Katie; we don’t possess greater strength, willpower, confidence, or conviction than you. There’s nothing that makes us more capable of rising to a challenge. We’ve simply found ways to support our goals — through our chosen tribe, small habits that became routines, and a shared belief that showing up, even on the hard days, is what truly builds resilience.

Katie and I have signed up to do The Wall next year: 70 miles along Hadrian's Wall, over 3,400 feet of elevation, all in 27 hours. Crazy? Perhaps. But that’s exactly the kind of crazy we’re leaning into.

And if you want to join our Women Walk the Wall adventure next September —84 miles over 6 days— get in touch! We’d love you to join us on this wild and wonderful journey along Hadrian’s Wall. We’ll even be staying in a castle (because we’d be crazy not to). Send us a message and let’s make it happen.

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The Bit at the Bottom Where We Answer Stuff...

How hard is it to walk Hadrian’s Wall in six days? Hadrian’s Wall is a challenge, but a doable one. Daily distances are around 15 miles, with time for breaks, photos, and plenty of snacks. With the right training and support, anyone can take part and enjoy the experience.

Is Women Walk the Wall one of the best women’s walking holidays in the UK? We think so! You won’t see us striding out, map in hand, making a beeline for the end of the day’s section. You will see us in tutus (they make brilliant conversation starters with fellow trail travellers). You’ll probably hear us before you see us, chatting, laughing, and swapping stories as we go. Each night, we unwind in a castle with freshly prepared meals and optional extras that make it a truly magical experience.

What makes Women Walk the Wall different from other Hadrian’s Wall tours? Most Hadrian’s Wall tours focus on the miles, the history, and ticking off the sights. Women Walk the Wall is about something more. 84 miles of stories, laughter, and connection. We focus on building confidence, enjoying good company, soaking up the views, and celebrating each day with a well-earned post-walk drink. It’s not about racing to the finish, but enjoying the journey together.

If they call you crazy for chasing your dreams, so be it. Be crazy. Be bold. — Unknown