Local Spotlight on girlhike: An inclusive and sociable way to hike around Kent

In the first of our series shining a light on some of the fantastic local businesses and organisations around Kent, we meet Alaina Crystal, founder of girlhike.

Launched in 2023, girlhike aims to rewrite the narrative that women aren't 'outdoorsy' or 'adventurous', offering a safe space for women and non-binary people to come together to enjoy nature and hiking.

At its heart is the building of a nurturing and inspiring community, with a focus on wellbeing and inclusivity. As a committed feminist, Alaina is passionate about the project and runs the hikes alongside content marketer Claire Bingham, both of whom are FAIB certified.

We caught up with Alaina to learn more about this brilliant initiative to bring women together in Kent.

What can you tell us about girlhike and what inspired you to set up the initiative?

I started girlhike out of the belief that the wilderness around us, and inside us, deserves to

be explored. I had the idea for girlhike while guiding some friends along the Bedruthan Steps path in September 2023; I knew how much joy hiking had brought to my life, but I also knew I had had to overcome obstacles to get to that point. I had grown up with a story that I wasn’t “outdoorsy” or wasn’t “adventurous”, which is often how hiking is positioned societally.

So, each girlhike seeks to rewrite that story by creating pathways to the outdoors for women. It also seeks to build community, and to make nature feel safer through togetherness — particularly for women and non-binary people, communities for whom the world is not always safe. Our goal is to make girlhike accessible to as many women+ and girls+ as possible.

Whereabouts do your walks tend to take place and how regularly do you do them?

Most of our hikes take place in the south-east Kent region, and we tend to do one every

other month, though a bit more frequently in the warmer summer months. We’ve done

coastal walks from Margate to Broadstairs and Walmer to Deal, and ventured inland to

explore the woodland paths around Sturry.

We’re keen to keep exploring the beautiful nature that this region offers, and also looking at longer or more challenging hikes such as Dover to Deal, or through the Wye Valley. We’re so lucky to have this on our doorsteps, so we want to take advantage of it as much as we can.

What makes a girlhike so special and what can women who join expect?

I started girlhike on the East Kent coast, where there’s been a huge influx of new people

moving to the area in the last five years (myself included). We find that on each girlhike, we

have a mix of locals and newbies who are keen to meet new people and expand their social

circle a bit. Each group of women on each hike is completely different, and the conversations

that crop up are always refreshing and heart-opening.

Each hike is roughly 5-6 miles (though we may start trialing longer ones!), with a tea stop

midway so folks can have a break and a snack. We’ll also stop along the way and do a bit of

grounding and breathing, or do some mindful meditative walking through a particular part of a woodland path.

We’ve also found there’s a really interesting correlation between new hikers and sobriety; we don’t explicitly frame ourselves as a sober group but because the majority of the hikes take place in the morning, they are naturally sober-friendly and have helped attendees form new relationships and community without having to go to the pub.

In future hikes, we’re also looking to bring in some other practitioners as partners, such as

yoga teachers, breathwork experts or tarot readers, to enhance the experience for our

hikers. Watch this space!

Do you have to have any experience / fitness level to join?

We want girlhike to be as accessible as possible for all women+, so we always test the route

before we take a group out on it, and perform a risk assessment where we look at terrain, obstacles (e.g., are there stiles that people need to climb over?) and overall length.

Our hikes tend to be roughly 5 to 6 miles with a tea stop in the middle, so we feel that if you walk on a semi-regular basis and have a generally good level of fitness, you should have no

problem joining us on a group hike. We never leave anyone behind and because the group

is a decent size, there’s always someone to walk with you if you’re feeling a little tired or

want to walk a little bit more slowly. And our girlhike guides are FAIB certified, so we are

trained in how to help someone if they are struggling en route.

If anyone has specific questions, reach out to us at @wearegirlhike on Instagram or

wearegirlhike@gmail.com

What three items would you recommend all participants bring on a hike?

Water, suncream, and tick spray! Water for obvious reasons - it can get surprisingly hot out

there, even in the milder months, so we always want people to stay hydrated. Suncream is

also sometimes forgotten in a country where it can be overcast, but you can still burn and

damage your skin, leading to a higher risk for things like skin cancer. And tick spray is an

important one for me personally, as my sister has chronic Lyme disease from a tick bite. I

want all girlhikers to be tick aware and stay safe, particularly in wooded and high-grass

areas.

Where are your favourite spots to walk in the local area?

I’m Broadstairs based so I love a classic Stone Bay or Dumpton Gap loop from my house

(which I still pinch myself that I can do everyday!) Further afield, I love Wye Valley and

Kingsdown - both have the most jaw-dropping landscapes and perfect pubs nearby for a

stop. In the Wye Valley, I’d stop at the New Flying Horse Inn; and in Kingsdown, it has to be

the Zetland Arms, who welcomed us recently on our March girlhike with Swedish buns and

delicious Climpson and Sons coffee.

Where is on your bucket list to hike one day?

The Isle of Skye. My partner and I did the West Highland Way in Scotland last summer, and

now I just want to hike the entire country. I’d also like to keep exploring the National Parks in

my native USA, such as Yosemite, Acadia and Glacier. It was my home country for 18 years

and there’s still so much of it to see!

What’s your favourite hidden gem / local business in Kent?

Oh, this is such a hard question to answer! I’m going to have to say a few:

Forts in Broadstairs and Margate - just the kindest folks and the best coffee around.

They made me feel so welcome when I moved to the area, and I know I can always

pop in for a little midday chat and a tea when I need a break from working at home.

Martha Stewart Tattoo in Broadstairs - I only started getting tattoos three years ago,

and Martha has done four of my six! She is the best conversationalist - she puts you

right at ease, so much so that you forget you’re having a tattoo done. And she’s an

illustrator first, so her designs are just stunning.

Bar Nothing in Margate - the first time I went there in 2020, I burst into tears because

it looked just like a Brooklyn dive bar and I was quite homesick! They do psychic

nights, rock and roll DJ sets and just have the most excellent witchy vibe.

Wherelse in Margate - a gem of a music venue that puts on such a diverse array of

artists, and where I’ve seen big name acts in an incredibly intimate space. These are

the kinds of places that are always at risk of closure, so I try to go to as many shows

as I can to show the love!

Giant Coffee in Margate and Broadstairs - this place is so adorable, and we’re really

lucky that they’ve just opened in Broadstairs too. Love to grab a blue chai or matcha

from here as I head out towards Stone Bay, and Amelia, the woman who runs it, is an

absolute doll.

What advice would you give for anyone thinking of joining a group hike?

If you’re thinking about joining a group hike, definitely contact the hike leader and ask them

any specific questions you may have about terrain and ability - they should be able to give

you an honest and nuanced perspective of the hike and help you assess if it’s the right fit for

you. And if it isn’t, don’t give up! There are walking groups across the UK for all abilities, so

you will find the one that’s right for you.

How can we find out more?

Follow us over at @wearegirlhike on Instagram! We’re always updating folks on our next

hiking plans, and we’d love to hear from you if you have ideas for a great route around Kent.