Mountain hike

If you want a challenge, a mountain hike is always a challenging workout. For these types of hikes, it’s especially important to plan your route – including the weather.

Remember, the weather is often colder and windier in the mountains and conditions can change quickly. That might sound off-putting but the views are also always the best the higher you go, so it’s a trade worth making. For mountain hikes, I love the Lake District; it’s not far from where I live but every time I go, it’s like I’ve just discovered it all over again. Everywhere you look is a postcard picture.

There are plenty of peaks worth tackling around the UK, from Yes Tor in Devon to Pen y Ghent in Yorkshire and the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire. Sure, it might require you to travel to get to the start of your hike but it’s worth it for the satisfaction that comes from being able to say that you’ve climbed a mountain.

Sunrise hike

For all you early birds, a sunrise hike might just be the most magical way to start your day. What you lose in sleep you more than make up for in the beauty of the sky at sunrise.

Try to find a clear view somewhere high – the top of a hill, a carpark or by the coast if you can to enjoy the full power of daybreak. You’ll be glad you made the effort. Just make sure that you plan your route, pack your bag and set out your clothes the night before. Nobody wants to be scrambling around for hiking kit at 3am in the morning.

Hiking weekend

Hiking weekends are a great way to explore a new area, meet new people or spend time with family and friends in nature. In June, Black Girls Hike hosted an activity weekender in Devon with hiking, kayaking and paddleboarding and an impromptu midnight beach rave.

You don’t always have to plan your own adventures – sometimes, it’s better to just turn up and let yourself be carried along by the crowd. There are plenty of hiking weekenders around, whether it’s through something like Meet Up or a club like Black Girls Hike. Don’t worry about feeling shy or worried, these groups are full of people who don’t know each other. After an hour on the trails, you’ll feel like you’ve known everyone for years!

Black Girls Hike guide to the 5 different types of hike that walkers of all levels can enjoy