Eequ · After school. In place of school. Beyond school.

"I Am She" Peak Pilgrimage

A walking-talking eco-therapy journey

Mentored by

Julia Sands

Expedition Leader/Wilderness Guide

Organisation links
Location address: Hope Valley, S32 5RG
Chosen age group:

For ages: 18+ years

Available tickets:
Standard £500
Next date: Friday 16th Aug,
A SUMMARY
Join a team of women for a celebration of female empowerment; an immersive 5-day walk & talk retreat following the Peak Pilgrimage route from Ilam to Eyam in the Peak District. Incorporating nature connection activities, eco-therapy exercises and evening circle time, as well as team meals, games and skill-sharing, this is an opportunity to devote time to yourself in the beauty of nature whilst connecting with a team of like-minded women to support your well-being. Route: Footpaths, fields and riverside paths through the valleys of the lower Peak District. Accommodation: Shared dorms in youth hostels, shared rooms in B&B. Single supplement available on request. Difficulty: Stretching; walking distance 35 miles, 10-15 miles per day, undulating terrain, 3 mph. Programme: Day 1: Meet at Eyam for supper & short acclimatisation stroll. Share transport to start point. Day 2: Ilam to Hartington (10 miles) Day 3: Hartington to Bakewell (15 miles) Day 4: Bakewell to Eyam (10 miles) Day 5: Closing celebration. Share transport back to start point for departure. Cost: £500. This includes all accommodation, breakfasts, packed lunches and hostel supper club. Cafe lunches and pub/restaurant suppers not included. Please use the purple 'Contact Mentor' button to express your interest or ask me any questions. You can also find more information at www.ipsewilderness.co.uk.
About your mentor
Julia Sands
Expedition Leader/Wilderness Guide
I am a wilderness therapy facilitator, with a background in teaching and expedition leading. Having grown up on a diet of Type 2 fun, served as an army cadet officer, travelled extensively and led youth expeditions all over the world, I walked a solo pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago, which inspired me to commit to a life of simplicity and freedom. With wide experience in facilitating workshops and empowerment circles for women and girls, my passion is to encourage women to experience for themselves the positive benefits of time spent immersed in nature, to come into a more fulsome awareness of their own nature, and to access joy for themselves through a life of self-expression, honesty and courage. Having walked the Peak Pilgrimage three times, I know intimately the power of this stunning landscape to challenge, comfort and empower, and I am excited to share these gifts with women who are looking for an emotional and physical challenge.
Suitable for
Women who like walking and enjoy connecting to other people and to nature! This trip is suitable for beginners (i.e. women who haven't hiked much in the past) but you need to be reasonably fit and able to walk 15 miles in a day, carrying a rucksack. You'll need to be able to walk a mile in about 20 minutes without getting out of breath. Whether you are seeking to dedicate time to yourself, to escape ​from the pressures of ordinary life, or to improve your confidence on multi-day hikes, this eco-retreat adventure will leave you feeling renewed, inspired and refreshed. This journey supports women to share with others some of the key aspects of their lives. Guided by the landscape and supported by nature, we explore themes of identity, confidence and self-expression. We’ll talk, sweat, listen, picnic, cry, learn, swim, laugh, pause and ache, and you’ll end the walk with a profound sense of achievement and a team at your back ready to support your every step.
What we'll do
This trip begins with a meeting the evening before the walk, to get to know the team, set our intentions for the walk and share a meal together. We will work together to organise car-sharing to minimise our environmental impact. Then we spend our first night in one of the most spectacular youth hostels in the UK; more like a castle than a hostel! The next morning, after a hearty breakfast and brief meeting, we set off hiking self-sufficiently, with all we need carried on our backs. For three days, the walking route takes us along the river valleys of the Southern Peak District, through ancient forests, along abandoned railways, over drystone walls. There'll be interesting features to spot, including stepping stones, caves and springs, as well as the fascinating story of Eyam to discover along the way. There are a few short hills, but most of the walk is flat or very gently undulating. Along the way, we'll use aspects of the landscape around us to inspire us to have meaningful conversations. There'll be interesting questions to discuss, topics to reflect on and invitations to share your thoughts. There's also quiet time just to ponder and wander, as well as some fun nature connection games and mindfulness activities to awaken your senses to your surroundings. Interspersed with the walk will be some light instruction on wilderness skills, such as rucksack packing, map reading and kit. We also litter-pick along the way, making sure we leave no trace and leave this stunning landscape even more beautiful than when we started! In the evenings, we meet again to reflect on the day's journey and eat together. We close the day by sharing stories, highlights and getting present to how we're feeling and what we need for the next step. Each night we stay at a different accommodation right on our route; 3 unique YHA hostels and a hotel. The final destination for the walk is the remarkable village of Eyam, the village which saved the Peak District from plague in 1665! But the journey truly finishes the next morning with a celebration of all that has been achieved, and an acknowledgment of each woman's unique qualities. There'll be laughs and tears and fond farewells before we car share back to our starting place and onwards home, with a profound sense of well-being and satisfaction..
Pricing information
Ticket nameStandard
Price£500
PHOTO GALLERY
Where we'll be
The Miner's Arms, Water Lane, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 5RG
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
I am not able to offer refunds in general but may be able to if there is good notice.I will refund you or transfer your booking if you're unable to attend due to Covid.

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.