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

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: Cl...

Read more

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.

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 convers...

Read more