Springing forward: the first three months on the trail with the Girls Adventure Alliance
What a start to the year! Since launching in January, we have explored some of the Yorkshire and Pennine region’s most iconic landscapes. We’ve also explored the best of the weather, with our adventures featuring fog-filled valleys, snow-shrouded moorland and spring sunshine.
In January we kicked off our programme with a free introductory hike from Swinsty Reservoir to Little Almscliffe. Thick fog gave us an atmospheric start and managed to hide an entire castle from view, but the sun broke through and by the end we were rewarded with lovely views across the water. Despite the weather, we all felt better for a relaxing walk in the fresh air!
Our next adventure took us to the Yorkshire Dales, where we took the scenic route to Malham Cove via Kirkby Fell. With the Girls Adventure Alliance we like to explore the less well-travelled routes, and we had a fantastic day avoiding the crowds on some of the quieter paths the Dales have to offer.
We love learning new skills here, so Valentine’s Day took us to Saltaire for an Introduction to Navigation Day. We covered map reading, route planning and compass skills, enabling our attendees to feel more confident in their future adventures and on unknown terrain.
The following day brought a dramatic change in scenery as we headed to Bronte country, where we hiked a lovely loop around Ponden Reservoir to Top Withins. Fresh snow transformed the Haworth moors into a magical winter wonderland, and in some places the wind was truly wuthering!
To round off February, we were back in the Yorkshire Dales to explore the striking limestone ravine of Conistone Dib. After a fun ascent up the little gorge, the group headed back into Grassington for some well-needed refreshments.
March began with another free group hike, where we explored the historic hilltop village of Heptonstall, with its iconic ruined church. We then descended to Gibson Mill, and followed the wooded valley around Hebden Beck back to Hebden Bridge. The trees were budding and the woodland was a racket of birdsong - spring is truly on the way!
Our final hike of the quarter took the group from Pateley Bridge to the spectacular gritstone formations at Brimham Rocks. We enjoyed great views over Nidderdale, and even managed to fit in an ice cream stop.
In just three months, this group has become a welcoming space for women of all ages and experience levels. Whether people join for fitness, friendship, confidence, or just the joy of being outside in the elements, we offer a supportive environment and a varied programme of hikes and courses showcasing the best landscapes the north of England has to offer.
As spring rolls on we’ve got even more wonderful routes planned, so why not sign up to join in on our next adventures?
12th April 2026 - Trow Gill and Ingleborough
26th April 2026 - Roseberry Topping
See you soon!
The Girls Adventure Alliance