If you are a woman who loves to walk and write, I want to hear from you. Glamoraks is a group for women around the world who love to walk. I want to be able to share walks, thoughts and inspiration from likeminded women no matter where in the world they are. And to do that, I need guest bloggers from every corner of the globe.

Wouldn't it be great to see walks in Croatia or Japan or Argentina or USA or Botswana or anywhere? If you're in the UK, what about walks in areas you've not visited or even new walks on your doorstep? It doesn't matter which country you live in or visit, if you have done a great walk there, I want to know about it. They can be short walks, day walks, multi-day walks or adventures/expeditions involving walks. So please share this far and wide. This is your chance to be part of a global voice of women who are heading outdoors in search of themselves. If you want to know more about what a Glamorak is, you can read about it here. 

I welcome guest bloggers. Here's what I need from you to have your story published on this site:

• A blog post anywhere between 500 to 1000 words
• A title that summarises where the walk is and the type of walk it is
• Start the post with this quick start info: 

1. Distance/Length of walk
2. Difficulty or ascent involved
3. Type of terrain: e.g. Farmland, forest
4. Start point postcode: or some landmark so that people can find it including county/province and country
5. Resources: Any useful resources like guide books, maps or websites that have more info on the walk

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• Then include details about the walk, your personal experience, useful tips or advice. These aren't formulaic blog posts with dry, step by step guides. Feel free to add your thoughts, personality and anecdotes that made the walk personal to you. Please ensure your work is grammar and error free and is easy to read. Read the Glamoraks blog for examples. 

• If you want to write a blog post about general walking in your area or country, rather than a specific route, that is fine. Just make it as informative as possible. For example, are there rights of way, are there certain codes of conduct to follow, areas to be avoided or to actively seek out, type of maps or signs to look for etc. 

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• Please include at least one image from the walk, you can add more but no more than five please as they take a long time to load. They need to be no bigger than 1mb file size. Ideally the image should be of the terrain/a view from the walk to give a sense of the type of walk it is​.  The images cannot have branding on them e.g. for a business or company - I will add the Glamoraks logo to the main blog post image and you must be willing to have the logo added to it.  If you want to include an image with you in it, please do. Images must be your own or without copyright restrictions. 

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• If you have a video you want to include, it needs to be short - under five minutes - and needs to be free of branding. You will need to dropbox it to me and I will upload it to the Glamoraks Youtube channel and insert it into the blog post. 

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• Your bio - a short paragraph about you, the type of walks you like to do, your age (if you're willing to share that), where you live. If you have a business or personal blog, you can mention that here and include a link to it. This is a great opportunity to get a link back to your business, particularly if it's something aimed at women!

Please send your blog post or post idea with one image to [email protected] - if I can use it, I will ask for further images (if you have them).

Become part of a global voice of women who love to walk! Your post will be shared on this public blog PLUS in the Glamoraks online community.

Terms and conditions for guest bloggers:

By submitting a blog post to Glamoraks, you acknowledge that you understand and comply with the following:

• Guest posts must be your own original work and must not have been published elsewhere.
• Plagiarism or copyright infringement is not permitted.
• When quoting others, please make sure you properly cite your source, particularly if from a specific guide book.
• Posts will acknowledge your authorship but will be the property of Glamoraks.
• Affiliate links are not allowed in your guest post submissions.
• Glamoraks reserves the right to edit guest posts where necessary.
• I do not offer any compensation for writing guest posts. However you are allowed to include a link to your business or personal blog. This is not allowed to be an affiliate link. Links to fund-raising pages are considered on a case by case basis and are not guaranteed.
• Glamoraks reserves the right to add its own affiliate links where appropriate or relevant.
• I do not guarantee any particular site or audience reach.
• Your submission of a blog post does not guarantee publication. If you want to check whether your blog post is right for the site before writing it, please contact me first.
• I reserve the right to refuse publication or remove a guest post without prior notice to the guest post writer.
• By providing a guest post to Glamoraks, you agree that you are in no way becoming a part of the website or company, nor shall you hold yourself out to be an employee of Glamoraks.
• Images supplied must be your own work or from the public domain and both royalty and copyright free.

Distance: 5 miles (more if you get lost)
Difficulty: Moderate (some hills to climb and map reading required)
Type: Farmland, forest
Start point postcode: YO62 5HH - Cowhouse Bank Carpark, North Yorkshire, UK

After days of being trapped indoors due to a combination of work and utterly foul weather, I decided to head off on an easy 5 mile walk on the edge of the North York Moors. I have a little book called Short Walks in the North York Moors, by Collins.  Now this book has given me plenty of really good walk suggestions and the instructions are typically easy to follow and as each walk includes a map, there is no need to take an additional big map with you.

The walk I chose was one called Upper Riccal Dale, that starts from a Forestry Commission carpark called Cowhouse Bank. To find it, head out of Helmsley, through a tiny hamlet called Carlton and shortly thereafter you find the exceptionally quiet carpark. There is bench with lovely views over Bransdale from the carpark.

I parked up, the only car there and got that lovely sense that I was the only person in the world. You start out by crossing the road you've just driven in on and heading off down a forest track. Through gaps in the trees you get glimpses of the views over the dale below, dotted with sheep. The path was exceptionally boggy underfoot on account of the three days of torrential rain we'd just had but I didn't care. It was peaceful and quiet. If it's been raining, wear gaiters!

The path went back on itself down the side of the hill until reaching a farm track. It was here that my first navigation issue arose. According to the book, 'Go right on the farm road. Cross the bridge and climb through two fields away from the stream towards Howl Wood Farm.' But at the entrance to that farm road were two big signs saying PRIVATE - NO ENTRY. That's never a welcoming sign. I couldn't see any right of way signs or footpath signs but everything else seemed to indicate that this was the way I should go. So I went in.

Although there was a stream (very pretty) and a bridge, there were no fields to climb through. Just a track that made it's way up to the farm buildings. I figured it must be right, so I kept walking. The book said, 'Go left through the farmyard and left through a gate beyond the farm tip to follow a faint track ahead.'

I really, really don't like walking through farms. Firstly, it feels as though I am trespassing on someone's property - and the big PRIVATE - NO ENTRY signs certainly reinforced that. Secondly, there are always old, empty barns creaking in the wind, with rusty hooks and other dangerous looking pieces of equipment lying around. I always expect a scary bloke to come out carrying a bloodied meat cleaver while spitting out chewing tobacco, telling me to either 'Get orf my land' or 'To come in for a visit....' (I have an over active imagination.)

Add to that, there is invariably at least one (in this case four) farm yard dogs that aren't known for their friendliness. They started barking furiously, while a gaggle of geese hissed at me as I passed them. Then the cows (luckily behind a wall) started to add to the cacophony, lowing their discontent at my presence. Luckily there was a single footpath arrow on one of the gates, so I headed at pace for that and made it through the other side breathing hard. I am very rarely scared walking on my own but on remote farms, my heart does race a little.

After that excitement, the next set of instructions was simply, 'Cross the stream by the footbridge'. I was still following the 'faint track' as described by the book but eventually I reached the end of the wall line and my path was blocked. I had obviously missed a path down to the stream where the footbridge was, but there really hadn't been a path anywhere! I retraced my steps, found no path but eventually followed sheep tracks down to where I could hear the stream flowing. Reaching the stream, there was no footbridge. So I bashed my way along the stream edge until at last I found the footbridge. Somehow I had obviously missed the path down. My advice if you're doing this walk, is when the 'faint track' starts to bend slightly north, head down the hill to your west.

Distance: 10.6 miles
Ascent: 597 metres
Type: Rural, farmland, moors
Terrain: Tracks (some overgrown), dirt tracks, stone slabs

On 17 June 2017, a brand new long distance UK trail opened. Called The Boundary Walk, it is 190 miles long running around the edge of the Peak District National Park. A few Glamoraks and I headed off to have a first footing of the path. We decided on the Greenfield to Marsden leg (stage 5) mainly because it had a train station at the start and end of the stage. It also looked - on paper - as though it would cover some wild moorland and had a good amount of hills in it.

Catching a train from York at 8.30, we were in Greenfield for 9.40 and were kindly picked up by the walk organiser's friend who took us to the start at Dovestone Reservoir (although you could walk from the station and simply pick up the path from Hollins Lane). Despite looking around for others who were meant to be walking the same leg, we couldn't find anyone, so at the allotted start time of 10am, we set off. We did ask around at the car park but whenever we mentioned we were walking to Marsden, we were greeted with open mouthed disbelief or teeth sucking as though we were out of our minds for walking such a long way (it really isn't that far!)

We used the newly published guide book (pic below). Almost immediately we were slightly puzzled by where we should be going. The words and the map in the book didn't quite correlate. Switching on google maps on our phones, we finally figured out where we should be heading and got started. (Top tip: if you're doing this leg, when you get to the Dovestone Reservoir carpark and you're at the public toilets, you walk away from the sailing club and out of the carpark along the road you would have driven in on, until you hit the main busy road ahead. The instructions in the book make sense from there).

Almost immediately, the 597 metres of ascent made itself felt as we began a long, hot climb to the top of a hill where an impressive obelisk awaited. We caught our breath and had a snack while we admired the expansive views from the hill top. 

We set off again along the edge of Saddleworth Moor, with stunning scenery off to our right. Just as we were getting into our stride, we had to descend again down to a small village called Pobgreen. It had an inviting looking pub and we were ready for our lunch by this point, but we had to soldier on as we had a return train to catch.  Just a note here: as you head down the lane to Pobgreen you will get to a point where you can keep following the lane or take a stile and footpath sign directly in front of you. Stay with the lane.

​Leaving Pobgreen behind us, we climbed another hill before descending again to another little hamlet. It was here that the guidebook left us feeling a little confused once again. The book said: Follow the lane downhill and once rounding a slight bend, you should see the public footpath fingerpost on the right hand side of the lane, at the edge of a property. Continue past the property and along a narrow fenced-in path. 

We had no idea whether that meant we had to take the footpath or walk past the house and take the next footpath. We walked back and forth a few times before deciding to take the very narrow path behind the house as indicated by the fingerpoint sign. And it was the right choice. We soldiered on through fields of sheep, before crossing a bridge, and heading up another hill with the sound of a shooting range echoing around us. At last we got to the Brun Clough Reservoir, where we had a brief picnic lunch and aired our hot feet. Until this point, the sun had stayed hidden behind clouds but it was super humid.

After lunch we joined the Pennine Way and made our way across the gorgeously wild and remote moorland, passing several reservoirs as we went. The sun was now blazing and the brown peaty water looked very tempting for a dip. At one of the reservoirs (Black Moss) there was even a tiny beach, which would make an idyllic wild camping spot. 

Don't forget to join the Glamoraks community.  That's where you find out about walks like these and get to meet up with people you don't know, make new friends and see new places. And subscribe to the Glamoraks newsletter here. 

You'd think that walking in summer would be the easiest of all the seasons. Right? Glorious sunshine on your back and not having to contend with blizzards or deluges or biting winds. 

But walking in summer can actually be a bit of a challenge. Here are my top six summer walking hazards and how to deal with them. 

1. Heat
In the UK at least, it rarely feels hot enough to worry about overheating. But a long march across a shade free field in blazing sunshine can get very hot and it's easy to get sunburnt. And if you're in a hotter country, it's easy to get heatstroke if you're not used to walking long distances in high temperatures. Always apply sunblock, take a sunhat and drink plenty of water. And I mean a lot of water. Drink little and often to stay hydrated as you go. I just carry a water bottle for a short walk, but for a longer hike, I'll fill my 2 or 3 litre hydration system to ensure I don't run out. If you are hiking long distances, make sure your backpack is well ventilated, with space between your back and the pack, to allow air to flow through. You stay much cooler and less sweaty that way. I use this one, which works great. 

2. Nasty plants
One of the joys of winter walking is that you don't get nettles. Well not many. As soon as summer comes round, many of the footpaths become massively overgrown and nettles threaten to sting your legs as you brush past them. They're particularly prevalent at styles and kissing gates, where you have to squeeze past while the nettles prickle menacingly through the gaps. Wear lightweight long trousers (I swear by these Craghoppers), rather than shorts. This will give your legs some protection. Also, find a Nettle Stick* or use a walking pole. (*A large stick to hold nettles and other overzealous plants back as you squeeze along a track - they're free. Look on the ground!) This stick will come in handy for hazards 3 & 4 too. If you do get a nettle sting, look for a dock leave and rub the leaf on the sting. It helps relieve it (a bit).

Another poisonous plant to look out for is Giant Hogweed. This can grow up to 5 metres tall, and is normally found along footpaths and riverbanks. If its sap gets in contact with your skin, it can cause really nasty burns, which are made worse by sunlight.

Although snakes, poisonous plants and grumpy cows may seem alarming, walking in the UK really is pretty safe. These few hazards are simply worth being aware of and preparing for. If you are walking elsewhere in the world - particularly in a country you're less familiar with - take a moment to look up any local plants, animals or pests that could pose a danger. Better to be safe than sorry. 

Now head out and enjoy that sunshine! And remember, one of the best things about walking in the summer is the longer days and evening, meaning you can still fit in a good length walk after work and enjoy watching the sunset. 

​Got any other summer walking tips? Share them below.

Join the Glamoraks community to meet other women who also like to walk.

Women join Glamoraks because they want to find someone to go walking with. It gives them a chance to meet new people, have companionship and feel safer or more confident when heading out for a walk. But even with the wonderful global community of Glamoraks, there may be times when you don't have anyone to go with you, particularly if you're planning a last minute walk. Or you may just feel the need for some solitude. 

Don't let a lack of walking buddy stop you from putting those boots on.

While walking with others helps you connect at a far deeper level than our instant society normally allows and the joy of an experience shared is joy doubled, walking alone can be just as good for the soul. Here's why:

Without human company, you get time to simply be. Your thoughts are free to fly in and out of your mind with gay abandon. There's no need for conversation, although talking out loud to yourself can be liberating. As is singing loudly without a care about being off key. You have the time to absorb the beauty of the world and marvel in it.  And being witness to the magnificence of nature feels like a secret gift that is yours entirely. Your time is yours, the pace your own. You choose when to stop, when to move on.  Added to all of it is a slight frisson of fortitude. You are alone and that in itself is a brave thing in an overcrowded world. Your inner spirit of adventure will raise its head and you will want to yell, 'I am woman, I am fearless. Hear me roar!'

So if you are in need of some time to yourself and an escape from the masses, here on some tips on walking solo:

1. Tell someone where you will be going.
2. Take a map, snacks/water and a phone for - emergencies only (not to chat to friends or to check facebook).
3. Choose somewhere not too remote for your first solo walking experience so that should you get lost, you can find your way back to civilisation.
4. Don't take an ipod or music. Let nature be your soundtrack.
5. Give yourself time. To really benefit from a true sense of freedom, ensure you have time to go at a pace without constraints.
6. Don't worry about being attacked (a concern some women have). Baddies tend to hang out in busy city locations, not under a bush waiting on the off chance for a passing walker.
7. Do be wary of farm yard dogs and bulls in fields. Change your route if necessary.
8. Choose somewhere with expansive views for a true feeling of freedom.
9. Stop and talk to fellow walkers on the way. Little snippets of human connection can break the monotony of a long walk alone and adds the sense of connection again.
10. Finally, don't forget to mix it up and walk with others too. Too much solo walking can get lonely. Think of a solo walk as an occasional mental spa break treat.

Share your solo walking experiences with me below. And feel free to join the Glamoraks community so that on the days you do want walking company, you can find someone to walk with. Also be sure to sign up to the newsletter to be kept abreast of walking ideas, events and initiatives.