Glamoraks is a global online community that connects women so that they have someone to go walking with either in their local area, or to a place they're travelling to. Glamoraks members are all different - with different ability levels, interests and goals. It's useful to learn about other members to get inspired by their stories and to realise that these aren't just names in an online community, but real people. 

Meet Louise Shorten, a Glamoraks member who lives in a small village south of Ripon in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire. She shares her experience of being part of Glamoraks and what it's given her. 

I'm married (20th anniversary this year!) to Chris and we have two children - Jack, 16 and Millie, 12.  We also have a little dog called Harry, and somehow (!) two ponies, Fleur and Bobby.  I work at home for my father's business located in the USA and I manage the company's marketing.  We lived in the USA for a year and returned back to the UK in 2014, then moved home to North Yorkshire (where I am from originally) last summer.

I am up for any type of walking and adventure but I most enjoy multi-day hike and long trails.  Chris (somewhat reluctantly) and I completed the coast to coast walk last year after walking it over the three holidays - I'd love to do it in one go!  Other walks/ambitions on my to-do list are: High Cup Nick, the Camino Way, complete the Wainwrights and to camp out/sleep in a bothy!  I also have a love of maps and relish the challenge of navigating.  I have completed my NNAS Silver award but I would like to complete the gold in the future and now I am in the perfect environment to do this!

I'd joined Glamoraks in the hope of meeting new friends to walk with who live near me as when I moved I didn't know anyone other than my extensive family who mostly live in Yorkshire.  It's also difficult as an adult to make new friends quickly and to develop a deeper relationship than the occasional "hello" and chit chat - so Glamoraks hits both objectives in one.

I've been on two weekends away with Glamoraks (Malham and the Coastal Caper) and I've joined and organised a few walks.  I have met lots of fellow Glamoraks and have made some new lovely friends!  We're all different but it's great to chat about our loves and to share a love of walking and the outdoors. 

When you go somewhere new with new people you've never met, you never know what it's going to be like so I did have a sense of nervous anticipation but I just thought that most of us will be in the same boat - what had I got to lose and worse case if I didn't like it, I could choose not to go again!  I did enjoy it very much though and felt very happy with the sense of possibilities for getting out and about that could come from it in the future.  The opportunity to meet new friends isn't going to come to me so I have to make it happen in whatever way I can.  Being out of your comfort zone can be stressful but you will never regret it and will always grow stronger from it.

I think Glamoraks offers a safe as possible environment in which to connect and meet other women who love walking.  It offers a platform for inspiration and motivation to get out and be adventurous.  Like many women as they get older, I feel a greater sense of vulnerability and have an eroding level of confidence but Glamoraks provides an opportunity to regain some of our former selves and some of the joie-de-vivre of our youths!
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My advice to other women is: life can be short so just do it - NOW!!!  Life might pass you by and before you know it your situation may change and the opportunity could be lost.
 
I've definitely been inspired by other Glamoraks.  We've all have our fair share of baggage but it's great to know that you're not alone.  It's a chance to discover new places, to be uplifted, motivated to get out and feel great!  I'm looking forward to my next Glamoraks walk wherever that may be...

If you want to get out walking more often, make new friends and explore new places, join Glamoraks. You get a two week free trial to test it out first so what is there to lose?  CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Glamoraks was set up to help women find other women to go walking, hiking or adventuring with.

Picture this: you have a free weekend or day and want to head outdoors for a good long walk. You could go on your own, but you'd rather have some company. However, no-one you know is free. Do you scrap the idea or go alone?  That's where the Glamoraks community kicks in to help you find a new walking buddy. So how does it work? 

Here's a real life example from Jo Shaw, a Glamoraks member from Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Jo describes herself as a beginner walker on her community profile, saying:

"I’m very new to walking and would love to meet up with others for walks in and around Yorkshire. I would love to make some new friends, get fitter and have fun!"

Here's how she used Glamoraks to meet someone new to go walking with:

After signing up to the new Glamoraks network I put a post up asking if anyone would mind if I tagged along on a walk in the Leeds area and Claire Woodland replied to say she would be up for going walking with me.  Together, we decided on a date, location and time and then posted our walk as event on the app to see if anyone else wanted to join us. 

Where did you walk?
We went walking in Yorkshire Sculpture Park and managed a leisurely walk of just under 6 miles.

What was the experience like?
It was a really great experience! I was nervous about meeting up with someone new and I can get quite anxious in new situations but as soon I met Claire I felt at ease. We had lots in common, never ran out of anything to say.  Our pace of walking was the same too so it was really lovely to not feel rushed or worried that we were holding anyone up.  After the walk we had a well deserved ice cream in the sunshine and chatted about walks we would like to do in the future. As my first ever walk with someone I didn’t know, I thought the experience was great and has given me the confidence to go on more walks with new people. 

Have you got plans for future hikes?
Yes, I'm now arranging another hike for June and am happy to have others in the area join me. 

Would you like to meet other like-minded women to get out walking with? Join Glamoraks. We have 1,200 members across the UK and now in a number of countries around the world. 

Glamoraks come from all over the world. We're all at different ages and stages but we share one thing in common: a love of the outdoors. 

Meet Pang Kim Buay
Kim lives in Singapore, has two grown up children and she teaches chemistry at A-level. Her walks are mostly in parks or coastal, anywhere between 3 and 7km in length. She describes herself as a beginner/intermediate but she began walking back in 2003. 

Who or what inspired you to get into walking?
I had health problems and high blood pressure so my doctor recommended exercise to control it.

Is there a particular walk you’ve done that really sticks out in your mind? 
1) I did the Milford Track guided walk in New Zealand for three days when I was about 24 years old.
2)The hike up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan last year at 58 years old-felt a sense of achievement as I had not walked uphill (900 m) much as the only hill in Singapore is 164 m high. I managed to do the 4 hours trek (round trip) with my not-too-good knees for three reasons: I practiced climbing my local hill for three weekends, I wore knee guards and I used hiking poles

Why do you enjoy walking? 
It makes me feel good as our body releases good endorphins during exercise. I love nature very much. Its good for my health. It lets me socialise with friends when I lead the walk.

What walks or challenges are on your bucket list?
1) Trails in Canada's National Parks
2) Sapa rice fields 
3) Walk the Great Wall of China again but in different region

What’s the biggest walking challenge you’ve undertaken?
Upon return from Bhutan, I became hooked on climbing not too difficult hills/mountains.  So I went across to Malaysia and climb Gunong Lambak in Kluang/Malaysia.  It was unexpectedly more difficult than the trek in Bhutan as I really needed to hold on to the ropes to get up at some parts.  Fortunately I went with the same two younger colleagues as our Bhutan trip and we encouraged each other to reach the top.

Tell us one unusual thing about you unrelated to walking?
I am crazy about travelling!

What advice would you give to other women about walking?
Use walking for bonding and exercising purposes.  Our University friends of about 10 ladies sort of reunite for walks about three times a year.  I've lead about eight walks already since 2015.

Why did you decide to join Glamoraks?
I have always loved the English countryside as I studied in University of London Institute of Education in 1983/1983 on our Government scholarship.  It is one country that I love visiting again and again.  I loved the walk to see Seven Sisters near Brighton and some short walks in Lake district last year.  

What do you want most from the Glamoraks community?
To see and enjoy the experiences of many like minded people from all parts of the world and hopefully join some walks by Glamoraks when I visit England again after retiring.  Next year I will be 60 years old.

If you would like to get inspiration from other women from around the world who also enjoy walking, meet up with them, take on new walking challenges or explore, join Glamoraks - an online community making women around the world happier one step at a time.