There’s something special about a walk with a purpose. Not just a route from A to B, but a journey...
Yesterday marked something special: the very first Freshwalks for Women event to take place on the Isle of Wight, and I had the absolute pleasure of co-leading it.
The sun shone brightly over the West Wight as a dynamic group of women laced up their walking boots, stepped away from screens, and joined us for a morning of movement, connection, and conversation. The route offered everything you could want from a netwalk: fresh air, open skies, rolling views , and space to talk, listen, and think.
I want to give a huge shout-out and thank you to Claire Beasley, who brought the Freshwalks ethos across the Solent and made this event happen. It was a privilege to help lead alongside her and welcome the women who made the time to invest in their wellbeing and networks.
What struck me most was the energy; not just from the glorious weather (though that certainly helped), but from the women themselves. These were real, grounded conversations: from mid-career pivots and juggling caring responsibilities, to ideas for collaboration and quiet encouragement to keep going with that “thing you’ve been meaning to do for ages.” This is exactly what Freshwalks is all about; meaningful connection through shared experience, without the awkward intros or the pressure of traditional networking.
WightWays is built around the belief that walking and talking outdoors isn’t just good for your body, it’s transformational for your mindset. Yesterday proved that tenfold.
I’m already looking forward to future walks and what might grow from this starting point. If you missed this one, don’t worry, there’ll be more. And if you’ve never tried a Freshwalk before, consider this your nudge.
Let’s keep walking, talking, and cheering each other on.
