Clare Dyson: Mountain Leader, Slow Adventure Advocate and Creating Space for Women in the Outdoors

Clare Dyson is a Mountain Leader, outdoor facilitator, and founder of the Women's Adventure Academy, based in the Lake District where she has spent over 20 years guiding people through the mountains and valleys she calls home. With a deep passion for slow adventure, Clare is dedicated to helping people reconnect with nature, move at their own pace, and build confidence in wild spaces. Her work blends outdoor leadership, education, and storytelling, creating opportunities for others—especially women—to step outside, explore remote places, and feel at home in the outdoors. In this episode, Clare shares her journey from growing up with a love of sport and horses to becoming a Mountain Leader, working across the Lake District, and shaping a life rooted in nature, freedom, and connection. She opens up about the challenges and opportunities of working in the outdoors, and why slowing down can often lead to the most meaningful adventures. We also explore the creation of the Women's Adventure Academy, how it came to life, and why building confidence, community, and skills in the outdoors is so important for the next generation of women adventurers. Listen to this episode to hear how Clare has built a life around slow adventure, why nature can be a powerful space for healing and growth, and how you can start creating your own outdoor adventures—no matter your pace or experience. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x   *** Show notes Living in Kendal in the Lake District for the past 22 years  Living with her dog and partner  Working in the outdoors as a Mountain Leader and Gardener Enjoying life in her mid-forties  Being a freelancer for Fjall Raven  The Fjall Raven Classic, UK  Doing a Masters in outdoors experiential learning   The Big Hoof Charity  Setting up the Women's Adventure Academy with Anna Blackwell  Being sporty and outdoorsy from a young age Starting horse riding in her teenage years Having her family home burn down during her teenage years and how the outdoors helped Her journey into the outdoors and how it evolved  Going to university and getting into rock climbing  Heading over to New Zealand  Moving up to the Lake District after graduation  Gaining experience in the outdoors and being surrounded by brilliant people sharing their knowledge Becoming a Mountain Leader Not knowing where to start What adventure looks like now Slow adventure and being in tune with the natural world Working with young people  Being asked - what do you really want to do? Wanting to ride a horse around the Lake District Heading off in May Meeting incredible people on the way Pushing the boundaries in a slow and different way Why it's ok to go slow in the outdoors  The Women's Adventure Academy and how it came together Making a film called 'Thriving' with Fjall Raven Building confidence and skills Deciding to run the Women's Adventure Academy on her own  Why setting a date is so helpful  The BBC making a 1 minute film and it going viral! The Lake District is like an ecological desert  Starting to celebrate the farmers who are doing a lot  Deciding to do a second journey and visit the regenerative farmers Having the film premiere at Kendal Mountain Film Festival  The next slow adventure  Doing an 8 day adventure across the Lake District with the Big Hoof Charity Figuring out her masters dissertation topic How to connect with Clare on social media Final words of advice  Set a date Find your tribe   Social Media Website:  www.womensadventureacademy.com  Instagram: @_claredyson