Clare Dyson: Mountain Leader, Slow Adventure Advocate and Creating Space for Women in the Outdoors
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
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.
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Listen to Clare Now!
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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
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
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