Louise Quinney on hiking as head space, moving to her dream location and why the outdoor community is like no other
When she’s not working her desk job, you can bet that you’ll find Ascendancy Apparel ambassador Louise (Lou) Quinney hiking in the mountains, exploring remote corners or mapping out her next adventure. Lou chats to us about how she developed her own love for the outdoors and how you can grow the confidence to head out on your own hilly escapades.
Lou in the Kort training shorts and the New Heights seamless vest
Lou, who heads up the learning and development strategy for a global defence company, first discovered a zest for hiking in her early twenties, when she would head out with friends on the weekends.
“Prior to this I grew up with horses,” she said. “We lived in a little village in the middle of nowhere and I was a very outdoorsy kid. Horses were my thing and I lived and breathed them until my mid-twenties. When I started hiking, it wasn’t really a cool thing to do and I’ve definitely noticed an increase in its popularity as a hobby since the pandemic.”
While she was born and raised in Lancashire, Lou’s job took her down South and for many years she travelled around for work. She now works from home and has recently moved to the Lake District, a dream destination for anyone with a bug for hiking and the outdoors.
“As my work situation is so different now, moving to the Lakes was a no brainer,” Lou confirmed. “It’s where I spend most of my free time anyway, and I’m closer to Scotland, too, which is one of my favourite hiking destinations. During the week my job requires me to be at my desk, so by the weekend I’m always itching to get out.”
After her initial taste of hiking, Lou intermittently headed back out into the hills when she could, but during the pandemic her love for the activity was completely reinvigorated.
“I went through a separation from my husband in February 2020,” explained Lou, who is also a keen mountain biker and paddle boarder. “We were together for 17 years and married for 12, so the split obviously had a massive impact on my life. Hiking was a huge help; it allowed me to get some well-needed headspace and get my thoughts in order. I started going on solo hikes and soon after I started my social media page.”
With just under 10,000 followers, Lou’s Instagram page showcasing her trips to glorious destinations is the ideal inspiration for anyone looking to get into hiking.
“I wasn’t aware of the outdoor community on social media until someone I was dating introduced me to it,” she said. “My Instagram account was previously very private and never really had a theme to it. In September 2020 I started posting my hikes consistently and began connecting with other people who were into the same stuff. It was so surprising at how lovely and supportive the community was and soon I’d signed myself up for some group treks. I’ve made some friends for life off the back of my Instagram account and we regularly meet up for trips.”
Lou’s favourite place to explore is Scotland but she also visits Wales and new locations around her home in the Lakes.
“Scotland takes my breath away; I did the North Coast 500 and I fell in love with the area. In the Lakes, I love the quiet, unspoilt locations of Wasdale and Buttermere.”
Lou’s main advice for anyone looking to get out there is to utilise the resources available:
“Reach out and engage with those on Instagram; I’ve never met anyone who wouldn’t be happy for someone to join them on a hike. Start going out on hikes with people with a little more experience so you can gain some confidence before you head out solo.
“You should also become familiar with a navigation app; I personally use Komoot but there are several to choose from.
“Taking a compass out and learning how to read a map is essential, too, as you can’t always rely on your phone when in the mountains. Taking a mountain navigation course can also be really helpful.
“There’s also no need to worry about having all the gear at the beginning; you can source stuff over time and decide if you actually want to pursue hiking first. I’ve got a lot wiser over time about the right kit to take with me. I prefer to wear thin, light layers so I don’t get too hot.
“I also take great care of my boots and ensure they’re washed after every hike and are regularly reproofed.”
Lou is now full steam ahead to a season full of winter hiking:
“It’s my favourite time of year and I can’t wait for some snow,” she said. “My best purchase has been a pair of MICROspikes which pull over my boots. They’re amazing and I would definitely recommend them to anyone moving through snowy terrain.”
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH LOU
INSTAGRAM: @lou.quinney