Soft Girls Who Hike: Meet Emily and Lucy, the women behind the #softhiking viral trend

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton.

Soft Girls Who Hike: Meet Emily and Lucy, the women behind the #softhiking viral trend

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton.

Lucy Hird and Emily Thornton stand posing for a photo near Dove Stone Reservoir near Greater Manchester

This episode takes us to the beautiful Dove Stone Reservoir on the edge of Greater Manchester, where Liv Bolton walks with Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird — the duo known as Soft Girls Who Hike.

They’re the voices behind the viral #softhiking trend — a social media movement that’s reached millions and is redefining what it can mean to go for a walk in nature. Their message? Hiking doesn’t have to be intense or hardcore. You can take it slow, go at your own pace, and still reap all the benefits of being outdoors.

Emily and Lucy, who live in Manchester and the Peak District, credit their time hiking together with deepening their friendship, helping with grief, and sparking a vibrant online and real-life community through their group walks.

Liv joined them for a gentle hike to learn more about the women behind the movement — and why they believe soft hiking is appealing for so many right now.

We hope you enjoy the conversation — and a big thank you to Emily and Lucy!

The Soft Girls Who Hike episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below.

Liv, Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird record the podcast sitting down in a wood overlooking Dove Stone Reservoir

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk

You can find photos of all the podcast guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix

Emily and Lucy are on Instagram @softgirlswhohike

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

Liv, Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird record the podcast sitting down in a wood overlooking Dove Stone Reservoir
Liv, Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird walk around Dove Stone Reservoir while recording the podcast
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Liv, Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird pose for a photo by Dove Stone Reservoir

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

This episode of The Outdoors Fix was kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.