Creating Space for Women in Midlife, One Walk at a Time
This month we held our first monthly menopause walk in Bracknell, an idea that had been quietly taking shape for several months and feels like the start of something really positive.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve found myself becoming more and more aware of how much walking helps me, both mentally and physically. Not just the exercise itself, although that matters too, but the feeling of being outside, moving through nature and stepping away from the noise and pressure of everyday life for a while.
How Walking Brought Me Here
Looking back, walking has appeared in different seasons of my life for years. When my daughter was a baby, I used to wake early before breakfast a few times a week and walk with a neighbour who was also my childminder. Later, when my daughter was at primary school, I joined a local Nordic walking group in Swinley Forest and loved the accountability and companionship it brought. Then during lockdown, walking became something even deeper, a genuine support for my wellbeing during an unsettling and uncertain time.
But like so many routines in life, walking habits have come and gone alongside changing jobs, family life and shifting priorities.
This year though, I made a conscious decision to walk more again.
Partly because I know how much better I feel when I do, but also because I’ve realised how much easier it is when there’s companionship involved. I’ve come to recognise that walking with other people changes the experience completely. The conversations, the accountability, the feeling of shared understanding, even the small moments like swapping book recommendations, recipe ideas or talking honestly about the realities of perimenopause and midlife.
How the Bracknell Walks Came About
That’s part of the reason I was so drawn to the menopause walks run by Faye Andrews, founder of Move Mindset and a qualified Health and Wellness Coach.
I first discovered them through Instagram after seeing a woman I’d met at a local networking event share that she’d attended one. I immediately thought it sounded like such a brilliant idea and started looking for the next opportunity I could join.
Eventually I attended one of Faye’s Friday morning walks at Dinton Pastures last October. What appealed to me straight away was how relaxed it felt. There was no pre-booking, no pressure and no complicated commitment. Faye often says she’ll walk whatever the weather, and oddly that made me overthink it less. I could simply decide on the morning and turn up. I attended another walk later on and then, earlier this year, joined one closer to home at The Look Out in Swinley Forest.
I still remember that morning clearly. The sky was bright blue, the forest was frosty and crisp, and a small group of women who had never met before were simply walking together and talking. Somewhere during that walk in Swinley Forest, the idea came to me that this was something I wanted to help bring to more women locally in Bracknell. Not because I wanted to "run" something, but because I could see the value in it so clearly.
The conversations felt easy and honest. The atmosphere was supportive without trying too hard to be. It struck me how much women need spaces where they don’t have to explain themselves. I also knew that weekends might make these walks more accessible for women who couldn’t easily attend weekday mornings.
Afterwards, I suggested the idea to Faye of hosting a monthly Saturday walk together in Bracknell. Between work, life and even some temporary path closures in the forest due to tree felling, it took a while for us to align diaries, trial routes and finally make it happen.
But this month, we finally held our first monthly Saturday walk together in Swinley Forest.
And honestly, it felt like the start of something really positive.
The walks aren't designed to be challenging hikes or fitness sessions. We walk at a comfortable pace for around an hour, and the route is suitable for most fitness levels. They're simply an opportunity for women in perimenopause and menopause to get outside, move gently, chat and connect with other women who understand this stage of life..
No pressure.
No obligation.
No expectation to be anyone other than yourself.
Just fresh air, movement and companionship.
We’ve decided to keep the first walk free, with future walks costing £4, roughly the price of a coffee these days. It wasn’t an easy decision because we wanted to keep the walks accessible, but we also believe in the value of creating supportive spaces for women and hope to continue growing the walks and future events over time.
If you'd like to find out more, including upcoming dates, FAQs and how to join us, visit the Walk With Me page.
More than anything, I hope these walks become a community. A place where women can decide at the last minute to come along because they don’t want to spend another morning alone. A place where women can turn up whether they’re feeling happy, anxious, overwhelmed or simply in need of a bit of space. Sometimes it might just be about getting out of the house for an hour and having a chat with other women who understand.
Because sometimes support doesn’t have to look huge or life changing. Sometimes it looks like a walk in the forest with women who simply get it.
Monthly Menopause Walks in Bracknell
Our monthly menopause walks take place on the last Saturday of every month in Swinley Forest, Bracknell, at 9.15am. These wellbeing walks are designed to help women connect, slow down and feel supported through midlife.
You can find out more about Faye’s work at Move Mindset, and follow both Sarah and Faye on social media for future walk dates, updates and details.
Whether you're looking for companionship, accountability, fresh air or simply a reason to get out for a walk, you'd be very welcome to join us.
The walks are now held monthly in Swinley Forest, Bracknell, Berkshire. You can find all the details on the Walk With Me page.
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If you'd like more reflections like this, I'd love to welcome you to The Pause.
Once a month, I share thoughtful notes on midlife, walking, wellbeing, seasonal living and everyday life, alongside recent blog posts and what's coming next.
About Sarah
Sarah is the founder of Mindful & Me, a reflective wellbeing space for women in midlife. Through blogs, newsletters and community walks, she shares practical reflections on perimenopause, seasonal living, walking and slowing down in a busy world.