Our events and walks explained
Most of our events feature a walk of at least an hour. Our “Walk & Workshop” events include a walk of up to 4 hours, with time for nature connection, reflection, rest, and sociable time with like-hearted people. Each is built around a seasonal and/or eco-psychological theme for you to explore.
We do offer more traditional-style walks where we cover a longer distance. These are labelled “Guided Walk” in our event listings. We also hold events that involve no walking; these are labelled “Workshop” in the event listings.
Events that are labelled “Guided Walk” in our event listings involve a walk of 4 to 7 hours, typically. These longer walks are designed to let you connect with nature, rest, and learn about the history, geography and ecology of North Wales. In some of these walks, we will aim to cover a longer distance, with fewer rest stops. This will be flagged in the individual event listing.
Events that are labelled “Workshop” in our event listings do not involve a walk. However, we’ll still have time outside to explore and enjoy nature in the area immediately surrounding the venue. We choose our venues carefully so that you don’t have to go far in order to do this.
We grade all our events so that you can choose the level that suits you best. The walk length is stated in each event description. We classify our walks as easy, moderate, and challenging:
Easy – mainly level paths with some gentle ascent and descent. There’s potential for short periods on muddy or more bumpy areas. When the weather allows there will be time for rest and nature connection activities outdoors.
Moderate – mainly on footpaths but with potential for walking on more rugged, uneven paths and sometimes on open ground. There will be periods of walking uphill as well as descents. When the weather allows there will be time for rest and nature connection activities outdoors.
Challenging – These are full-day walks for people with some experience of walking longer and higher routes. We will cover a fair distance and/or elevation and the terrain will be rugged at times. If the walk involves scrambling, this will be flagged in the event listing.
Our “workshop” events don’t require any walking. You’ll still have time to sit in nature, and if you’re able to, you can have a gentle wander. At these events, we don’t expect that anyone will walk for any appreciable distance. The focus will be on nature connection activities rather than walking.
If your mental health condition is being managed, you’re more than welcome to attend our events. Please let us know about your condition when booking, so that we can plan how best to support you. However, our events are not suitable for people who are in crisis or have had recent periods of prolonged crisis.
Bookings and cancellations
We know that life doesn’t always go to plan, and that you may need to cancel. We’ve tried to devise a cancellation policy that’s fair to you and to us, as it protects the ongoing viability of our workshops. You’ll find a summary of our cancellation policy in each event listing, in the two answers below, and in our Terms & Conditions.
We aim to provide creative and professional workshops that are fairly priced – events which are good value for money as they’re run by experienced guides and facilitators. As a small business, our cancellation policy helps us ensure that our costs are covered and to protect the ongoing viability of our workshops.
– If you contact us more than 7 days prior to the start time of your event, we will give you a full refund.
– If you contact us between 7 and 2 days (48 hours) before the event start time, we will attempt to fill your space from the event waiting list. If we are successful, we’ll give you a full refund minus a £5 administrative fee.
– If you contact us less than 48 hours before the event start time we cannot provide a refund.
– If you’re unable to attend an event, you can transfer your ticket to a friend. If you’d like to do this, please email us their name, email address and mobile number.
Please read our Terms & Conditions carefully before you book as they include important information, such as the full details of our cancellation policy.
We put a lot of thought into bespoke events that we create for you, such as Mountain Days and Workplace Wellness events. For this reason, the cancellation periods are longer than for our scheduled events.
– If you contact us more than 6 weeks prior to your booking’s start date you will receive a Credit Voucher* for the amount** that you have paid to us, minus a Cancellation Charge that is equal to 10% of the total Booking Cost
– If you contact us less than 6 weeks prior to your booking’s start date you will forfeit the amount** that you have paid to us
Eco-psychology and NatureWell
Eco-psychology is a progressive branch of psychology that studies the quality of the relationship between human beings and their natural environment, with a special focus on the impact of this relationship on wellbeing and mental health. Eco-psychology seeks to heal both the earth and humans by remedying the alienation between the two. The term eco-psychology first came into use in the 1960s-70’s. For more info please visit Ecopsychology UK.
Eco-therapy is often a broadly used umbrella term for activities that happen in nature to improve wellbeing. Some people also use the term to talk about a specific psychological intervention that supports people in managing emotional difficulties and trauma. At Guided by Nature, we are qualified to offer both. Our event descriptions will let you know what to expect, as this can range from a light-touch nature connection activity to something deeper and more therapeutic.
NatureWell is an approach to health and well-being that’s being used across the UK supporting people and nature to thrive together. This unique approach has been developed by the Natural Academy, who offer vocational courses in eco-psychology and nature-based practice.
Our NatureWell Programme offers simple and powerful ways for you to connect more deeply with nature in your everyday life, bringing a sense of relaxation, rejuvenation, and revitalisation. It’s an opportunity to meet like-minded people, spend time in nature, and learn about how nature helps us to de-stress, improve our mood, and find new meaning in our lives.
There are five themes to the NatureWell programme: sensory connection, beauty, emotions, connection, and meaning. We’ll explore each theme one at a time, in the form of a series of five afternoon workshops. You can attend these individually or as a whole.