This Muslim couple are making it easier for you to go hiking in the UK
Summit Special Adventures is a hiking group that makes it easier for Muslims and ethnic minorities to access and enjoy the UK’s beautiful scenery.
If you’d like to explore more of the UK on long walks, you’re in the right place. Hiking enthusiasts Sameed Asghar and his wife Sabah noticed the lack of accessibility to hiking in the community and decided to do something about it. Together, the couple has founded Summit Special Adventures, a family-run mountaineering company based in England.
Summit Special Adventures: a Muslim hiking group
According to the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), ethnic minorities in Britain participate far less in the outdoors than the rest of the population. One of the reasons for this could be a perceived lack of access to outdoors experts in the community; one of the reasons why Summit Special was founded. Founder Sameed is a Qualified Mountain Leader and has over 15 years of experience leading expeditions in the UK and abroad. Co-founder Sabah is also a trained Mountain Leader, who hopes to make it easier for more women to take part in outdoor hikes and walks. Together the adventurous couple are getting Muslims to explore the great outdoors with guided walks in hills and mountains across the UK.
If you’d like to find out more about Summit Special and enquire about joining a hike, you can get in touch with them over on their Instagram page.
Top 4 hiking tips
We asked Sameed and Sabah to share what their top hiking tips are:
- Kit – The most vital bit of kit is a quality pair of hiking boots (that you’ve broken into). A good pair of waterproofs is also key, as the weather in the mountains can change very quickly. We always say prepare for the worst and hope for the best – with the right kit, you’ll enjoy the experience a whole lot more.
- Hydration & Energy– I’ve come across countless clients who do not drink enough on a mountain. A lot of people avoid drinking on a hike out of fear of needing the loo. However, lack of hydration causes fatigue and cramps, so I always encourage people to drink at least 2 or 3 litres of water on a trek. It’s also a good idea to bring food you can snack on regularly whilst on a trek, rather than filling up on a big meal. Nuts and energy bars are super handy on a trek!
- Fitness – Prior to a mountain trek, build your fitness and walk a lot in your local area. If you can, try to add leg strengthening exercises into your daily routine.
- Preparation – Plan your route in advance. Good map reading skills are a must, especially in poor visibility. Always start early and allow enough time so you’re down the mountain at least a couple of hours before dark.
If you’re inspired to plan a hike, some of the most scenic places to trek in the UK are Snowdonia (North Wales), Cairngorms (Scotland), Lake District (Cumbria), Brecon Beacons (South Wales), Yorkshire Dales (North Yorkshire).
All of the above regions have plenty of mountains to choose from. Besides the popular highest peaks in the UK which are Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike, there are several other great hikes which include the Glyders (North Wales) Penygader (Mid Wales), Kinder Scout (Peak District), Cribyn, Corn ddu and Pen Y Fan (South Wales).