Women’s walking and social group creates community for young women in Preston

An all-girls walking and social group has been set up in Preston as a social space for “the girls, gays and theys”.

Grace Gudgeon is the founder of ‘Girls Who Walk Preston’ alongside her friend, Alex Judge.

Grace Gudgeon and Alex Judge founders of Girls Who Walk Preston

Since the first walk in Avenham Park two months ago, the group has blossomed into a thriving community of like-minded girls (and their adorable dogs) who want to get their steps in while socialising.

With the Girls Who Walk Preston Instagram approaching 1,000 followers the group is constantly growing.

Grace said: “There was never a plan in place, we didn’t set out to do any of this really we just thought we were going to go on a few walks around the park with a few girls, but now we’ve got a whole social calendar of every month.”

The group provides a budget-friendly social outlet for adults (18+) with a monthly schedule including Sunday walks in Avenham Park, bingo, and pub quizzes.

Girls Who Walk Preston on one of their weekly walks

Grace found that after finishing her masters and started working full-time, she felt lost in terms of the social element of life.

She said: “I think because university is quite social, you’ve got societies and clubs and groups and then when you leave that environment, it’s quite a big change.

“We all agree that it’s so hard to make friends when you’re an adult, especially in your 20s and I think 30s, because everyone in your life that you’ve known, especially when you finish uni, might be scattered all over the country.”

The idea of the group stemmed from Grace wanting an affordable and enjoyable hobby.

She said: “I go and walks pretty much every day with my dog so I just started looking on Instagram to see if any of these groups were a thing and they were.

“I just mentioned the idea in passing to a friend in the car back from dance class and she said do it, she was like, why not?”

While larger cities like Manchester and London boast a vibrant scene of walking and social groups, Preston has lacked these dedicated groups, especially for young adults.

This makes the community Grace has created all the more significant, with members frequently expressing their gratitude.

Grace noted the consistent positive feedback, sharing: “I probably have this conversation most weeks about why we started it because people turn up and they say, ‘I’ve been looking for a group like this, and I’m so glad you started it.'”

Grace shared other comment that members have said to her. One member shared: “Every time there’s a walk or a social event on I wake up so excited I look forward to Sunday because I know that I’m coming here for for the walk.”

With a regular events on their monthly calendar and a welcoming community drawing new faces each week, Girls Who Walk Preston is more than just a walking group – it’s a way for young women in and around Preston to connect with like-minded people and make new friendships.

To join their thriving community and stay up-to-date on upcoming walks and socials, visit their Instagram.

Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.