In brief
Faced with a lack of diversity on Britain's trails, Rhiane Fatinikun founded Black Girls Hike in 2019, aiming to foster inclusivity in outdoor pursuits, offering a supportive community for Black women to explore the UK's natural landscapes.
Rhiane Fatinikun stood at the rear of a winding, determined procession ascending Ingleborough's challenging stone steps, offering encouraging words as they climbed. The group of 15 women, part of the Black Girls Hike initiative, was tackling one of three peaks in Yorkshire Dales National Park. Founded in 2019 by Fatinikun, Black Girls Hike addresses the visible racial disparity on Britain's trails. The aim is to reshape the perception that outdoor adventures are exclusive to the white middle class. By encouraging participation among Black women, Black Girls Hike opens new pathways for inclusivity in Britain's natural spaces.Fatinikun, moved by Black women's experiences of being unseen and unable to embrace their true selves in natural settings, dedicated herself to providing a platform where they could feel free and empowered. For these women, her hiking group offers a space for breaking barriers, building community, and redefining personal limits in the great outdoors.
