Stephanie Boon, also known as Stephie, is a solo hiker, backpacker, and writer based in Cornwall, UK.
As the creator of the blog Ten Mile Hike, she shares practical and candid guides to hiking trails, offering inspiration for anyone looking to explore the outdoors on a tight budget. Hiking has been a lifeline for Stephie, helping her build resilience while managing lifelong bouts of depression.
Now 60, Stephie continues to challenge herself and inspire others, recently fulfilling a bucket-list goal by hiking the iconic West Highland Way. Through her honest storytelling, she encourages women of all ages and abilities to embrace solo adventures, proving that lack of money or experience should never be a barrier to exploring the beauty of nature.
In this episode, Stephie shares her journey, the challenges she faced on the West Highland Way, and her advice for anyone dreaming of their own solo adventure. Listen now to be inspired by her story!
***
Catch the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, dropping every Tuesday at 7 am UK time! Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women.
Want to play a part in uplifting female representation in the media? Support the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon! Your generosity helps shine a spotlight on female role models in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Join us in making a positive impact by visiting www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Thank you for your amazing support!
Show notes
- Stephanie Boon also know as Stephie
- Being based in Cornwall, UK close to the South West Coast Path
- Qualified Lowland Leader
- Having a blog - called “Ten Mile Hike” that is an inspiring and practical resource for anyone who wants to get into hiking in the UK
- Honest articles about how nature, being outside, hiking and backpacking has helped her with her mental health
- Suffering with long periods of depression since 23
- Now 60 years old
- Wanting to inspire other people of a similar age to get outside and go hiking
- Growing up in North London
- Moving to Cornwall when she was 19 to go to art school
- Why Cornwall is home and has been for 40+ years!
- How walking became a much larger part of her life
- Going to the South Downs and doing Youth Hostelling at 16 and how it changed her perspective on what she could do
- Getting into solo hiking
- The end of a long term relationship
- The experience of being alone in nature
- Creating the blog (Ten Mile Hike) and website and sharing more of her journey
- How hiking has helped her mental health
- Wanting to show women that it is possible to hike and go outside solo and why lack of money and experience shouldn’t hold you back
- Turning 60 and wanting to walk the West Highland Way (a bucket list hike)
- Not having a lot of money available to go hiking
- Doing the hike with her son who had never done a backpacking trip before
- Why turning 60 has been terrifying
- Losing a good friend
- Don’t waste a day, and enjoy every moment.
- What if I’ve only got 10 years of good health?
- Being stuck for years and wanting to unstick herself
- Needing to book things in and make a commitment to yourself
- Challenges on the West Highland Way
- Starting walking at 1pm and walking into the dark
- Cold, rain, mice and dealing with a broken tent!
- How to connect with Stephie
- Starting her Youtube Channel
- Final words of advice and wisdom
- Don’t be afraid to take small steps
- Don’t compare yourself to anyone else
Social Media
Website: www.10milehike.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@stephie_10milehike
Instagram: @tenmilehike