Meet the Duo Behind the Queer Hiking Club That's Taking Over the U.K.

Dykes Who Hike started with a casual, post-basketball drink between Lucy Cooper and Yasmin Message, where a chat about their shared love of hiking turned into a light-hearted idea to start a group of their own. At the time, they figured it might be the two of them and a couple of friends. But, their London-based hiking group quickly turned into something much bigger, something that "offers a chance to build connections in a social media-driven world," shares Message.

It's been just over a year since their first hike in March 2024, which brought together 60 people. The second hike saw an even bigger turnout, with over 200 people arriving to take part. The numbers were so great that they could barely squeeze onto the train. From a small, hopeful idea to a full-blown LGBTQ+ community, Dykes Who Hike has grown into one of the most exciting grassroots movements in the U.K. -- drawing queer people from all over to hit the trails, make friends and build connections that feel genuinely special.

We caught up with Cooper and Message to talk about their unforgettable second hike, their full-circle collaboration with Arsenal Women's FC and expanding Dykes Who Hike to new locations.

Scroll down to read the full interview. For more content on sports communities, read about our chat with Late Night Menu Crew.

On The Best Hike They've Been On

Cooper: Our second hike will always stand out as one of the most unforgettable hikes we've because it was so surreal. The first one had been wild enough with 60 people, but the second, before we'd even started ticketing, was something else entirely.

Message: I remember that we turned up at the station, and there were so many people everywhere. Everyone was meeting for the first time and it felt like such a turning point. It was in the middle of a rainy week, but the sun came out that day and the hike was just beautiful. We had a special lunch spot, and we ended it at a massive pub garden by the beach – everyone sat, relaxed and took it all in. You know those days where everything just clicks? It was one of those.

On Using Social Media to Build Communities

Message: In a time where social skills can be lacking, and many of us feel shy about connecting in person, there's a real need for community. Events like our hikes help to foster that, offering a chance to build connections in a social media-driven world. Social platforms help you find people, but it's meeting face-to-face that really makes those connections stick.

On Their Collaboration with Arsenal Women's FC

Cooper: I wasn't a massive football fan – I used to play, but didn't properly follow through with it. When I moved to London, my one gay friend was an Arsenal supporter, and all of her gay friends were, too. So, I kind of fell into it and became an Arsenal supporter.

Message: As Dykes Who Hike grew, I wanted to go to a game, but none of my mates were keen. One of the girls from our first-ever hike works in brand communications at Arsenal and offered me some ticket info. I put it on our story and 50 people replied. From there, it snowballed. It's a great fit -- so many people in our community already support Arsenal, or had always wanted to go to a game, but didn't have anyone to go with, so, it felt like the perfect way to combine the two worlds. Like the hikes, it's all about creating ways for people to connect.

On Future Aspirations for The Club

Cooper: My dream for Dykes Who Hike is to expand by setting up groups in new locations. Right now, most people who join our walks are traveling from other parts of the U.K. We've received messages on Instagram, from people telling us that they love our community but wish that it were in other cities, too.

In response, we've reached out and allowed them to start a Dykes Who Hike in their own area. The results have been amazing to see. For example, the person who runs the group in Shropshire often messages us, saying she can't believe she's found queer friends in her county, through doing Dykes Who Hike. Even though it's a small group of around 15 people, they do everything together -- Christmas markets, cinema trips and of course, the hikes.

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