Ciss Outdoors is an independent outdoor and travel publication exploring places through time spent outside. Writing draws on personal experience and regional familiarity, with an emphasis on practical judgement.
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether it’s too late to start getting outdoors, this is for you. If you’ve been watching people summit mountains, camp under the stars, or navigate their way across rugged trails and thought, “That looks amazing… but I don’t know where to start,” this is your sign.
Because the outdoors isn’t reserved for those who’ve been doing it their whole lives.
It’s for anyone who feels that quiet pull toward the hills, the forests, the sea. It’s for anyone curious enough to begin.
The outdoors is full of incredible people. Lifelong explorers, early starters, professionals who’ve turned their love of nature into a way of life. But that doesn’t mean you have to have been climbing mountains since you could walk to belong here.
If you’re just starting out, or even just thinking about starting, this space is yours too.
Starting from Scratch is Absolutely Valid
I didn’t grow up traversing mountain ridges every weekend. My dad was a Royal Marine, yes, but I didn’t join him on hikes or navigation days as a teenager. I spent a lot of my time indoors, playing sport, living life as most of us do. The outdoors wasn’t my thing then.
I only started to flourish in the outdoors in my mid-30s. After chronic illness, when I was rebuilding my life from the ground up, I turned to the hills. Step by step, I developed my skills and knowledge. I built my community. I found my feet.
If you feel like you’re “late”… guess what? That doesn’t disqualify you. In fact, it makes your beginning meaningful because you’ve arrived exactly when you needed to.
Common Worries When Starting Outdoors
“Do I belong?” Yes, trust me.
“But I don’t have the gear, or the background, or the confidence.” That’s okay, these are all built over time.
“Everyone else started young; they’ve got the head start.” A – not everyone stays young (look at me!). B – So what? You’re here now. And now is perfect.
You don’t need a lifetime of experience to step outdoors. You don’t need the fanciest kit or the biggest achievements. The outdoors doesn’t check your age, your CV, or your fitness level. It only asks: are you here? are you willing? are you ready to take that first step?
How to Begin Your Outdoor Journey
- Start small. A local walk, a wander through your nearest woods, a quiet hour by the sea. It doesn’t need to be huge to be real.
- Follow your curiosity, ask questions and explore new paths. The outdoors looks different for everyone, and you may enjoy planting trees more than hiking mountains.
- Connect. Not because you need a big group, but because sharing leads to friendships. A trail with someone else, a chat over coffee afterwards, or a message that simply says, “Fancy a walk this weekend?”
- Be gentle with yourself as a beginner. You won’t know everything, you’ll make mistakes, you’ll laugh, possibly get cold, and maybe turn back. That’s all part of it.
- Remember that you belong. It is easy to stumble and lose confidence, to question if should be there. Please keep going, it just takes a little time to settle in.
What I Hope for You
I hope you know that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
I hope that instead of thinking “I’m too late,” you start to think, “I’m just getting started.”
I hope you find people who say, “Fancy a walk?” and mean it.
And I hope you find places that surprise you, moments that inspire you, and experiences that remind you how capable you are.
Ready for That First Step?
If you’re reading this and thinking yes… make it real.
Pick a time, pick a place, and commit to one small outdoor moment. Even 30 minutes. Even just around your local park or green space.
Do it for you.
Do it as you are.
And if you ever need a little inspiration or a reminder that you belong out there, I’ll be right here, walking the same path, cheering you on.
Because the outdoors isn’t reserved for lifelong explorers, it’s open to everyone.
And yes, that includes you.
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Related reading:
Finding Your People: Building Outdoor Community from Scratch
Solo Wild Camping: Confidence, Comfort & Safety in the Outdoors
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