Update: Coach tickets are selling out quickly and may no longer be available. If they are sold out, please plan to arrange your own transportation to the Wilderness Centre in Gloucestershire.

----

The Black Girls Hike Summer Camping Weekender 2026

Good food, good company, and time outdoors. A weekend for us, by us.

Take some well-deserved time for yourself this summer and join us for an unforgettable July weekend in the heart of the Gloucestershire countryside. We've taken care of all the details so all you need to do is book your place and show up ready to have fun!

Essential Information

Dates: Thursday, 23rd to Sunday, 26th July 2026

Location: The Wilderness Centre, Wysis Way, Plump Hill, Mitcheldean, GL17 0HA

Group Size: 90 attendees

What to Expect:

The Setting: We have exclusive use of The Wilderness Centre, a stunning 30-acre estate featuring wildflower meadows and an ancient woodland overlooking the River Severn and the Malvern Hills.

Your choice of accommodation: This year, we have a range of accommodation from dorm rooms in the on-site lodge to bell tents to a large campsite for those who want to camp. So whether you want to keep it simple and sleep under the stars, or prefer to be indoors with a great view of the rolling Gloucestershire meadows, you choose what works for you.

Delicious food: You’ll be well fed throughout the weekend by a Caribbean private chef team. Expect proper comfort food with plenty of flavour, from dishes like jerk chicken, curry mutton, butterbean curry, rice and peas, grilled fish, vegan options, BBQ plates, and fresh fruit punch on BBQ night.

Dietary requirements can be catered for, just let us know when you register.

Fun and Interactive Activities: We have a team of on-site facilitators and each day will include a mix of activities and free time, with opportunities to engage as much or as little as you like.

A Community Built for You: Whether you come alone or with a friend, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive space for Black women. We set up a group chat before the weekend so you can start connecting ahead of time.

Who's It For

This summer weekender is open to Black/Mixed Race cis & trans women, and non-binary people of Black African and/or Caribbean descent.

It is beginner-friendly and designed to be accessible, especially for those new to camping or outdoor experiences.

A basic level of fitness is helpful for activities like the group hike, which will be at a moderate pace. You should be comfortable walking for 3 hours on uneven, hilly ground.

You are always free to skip any activity if it doesn’t feel right for you.

The Activities

Here's just a sample of the activities that will be provided throughout the weekend:

Afro Stargazing - On the first night, we'll kick off with a guided talk and stargazing experience exploring African and diasporic astronomical knowledge, ending outdoors with an opportunity to do some stargazing and reflect on what we see in the night sky.

Morning Yoga - Every morning will begin with some mindful movement as part of a yoga class.

Group hike through the Forest of Dean – A Black Girls Hike guided walk through ancient woodland and open trails, with options for different paced groups so you can move comfortably and enjoy the experience.

R&B Line Dancing – A fun and interactive workshop where you’ll learn simple line dance routines to R&B and soul music, designed to build confidence on the dance floor.

Get Your Hoop On! Intro to Hula Hooping – A playful, beginner-friendly session exploring hoop tricks on and off the body, blending movement, dance, and fun with no prior experience needed.

Nature Photography – A relaxed creative walk combining grounding, observation, and photography techniques using your phone to help you learn to capture nature in new ways.

About The Wilderness Centre
The Wilderness Centre is based at Wysis Way, Plump Hill, Mitcheldean GL17 0HA.

The Wilderness Centre includes:

• A 30-acre estate with 25 acres of wildflower meadow and 5 acres of ancient woodland.

• A main house with dorm rooms, communal spaces, dining room, and breakout areas

• Bell tent village and campsite with nearby facilities

• Shared access to indoor toilets and showers across the site - The house has five bathrooms (12 toilets and 10 showers in all) the tent village has 4 (gas powered) showers and 4 toilets. People from the tent village or campsite can easily access the facilities in the house, through the courtyard.

Accommodation And Costs

The Wilderness Centre offers a range of accommodation options:

Camping (£349) – Enjoy your own private sleeping space. Bring your own tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Outdoor toilets and showers are nearby, with access to indoor facilities.

Bell Tent (£379) – Share a bell tent with one other person for an outdoorsy, semi-private experience. Bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Outdoor toilets and showers are nearby, with access to indoor facilities.

Dorms (£429) – Stay in a shared room indoors in the main lodge building with four people per room. Bedding is provided, and indoor toilets and showers are easily accessible. Just show up!

For those who are unemployed or are students, a limited number of tickets are available at a discount to make the tickets more accessible for you. Please email Camara at camara@bghuk.com to share your situation and enquire about this.

Needing camping gear?

BGH has partnered with Camping Kit Hire to make camping simple, affordable, and completely stress-free. Forget the hassle of choosing gear or dealing with packing and returns, everything is sorted for you.

For campers, you can hire a full package for £40, which includes:

• A 2-person tent (recommended for one person)

• A 3-season sleeping bag

• A foam roll mat

• Delivery to and collection from the event

If you’re staying in a bell tent, a sleeping bag and mat are available for £22.

All equipment is clean, sanitised, easy to set up, and perfect for summer camping. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a promo code and booking link. Your gear will be ready and waiting when you arrive, and collected at the end of the weekend, so you can just turn up and enjoy it.

Getting To The Wilderness Centre

BGH Coach (£25): BGH has a private coach available to take attendees to the centre from Central London on Thursday afternoon and back on Sunday afternoon, with limited tickets available. Those taking the coach should meet at Green Park Station at 1.30pm on Thursday and will be dropped off at the same place at around 5pm on Sunday. The journey will take about 3 - 3.5 hours.

Driving: Parking is available onsite but spaces are limited so those planning to drive should book a parking pass when registering.

Public Transport: The nearest train station is Gloucester and is about 30 mins drive away (14 miles). Several taxi companies are located in Gloucester for rides to the centre.

Car-sharing can be arranged through the WhatsApp group. However, if you’re travelling to the Centre without a car, please be prepared to use public transport in case there aren’t enough drivers available.

Meals

All meals are provided by our hired Caribbean catering team and will be available from Thursday dinner to Sunday lunch.  Dietary requirements can be catered for.

Snacks are not included so be sure to bring your own!

Refund Policy

A non-refundable deposit of £150 plus booking fees is required at the time of booking.

The remaining balance is due 60 days before the trip and is refundable up until 30 days before the trip, provided your spot can be filled. Within 30 days of the trip, all payments are non-refundable.

Coach tickets are non-refundable.

Questions

If you have a question about the weekend, please email Camara at camara@bghuk.com.