About The Hiking Club
Since 2018, we have combined firsthand trail experience, verified information, local expertise and purpose-built technology to help self-guided hikers confidently plan their own multi-day journeys.
We believe the best journey is one you shape for yourself. Our role is to give you the information and tools to make every decision with confidence.
Discover our story ↓
Our story
The Hiking Club began in 2018 after co-founders Susan Perry and Brendan Jones completed their first multi-day hike in Europe: the Walker’s Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt.
The experience on the trail was remarkable. The experience of planning it was fragmented and overwhelming. Route statistics differed between sources, accommodation and transport information was scattered, and it was difficult to understand how one decision would affect the rest of the itinerary.
Packaged and guided trips already served hikers who wanted someone else to organise their journey. But independent hikers had few tools designed around the decisions they needed to make for themselves.
Self-guided hikers didn’t need someone to take over their journey. They needed better information and better tools to plan it themselves.
That idea became The Hiking Club: a planning platform built specifically for self-guided multi-day hiking and supported by firsthand trail experience, verified information and local expertise.
Behind the trail data
Routes change, transport timetables are seasonal and accommodation booking processes evolve. We combine firsthand experience, multiple data sources and local knowledge to give self-guided hikers information they can use when making their own decisions.
Firsthand route knowledge
Every main trail route available through The Hiking Club has been hiked by someone on our team. This gives us essential context for interpreting route data and understanding how individual stages connect.
This firsthand coverage applies to every main route, but not necessarily every optional alternative.
Multiple sources
Hiking distances, elevation figures and route information are compared across multiple sources. Differences are investigated and considered in the context of the complete route before information is incorporated into our platform.
Local and official monitoring
Our team monitors information from local authorities, tourism offices, accommodation providers, transport operators, qualified guides and other relevant trail sources.
These sources help us identify changes involving closures, warnings, detours, seasonal transport and other issues that may affect a saved itinerary.
Expert review
Community observations and trail submissions add valuable recent context, but they are not published automatically. New submissions are reviewed by the expert responsible for the relevant trail.
What we believe
The Hiking Club exists for people who want to plan and experience a multi-day hike independently.
We provide the information, tools and expertise that make informed decisions easier—without taking ownership of the journey away from the hiker.
01
You choose your pace, itinerary, accommodation and priorities. Our role is to help you understand those choices—not to package the experience or make every decision for you.
02
Important hiking decisions should be informed by checked data, relevant sources and current context. When information is uncertain, we believe that uncertainty should be made clear.
03
Official information, qualified local expertise and recent observations each reveal something different. Strong decisions come from understanding how those perspectives fit together.
04
Self-guided hikers should arrive prepared, respect local communities, follow responsible trail behaviour and help protect the mountain environments through which they travel.
Behind The Hiking Club
The Hiking Club brings together professional experience in customer experience, commercial strategy, data and product development—with firsthand knowledge of the trails we support.
Co-founder
Brendan leads product direction and development at The Hiking Club. His professional background at HSBC supports his focus on dependable, data-led products and systems.
Trail focus Mont Blanc, Pennine Alps, Monte Rosa and Bernese Oberland
Co-founder
Susan leads customer experience, commercial development and trail research. Her previous experience includes Booking.com, Procter & Gamble and Hootsuite.
Trail focus The Dolomites, including Alta Via 1, Alta Via 2 and Alta Via 4
Local trail experts
Trail statistics and official information are essential, but they do not tell the complete story of a mountain route.
Our Expert Access consultations connect hikers directly with someone who knows their trail. Depending on the route, your consultation is delivered by Brendan, Susan or one of our independent local trail experts.
Valais · Switzerland
International Mountain Leader
A Valais local, trail runner and specialist in the Tour des Combins and surrounding Pennine Alps. Jonas delivers Expert Access consultations and private hiking experiences.
Scotland
International Mountain Leader
A Glasgow local, global peak summiter and specialist in the West Highland Way and Scottish mountain environment. Ricky delivers Expert Access consultations for West Highland Way hikers.
A wider trail community
Our Trail Ambassador program brings recent observations from hikers travelling across the routes we support.
Ambassadors share photographs and information from the trail during the hiking season. These contributions help our team understand how routes and conditions are changing between official updates.
Community submissions are an additional source of recent context. They do not replace official information, local expertise or expert review.
Explore the ambassador program →From trail observation to useful information
Hikers share recent photographs and trail information.
The relevant trail expert checks the submission.
Relevant context becomes available to the hiking community.
Don’t take our word for it
Based on feedback from 200+ customer reviews.
"The daily detailed information is accurate. The map is up to date and correctly routed. I cannot recommend it enough—it made me feel safe.
The journey belongs to you
We provide the trail information, planning tools and specialist expertise to help you shape your own multi-day hiking journey with confidence.
Supporting self-guided hikers since 2018
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