"The Hills Don't Talk Back": An Autistic Walker's Story

An illustrative story — names and details are fictional, written to reflect experiences commonly shared with us by autistic people. Want to tell your own story? Email info@outsidersclub.co.uk.

"Everything was always too loud"

Sam is 34 and was diagnosed autistic at 29. For most of his life he didn't have words for why supermarkets left him shaking, or why a day in an open-plan office meant spending the whole evening lying in a dark room.

"I thought I was just bad at being a person," he says. "Everyone else seemed to cope. I'd hold it together all day, then fall apart at home."

The constant effort of masking — copying other people's facial expressions, rehearsing small talk, forcing himself not to flinch at noise — left him permanently exhausted.

The first walk

Sam's sister talked him into a short walk on a quiet hill near her house. He went reluctantly, expecting to be bored.

"About twenty minutes in, I realised my shoulders had dropped. There was wind, and birds, and my own footsteps — but none of it was asking anything of me. The hills don't talk back. They don't need you to make eye contact."

He started going out alone every weekend, then joined a small group walk where, he was relieved to find, nobody expected him to chat.

What changed

Sam is clear that the outdoors hasn't "fixed" his autism — and he doesn't want it to. But it's changed how he lives with it.

• Somewhere to recover. After a hard week, a few hours outside brings his sensory load back down far quicker than staying indoors.
• Predictable routines. Same route, same kit, same rhythm. "Walking is the same movement over and over. My brain loves that."
• Company without pressure. Walking side by side means conversation is optional. "Some of my best friendships now started with three hours of saying almost nothing."
• Confidence. Reading a map and planning a route showed him his attention to detail is a strength.

His advice

"Start tiny. Pick somewhere quiet, at a quiet time. Take headphones if you need them. You're allowed to turn back after ten minutes. Nobody is grading you."

The outdoors can support wellbeing, but it isn't a replacement for medical or professional support. If you're struggling, please speak to your GP or a qualified professional.