I’m Marcelina — founder of Walton Horizons. I’m a wife, mum of two, step-mum of three, qualified Personal Trainer, Mental Health First Aider, trained in Mountain Leadership and a lover of the outdoors.

My love for walking didn’t begin with big mountains or dramatic adventures. When I was younger, I enjoyed spending time outdoors, but I didn’t particularly enjoy walking. Over time, one step and one trail at a time, the outdoors became something much deeper for me — a way of finding perspective, building resilience and coming back to myself.

Over the past ten years, hiking has become a way of life. It is also a passion my husband and I have discovered and developed together. We’ve walked many trails across the UK and beyond, including exciting ridges, mountain routes and scrambles. Sharing this love of the outdoors has strengthened us as a couple — giving us time together, shared challenges, unforgettable memories and a passion in life that continues to shape us both.

Alongside my own hiking experience, I've spent many years planning and leading group walks in a variety of settings, always with a focus on safety, building confidence, encouraging others and creating memorable experiences.

A few years ago, after a long period of stress, I was diagnosed with ME/CFS. For a while, I couldn’t move in the way I used to. I couldn’t hike. I couldn’t simply push through. That experience changed me. It taught me the importance of rest, nervous system regulation, gentleness and listening to my body. It also helped me understand, in a very personal way, how powerful nature can be for our mental wellbeing — giving us space to slow down, breathe and reconnect.

This is also one of the reasons I became a qualified Mental Health First Aider, and why I’m so passionate about creating spaces where women can pause, feel heard and reconnect with themselves.

Walton Horizons was born from that journey.

It brings together my love of hiking, my experience leading outdoor groups, my understanding of movement and wellbeing, my Mental Health First Aid training, and my belief that nature, meaningful connection and time outdoors can help us feel more grounded, capable and alive again.

I’ve also spent many years working in corporate environments, where I’ve seen how often people push through stress, pressure and exhaustion because they feel they have to keep going. I get so much satisfaction when I see what happens when teams step away from the desk and into the outdoors: people relax, conversations change, confidence grows, and colleagues connect in a more human way.

That is why Walton Horizons also offers team experiences — outdoor days designed around each team's individual needs to bring energy, fun, challenge and connection back into teams. They are an opportunity to step away from work pressures, achieve something together, build confidence and return feeling refreshed, energised and more connected.

My hope is that every person who joins a Walton Horizons experience leaves with something they can carry back into everyday life — whether that’s a sense of calm, renewed confidence, stronger connections, or the quiet pride of achieving something they once doubted they could do. Most importantly, I hope they leave reminded that they don’t have to face life’s challenges alone.

Walton Horizons is built on a simple belief: nature has a way of helping us breathe again — whether we come to it for rest, perspective, confidence, connection or challenge.