Imagine a networking experience that feels more like a fun day out with friends than a stressful professional event. Welcome to The Outsiders Excursions – where connections happen naturally, and the great outdoors is our backdrop!
What exactly is an Outsiders Excursion?
Our monthly meet-ups are all about bringing people together in the most relaxed way possible. We head to breathtaking natural spots around Edinburgh, combining a casual walk with plenty of opportunities to meet new and interesting people. No awkward name tags, no forced small talk – just genuine connections and fresh air.
The meet date and time is always the same, between 10am –12pm every final Friday of the month, but the location always varies. If you want to check out some of our favourite routes for inspiration, head over to this blog where you’ll find all our routes!
If you’d like to see The Outsiders in action, one of the community, Robbie Durham of CutAcross Media made us this lovely little video.
A Typical Outsiders Excursion: What to Expect…
Prior to the event (if you’re signed up), to ensure you are all set, you’ll receive an email the day before with details on the meeting point, parking/transport, loos and refreshments, as well as any final details based on the weather conditions.
On the day of the event people will start to arrive just before 10am. There will be relaxed chatting until most are there, and then Katie, who leads the group will set the tone with a short and friendly introduction.
Next, regular members of The Outsiders will host smaller group introductions, where we go round a circle in groups of 8-10, introduce ourselves and share one great thing that has happened in the month.
Then we’ll head off for the walk. The walk is usually 5-6km at a relaxed pace, and with plenty of stops to mix up and talk to other people. The terrain can vary based on the location, but sturdy footwear is always recommended.
About halfway round, we usually stop and have some kind of short interactive activity to give you a chance to meet others, learn and support one another. This changes each time!
Finally, we’ll return to the start point, and often people will stick around for a coffee or some food, or else heading back to their work day! There’s always a lot of buzz afterwards, and new attendees will be invited to join our growing WhatsApp Community.
We’re always open to suggestions and ideas so once you’ve attended, we’d love to hear what adventures we could go on next and how we could develop this wonderful community.
Our goal is to make you feel radically welcome. Existing members are encouraged to help newcomers feel comfortable, creating a ripple of connections.
Ready to Join an Adventure? Head to the homepage to check out what’s coming up!
Other FAQs:
What happens if it rains or is very windy?
As we get closer to the event we’ll keep a close eye on the weather. If it’s just light rain we’ll go anyway, and if it’s heavy rain and/or wind, we might either shorten the route and lengthen the time in the café, or cancel the walk altogether. Finger crossed it won’t come to that, we’ve been lucky so far!
Will there be toilets and somewhere to get food / drinks?
We always try to start and finish somewhere where there are toilets and a cafe close by. There will be information on this in the brief email that goes out the day before, and also on the booking page on Eventbrite.
Will there be somewhere to park nearby / park my bike?
Yes, we always look for places that you can easily park / access via public transport or lock bikes. There will be details on all of this on the booking page on Eventbrite or in the email that will be sent to you the day before.
How many people attend The Outsiders Excursions?
Between 20-50 people regularly attend these events. We cap it at 50 to ensure the group is still a manageable size. There is plenty of opportunity to mix up amongst the group, so if you would like to meet lots of people then you will be able to do that.
I’m worried about whether I will be able to keep up with everyone on the walk. Should I come?
The walk is at a very slow pace, so should be manageable for most people. The walk will be 5-6km with plenty of stops along the way.
I get nervous about networking. Will I feel welcome?
YES! This is a super relaxed and friendly group, and everyone who has attended a few times is encouraged to introduce new attendees to people they know, spreading a ripple of connections through the group. We want you to feel radically welcome to The Outsiders, it’s not really networking at all, more like “freelance friends”.
Can I bring my child / dog?
Yes! Absolutely! You are responsible for your dog / child at all times, and it is up to you to decide whether or not you feel your dog / child will cope okay with a large group of people. But if you do, they are very welcome.
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