Notes from Big Trails

Martyn Howe talks to us about how he walked the coast of England - following what has become the King Charles III England Coast Path . Martyn shares: How the walk began with a single acorn waymarker in Cromer What it’s like to stitch together a coastal path that was still being completed Unexpectedly wild places like The Wash , where land and sea seem to dissolve Industrial coastlines in the North...

In this episode of  Notes from Big Trails , Rob is joined by Peak District local and author  Anna Paxton  for a walk-and-talk on the Eastern Moors. Anna’s book,  Peak Bagging Peak District , brings together 121 of the region’s most rewarding hills — including the Ethels — into 32 carefully designed routes for walkers, fastpackers, and trail runners. Rather than treating summits as boxes to tick, t...

Janie Oates joins  Notes from Big Trails  to talk about a self-designed running adventure across the Canary Islands. Starting with a race trip to Gran Canaria, Janie and three friends came up with the idea of running across multiple islands — Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera — using ferries to link them together. Over the course of a week, they crossed volcanic landscapes, climbed ridgelines above...

Stephen and Richard Ross from Big Trail Adventures walked the Alta Via 1 in mid-September, one of Europe’s most celebrated high routes across the Dolomites. In this episode, we cover: What the Alta Via 1 actually is — and why it’s known as a “high route” How hard it really is, day to day Planning late versus booking far in advance What it’s like staying in Italian mountain refuges (food, showers,...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Jennifer Stevens ( Tiny Pine Outdoors ) to discuss her solo journey across the Cotswold Way in the summer of 2024. Stretching 102 miles from Chipping Campden to the Roman city of Bath , the trail offers a unique blend of "picture-postcard" scenery and deep, ancient history. Key Discussion Points: The Reality of the Terrain:  Why the "gentle rollin...

Hannah Campbell set out to run a long section of the Munich-to-Venice trail — known as Der Traumpfad, or The Dreamway — travelling solo from the Bavarian Alps, through Austria, and into the Italian Dolomites. Over 15 days, Hannah covered around 450km, averaging roughly 30km per day, staying almost exclusively in mountain huts and carrying everything she needed in a 20-litre pack. What she expected...

In this episode of  Notes from Big Trails , Rob speaks with Mel Sykes about completing the winter Spine Race — a 268-mile, non-stop race along the Pennine Way in January. Mel talks about: What makes the winter Spine fundamentally different from long summer ultras Moving for days in darkness and learning to manage sleep deprivation Hallucinations, emotional swings, and the strange logic of extreme...

In this episode we talk to Richard Newsome — Mountain Bothies Association volunteer, responsible for Rohoish Bothy and involved in wider MBA work across the West Highland Way. What we cover: Why bothies create such a strong emotional pull for walkers What actually happens on a maintenance visit The strangest things Richard has found behind a bothy door Vandalism, rubbish, winter conditions — and w...

A father and son take on the Alpine Crossing of the E5 — the section that starts in Germany, crosses Austria, and finishes in Italy. It’s six days of demanding terrain, high passes, long descents and huge scenery. In this conversation, Andy and Scott talk through: What the E5 actually  is  (and why most people only walk the Alpine bit)  Their tough but brilliant first two days: steep climbs, vast...

Rob chats with adventurer and writer  Elise Downing  and her dad Dave about their five-day trip around the  Tour des Fiz , a quiet alpine loop near Chamonix. They talk about choosing this as Dave’s first big outing after hip surgery, the joy of slower days, navigating tiny French huts, run-ins with sheepdogs, gear they always carry, and why this lesser-known trail is such a good entry point for hu...

In this episode Rob talks to Juls Stodel, a trustee for the Mountain Bothies Association. It's a rich conversation. Here's what we cover. How finishing the Wales Coast Path led to giving up her flat and starting a 15-month journey through Britain’s bothies  Why she avoided a “pure foot” approach and mixed walking with hitchhiking and buses to prioritise experience over mileage  The postcar...

In this episode of the podcast, Rob talks to  Andy Dickson  about his Glimpse of Everest trek in Nepal – a condensed Everest Base Camp route that stops at  Tengboche Monastery , giving you that first clear view of Everest without pushing further into the highest, most committing part of the trail. Andy talks about juggling a demanding career in financial services with a deep pull towards the mount...

In this Episode we talk to Sara — travel designer, long-distance walker, and creator of the Instagram account  The Last Invaders - about her West Highland Way adventure. What drew her from Italy to the West Highland Way Planning mistakes, last-minute fixes, and the realities of walking 20km a day How the weather turned out  nothing  like she hoped The proposal on the edge of Loch Lomond What it’s...

In this episode Al and Richard talk about their adventure on the GR221 in Mallorca. They definitely wanted this trail to feel like holiday so they gave themselves time each day to finish in time for an unhurried cold drink in the evening. Hear about what they packed, what they saw and how they changed their approach to walking after seeing how the locals took on the trails.

Today’s guest is  Craig Dickson , a keen hiker who’s completed long-distance routes all over Europe — from the West Highland Way and Alta Via 1 to the Tour du Mont Blanc. But in this episode, he takes us to Switzerland and Italy for something a little different: the  Tour of the Matterhorn , often mistaken for the Haute Route. In this episode: Craig explains how the Tour of the Matterhorn compares...

ennifer Stevens joins Rob to talk about her six-day walk along the  Cumbria Way , one of England’s most scenic and accessible long-distance trails. She first walked it in 2021 and couldn’t resist returning — this time swapping wild camping for cosy farm stays and shepherd’s huts. They discuss: Why the Cumbria Way keeps calling her back The mix of remote valleys and quiet villages Her favourite ove...

Author and ultra-runner  Ally Beaven  swaps mountain races for mountain passes, walking the legendary  John Muir Trail with his partner Karen. Over 340 kilometres and two weeks, they cross high passes, navigate wilderness logistics, and rediscover the joy of moving slowly. We cover: What makes the John Muir Trail so special Why permits and planning shaped their whole adventure How two people share...

The Cape Wrath Trail is a name that makes seasoned hikers raise an eyebrow. It’s 350km of wild terrain from Fort William to the far northwest tip of Scotland — much of it without a clear path. In this episode, Magnus Ross joins us just five days after completing it. He talks about: What it’s  really  like to walk the UK’s hardest trail The long days of solitude and how they changed how he thinks a...

The  Alta Via 1  in Italy’s Dolomites is one of Europe’s classic long-distance trails — about 120km of steep climbs, rocky passes, and unforgettable mountain huts. In this episode, I talk with Marijke, who travelled from Montana to hike the trail with her best friend. Over long days and big climbs they shared laughter, grappa, and the sheer awe of the Dolomites. Marijke also brings a deeper perspe...

In this episode, Rob talks with  Jennifer Stevens , creator of the  Tiny Pine Outdoors  YouTube channel, about her very first long-distance hike: the  West Highland Way  in Scotland. Jennifer hiked the 96-mile route in 2020, taking ten days to walk from Milngavie to Fort William. Along the way she: Faced the infamous Devil’s Staircase with a heavy pack Wild camped in stunning spots and stayed in b...

In this episode I talk with  Martyn Howe , author of  Tales from the Big Trails . Martyn set out to walk every one of the UK’s national trails — a journey that took him from the wild coastlines of Pembrokeshire to the vast openness of the Pennine Way and the remoteness of the Southern Upland Way. We talk about: The rhythm of trail life and why its simplicity is so powerful The moments of awe (and...

In this episode, I talk with Bodil Outshoorn — Product Manager at On Running for the Elite Footwear Programme, PhD in shoe grip, and passionate long-distance adventurer. Bodil and a friend ran the Via Egnatia, an ancient Roman road running 500km from Albania to Greece. They covered it in just 12 days, averaging a marathon a day through mud, mountains, and border towns. Along the way they discovere...

Join us as we discuss the Alps and the legendary  Tour du Mont Blanc  — the 170km loop around the Mont Blanc massif and one of the most popular trails in the world. I’m joined by Ian and Emily from  TMBtrailguide.com , who’ve been helping hikers for over eight years with their camping guides and consultations. Based in Boulder, Colorado, they first hiked the route in 2017 and have returned many ti...

Simon Oxley spent 23 days on the Sierra High Route — a 195-mile trek through California’s Sierra Nevada that’s as demanding as it is spectacular. Known as one of the toughest trails in North America, the route weaves across Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia–Kings Canyon, with over half of it completely off-trail. Simon shares what it’s like to travel through such remote wilderness, how off-trail...

In this conversation, Jennifer Stevens shares her experiences hiking the Great Glen Way in Scotland, discussing the trail's accessibility, the beauty of nature, and the challenges faced along the way. She reflects on her happiest moments, the difficulties of wild camping, and the interesting people she met during her journey. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of solitude and independence in w...