Notes from Big Trails

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...

What does it take to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc 60 times? In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning author and International Mountain Guide Kingley Jones, who knows this iconic trail better than almost anyone. We talk about what makes the TMB so special, Kingley’s favourite huts, the people he’s met along the way, and his tips for anyone planning to take it on themselves. If you’ve ever dr...

Stephen Ross, founder of Big Trail Adventures spent a week in the Lakes testing four things: 1. A new route that connects 35 Wainwrights in the Eastern Fells in a continuous loop. 2. A new version of the Big Trail Adventures App 3. Some new tech - how to keep his devices charged 4. His fitness! In this episode, Stephen tells us how all that testing went. It's not just an insight into walking the W...

A story from Sarah and Ros who walked the South Downs Way in summer, 2025. We hear about what makes the trail so popular, where to stay and Sarah and Ros's favourite kit from their week of walking. A huge bonus from this episode is advice on how to pack for this trip without having to spend weeks in the gym lifting weights to prepare for hauling a heavy bag around!

There's a lot to test when you're building a business. In this episode Stephen Ross, founder of Big Trail Adventures talks us through his plans to test a new route, the latest version of the Big Trail Adventures app and some new tech.

In 2025 Kirsty Reade ran the Northern Traverse for the second time. 190 miles across England from St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay in one go. Once the race starts, the clock doesn't stop. In this episode Kirsty talks about the highs and lows of completing Wainwright's Coast to Coast trail in one go. The lack of sleep, new perspectives and how to look after your feet!

In July 2025 the organiser's at the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon faced a huge test. The night before the event rain came down in torrents. Fields were cut in half by rivers that appeared from nowhere. The wind blew down critical infrastructure. In this episode the organiser of the Saunders, Stephen Ross explains how he and his team not only managed to allow the race to go ahead but made it...