Notes From Big Trails

Slow North With Watercolours

Slow North With Watercolours

Stephen Passmore walked 230 miles north from Fort William with painting supplies in his pack, and finished the Cape Wrath Trail 31 days later in fog.

Slow North With Watercolours

Stephen Passmore walked 230 miles north from Fort William with painting supplies in his pack, and finished the Cape Wrath Trail 31 days later in fog.

Past the M6

Past the M6

Mountain leader Jessica Mather walked the Dales Way in four days — and was, for reasons she can't fully explain, really looking forward to passing the M6.

Past the M6

Mountain leader Jessica Mather walked the Dales Way in four days — and was, for reasons she can't fully explain, really looking forward to passing the M6.

I ran 5,000 miles round Britain with £1,000, a tent and a bottle of aftershave

I ran 5,000 miles round Britain with £1,000, a ...

The musician who quit London, shattered his ankle at his own leaving drinks, and still set off to run 5,000 miles round Britain.

I ran 5,000 miles round Britain with £1,000, a ...

The musician who quit London, shattered his ankle at his own leaving drinks, and still set off to run 5,000 miles round Britain.

The Trail Provides

The Trail Provides

Magnus Ross walked 350 kilometres from Fort William to the edge of Cape Wrath, mostly alone, often off-path, and came back with lots to say about bogs, golden eagles, and...

The Trail Provides

Magnus Ross walked 350 kilometres from Fort William to the edge of Cape Wrath, mostly alone, often off-path, and came back with lots to say about bogs, golden eagles, and...

Twelve Thousand Miles Along the Edge

Twelve Thousand Miles Along the Edge

Martyn Howe walked 2,400 miles around the coast of England — and says the moment that surprised him most wasn't a cliff or a cove, but standing on a seawall...

Twelve Thousand Miles Along the Edge

Martyn Howe walked 2,400 miles around the coast of England — and says the moment that surprised him most wasn't a cliff or a cove, but standing on a seawall...

Forty Years to Tengboche

Forty Years to Tengboche

Andy Dickson spent decades dreaming of seeing Everest — and finally got there with his wife and his youngest son, seven layers of clothing, and a hat that looked like...

Forty Years to Tengboche

Andy Dickson spent decades dreaming of seeing Everest — and finally got there with his wife and his youngest son, seven layers of clothing, and a hat that looked like...

A Hardback and the GR221

A Hardback and the GR221

Al and Richard had been married for 37 years when they walked their first trail together in Mallorca — and Al's biggest concern going in wasn't the terrain or the...

A Hardback and the GR221

Al and Richard had been married for 37 years when they walked their first trail together in Mallorca — and Al's biggest concern going in wasn't the terrain or the...

Nothing to Pull Your Attention

Nothing to Pull Your Attention

Hannah Campbell ran 450 kilometres through the Alps and Dolomites, solo, in two weeks — and came back with a strong opinion about mountain guides, Elizabeth Arden eight-hour cream, and...

Nothing to Pull Your Attention

Hannah Campbell ran 450 kilometres through the Alps and Dolomites, solo, in two weeks — and came back with a strong opinion about mountain guides, Elizabeth Arden eight-hour cream, and...

Germany to Italy, One Step at a Time

Germany to Italy, One Step at a Time

Andy Dixon wanted to spend proper time with his son. Scott Dixon chose the toughest Alpine crossing he could find — and Andy packed crampons he didn't need, for a...

Germany to Italy, One Step at a Time

Andy Dixon wanted to spend proper time with his son. Scott Dixon chose the toughest Alpine crossing he could find — and Andy packed crampons he didn't need, for a...

Just Follow the Acorn

Just Follow the Acorn

Martyn Howe walked 19 of Britain's national trails, met a three-legged dog on the Pennine Way that taught him something important, and discovered that the hardest part of any of...

Just Follow the Acorn

Martyn Howe walked 19 of Britain's national trails, met a three-legged dog on the Pennine Way that taught him something important, and discovered that the hardest part of any of...

All My Chocolate

All My Chocolate

Jess Day on walking three thousand kilometres of New Zealand, asking for help, and the most honest reason to bail out of a mountain range.

All My Chocolate

Jess Day on walking three thousand kilometres of New Zealand, asking for help, and the most honest reason to bail out of a mountain range.

The One Thing I Have

The One Thing I Have

Morgan De Silva walked sections of the South West Coast Path looking for space to breathe — and found, somewhere on the Jurassic Coast, the most isolated mile he'd experienced...

The One Thing I Have

Morgan De Silva walked sections of the South West Coast Path looking for space to breathe — and found, somewhere on the Jurassic Coast, the most isolated mile he'd experienced...

You Can't Plan for Stanton

You Can't Plan for Stanton

Jennifer Stevens walked the Cotswold Way expecting a gentle amble and found something considerably more interesting — including a field of unexpectedly friendly sheep, a perfect sunset and one moment...

You Can't Plan for Stanton

Jennifer Stevens walked the Cotswold Way expecting a gentle amble and found something considerably more interesting — including a field of unexpectedly friendly sheep, a perfect sunset and one moment...

Who Knew It Was There?

Who Knew It Was There?

Claire Morgan-Hughes lives right on the South Hams Way — and she still keeps finding sections she's never walked before.

Who Knew It Was There?

Claire Morgan-Hughes lives right on the South Hams Way — and she still keeps finding sections she's never walked before.

Four Years South

Four Years South

Ryel Kestano has been walking the GR5 in annual stages with his children since his son was twelve — this is what happens when you commit to a trail that...

Four Years South

Ryel Kestano has been walking the GR5 in annual stages with his children since his son was twelve — this is what happens when you commit to a trail that...

A Mouse, A Storm and the Great Glen Way

A Mouse, A Storm and the Great Glen Way

Words by Rob Savin She'd eaten well. A proper meal on a floating pub moored on the Caledonian Canal — she thinks it's called the Eagle Barge, somewhere between Loch...

A Mouse, A Storm and the Great Glen Way

Words by Rob Savin She'd eaten well. A proper meal on a floating pub moored on the Caledonian Canal — she thinks it's called the Eagle Barge, somewhere between Loch...

Three Islands, One Week, No Plan

Three Islands, One Week, No Plan

Janie Oates took ferries between Tenerife, La Palma, and La Gomera with three friends and a rucksack full of wraps — and still isn't entirely sure how far they ran.

Three Islands, One Week, No Plan

Janie Oates took ferries between Tenerife, La Palma, and La Gomera with three friends and a rucksack full of wraps — and still isn't entirely sure how far they ran.

The Bakery in Callander

The Bakery in Callander

Pawel Cymbalista ran the Rob Roy Way in under twelve hours, through forests and along lochs he'd been wanting to see since he spotted a viaduct from a car window...

The Bakery in Callander

Pawel Cymbalista ran the Rob Roy Way in under twelve hours, through forests and along lochs he'd been wanting to see since he spotted a viaduct from a car window...

One More Out of It

One More Out of It

Jennifer Stevens has walked the Cumbria Way twice, and knew she'd be back before she'd even finished it the first time.

One More Out of It

Jennifer Stevens has walked the Cumbria Way twice, and knew she'd be back before she'd even finished it the first time.

Something in the Air

Something in the Air

Nicola Whitbread walked the Anglesey Coast Path alone, sleeping under the stars on ledges she found by instinct — and somewhere along the way, the island got under her skin.

Something in the Air

Nicola Whitbread walked the Anglesey Coast Path alone, sleeping under the stars on ledges she found by instinct — and somewhere along the way, the island got under her skin.