Notes From Big Trails

Two Sticks of Rock

Two Sticks of Rock

Elise Downing on running Britain's oldest road in three days, with two friends trying to walk it at the same pace.

Two Sticks of Rock

Elise Downing on running Britain's oldest road in three days, with two friends trying to walk it at the same pace.

Out of Season

Out of Season

What it's like to walk eight hundred kilometres through the Alps when the huts have closed and the shops are shut.

Out of Season

What it's like to walk eight hundred kilometres through the Alps when the huts have closed and the shops are shut.

Just Keep Moving North

Just Keep Moving North

Mel Sykes ran the Winter Spine Race — 268 miles along the Pennine Way, non-stop, in January — and finished in 125 hours with wet feet, hallucinations, and a borrowed...

Just Keep Moving North

Mel Sykes ran the Winter Spine Race — 268 miles along the Pennine Way, non-stop, in January — and finished in 125 hours with wet feet, hallucinations, and a borrowed...

Nobody Else to Blame

Nobody Else to Blame

Elise Downing and Kirsty Reade have both spent a lot of time on trails by themselves — and they’ve both finally realised that axe murderers aren’t the real risk.

Nobody Else to Blame

Elise Downing and Kirsty Reade have both spent a lot of time on trails by themselves — and they’ve both finally realised that axe murderers aren’t the real risk.

Two Sisters, One More Day

Two Sisters, One More Day

Sarah and Ros do a trail together every year — a week, their own kit, sleeping somewhere new each night. I spoke to them on the eve of their final...

Two Sisters, One More Day

Sarah and Ros do a trail together every year — a week, their own kit, sleeping somewhere new each night. I spoke to them on the eve of their final...

Sixty Times Around The TMB

Sixty Times Around The TMB

Kingsley Jones has completed the Tour du Mont Blanc 60 times, in every season, and still finds unexpected solitude on a trail that tens of thousands of people walk each...

Sixty Times Around The TMB

Kingsley Jones has completed the Tour du Mont Blanc 60 times, in every season, and still finds unexpected solitude on a trail that tens of thousands of people walk each...

Just Gets Better the Further South You Go

Just Gets Better the Further South You Go

Ally Beaven walked the John Muir Trail with his partner Karen — two weeks, 340 kilometres, a pre-dug cat hole every morning, and a bear on day eleven that arrived...

Just Gets Better the Further South You Go

Ally Beaven walked the John Muir Trail with his partner Karen — two weeks, 340 kilometres, a pre-dug cat hole every morning, and a bear on day eleven that arrived...

The Hidden Gem Behind the Matterhorn

The Hidden Gem Behind the Matterhorn

Craig Dickson walked a circuit of the Monte Rosa Massif with his wife Daisy — wildflower meadows, glacier crossings, a lightning storm, and a fondue stop on the way home....

The Hidden Gem Behind the Matterhorn

Craig Dickson walked a circuit of the Monte Rosa Massif with his wife Daisy — wildflower meadows, glacier crossings, a lightning storm, and a fondue stop on the way home....

He Couldn't Kneel on the Rocks

He Couldn't Kneel on the Rocks

Sara and Marco walked the West Highland Way as their first long trail — and came back with blisters, a baggage transfer conversion, and an engagement they didn't plan for.

He Couldn't Kneel on the Rocks

Sara and Marco walked the West Highland Way as their first long trail — and came back with blisters, a baggage transfer conversion, and an engagement they didn't plan for.

Someone Has to Carry the Bottles Out

Someone Has to Carry the Bottles Out

Richard Newsome has been looking after bothies on the West Highland Way for 12 years — the bothy books, the chimney cowls, the rubbish, the Burns Night with strangers from...

Someone Has to Carry the Bottles Out

Richard Newsome has been looking after bothies on the West Highland Way for 12 years — the bothy books, the chimney cowls, the rubbish, the Burns Night with strangers from...

No Path, No Signs, No Cairns

No Path, No Signs, No Cairns

Simon Oxley spent 23 days wild camping through California's Sierra Nevada on a route with no trail markings and no GPS track — carrying 17 kilograms, a polycarbonate bear canister,...

No Path, No Signs, No Cairns

Simon Oxley spent 23 days wild camping through California's Sierra Nevada on a route with no trail markings and no GPS track — carrying 17 kilograms, a polycarbonate bear canister,...

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...