Francesca Donovan: From city life to co-editor of The Great Outdoors magazine

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. This week my guest is Francesca Donovan, a hiker, outdoor swimmer and co-editor of The Great Outdoors Magazine. Now, you might expect someone in that role to have grown up immersed in nature… but Francesca’s background is quite different. Her childhood wasn’t outdoorsy— and for a long time, she didn’t see herself as someone who belonged in those spaces. It wasn’t until her mid-20s, almost by accident — and initially for health reasons — that she discovered hiking, starting with day trips out into the Peak District. But what began as a small step has grown into something much bigger. Since then, Francesca has gone on to explore landscapes across the UK — from wild camping and bothy stays to cold water swimming — all while navigating what it means to find your place in the outdoors, even when you might not think you fit the traditional mould. Francesca took me on a beautiful spring walk near Pym’s Chair in the Peak District — blue skies, wide-open moorland, and skylarks overhead. It was a beautiful setting for a conversation about her work on the magazine, discovering the outdoors later in life, and realising that you don’t have to be a certain kind of person to belong there. I really hope you enjoy our chat — and don’t forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are. Thanks again for listening, Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Francesca Donovan: From city life to co-editor of The Great Outdoors magazine appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. Let me ask you something: How well do you know the trees in your local area? Do you have a favourite? One of mine is an ancient sweet chestnut in the Ashridge Estate in the Chilterns, not far from where I grew up. It’s enormous, with beautifully twisted bark, and it’s thought to be more than 400 years old. It’s the kind of tree you can’t help but stop and stare at for a while. And that’s exactly what this episode is about — noticing the trees around us, and seeing them in a new light. I’m joined by Paul Wood, author of Tree Hunting: 1,000 Trees to find in Britain and Ireland’s Towns and Cities. Paul spent four years travelling across the UK documenting remarkable trees in the places we often overlook — and encouraging us all to pay closer attention to something we usually walk straight past. As he says, if you simply start looking up a little more, it can completely transform how you experience the outdoors. We recorded this conversation while walking through Richmond Park in London — so as you listen, keep an ear out for the sounds around us: woodpeckers, parakeets, and the occasional plane heading to Heathrow… I really hope you enjoy our chat — and don’t forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are. Thanks again for listening, Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Paul Wood: Tree hunting in Britain and Ireland’s towns and cities appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. In this episode, Liv Bolton is joined by Sameed Asghar, who takes her and photographer Frankie Dewar on a hike up to a waterfall in Carding Mill Valley in Shropshire. It turns out to be possibly one of the wettest recordings Liv’s ever done… but also one of the most fun. Sameed is a real force of nature. Despite the rain, he was throwing in handstands and yoga poses along the way, bringing so much joy and energy to what could very easily have been a complete washout. It’s no surprise that he makes a brilliant Mountain Leader — even though that was never something he imagined for himself growing up in Birmingham, where he says his experience of nature didn’t stretch further than his local park. Now, through his hiking company Summit Special Adventures, Sameed has led community and charity groups on hikes across the UK and around the world. At the heart of his work is a strong commitment to introducing people from ethnic minority backgrounds and inner-city areas to the outdoors, and to championing greater diversity in nature spaces. We hope you enjoy the conversation — and a big thank you to Sameed! The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Joy, rain and handstands – Hiking with Mountain Leader Sameed Asghar appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. In this episode, Liv Bolton goes for a wonderfully atmospheric, mist-soaked walk in Eryri [Snowdonia] with Max Swinhoe. Max’s love for hiking runs deep. She’s completed the 2,200-mile long Appalachian Trail in the US, tackled multi-day routes across the UK, and she’s now a Mountain Leader as well as a Mountain Rescue volunteer. But hiking has also been part of a much more personal journey for Max — one of self-acceptance and embracing her upper limb difference. She’s now working to improve the representation of disability in the outdoors community, championing visibility, challenging assumptions, and showing just what’s possible. We hope you enjoy the conversation — and a big thank you to Max! The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Max Swinhoe: Living – and hiking – with an upper limb difference appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. In this episode, Liv Bolton is in the beautiful Wythenshawe Park in Greater Manchester with someone who’s truly impacting lives through nature — Beth Craigen. Beth is an Outdoors Youth Worker for the charity Nacro Greater Manchester Outdoor Learning, a qualified Lowland Leader, and a dedicated volunteer who seems to live and breathe the outdoors. The park is her classroom, her community hub, and the heart of so much of her work. Her passion for nature has helped hundreds of young people discover confidence and connection outside, and she’s opening doors for women from diverse communities — breaking down barriers that often stand in the way of accessing green spaces. A couple of weeks ago, Beth took Liv on an autumnal tour of the park’s 270 acres — from quiet woodlands to the vegetable patch— and she shared her journey into outdoor education. They talked about everything from mountain biking and bushcraft to tree identification and the magic of helping others find their own love of the outdoors. They even bumped into one of her special colleagues! We hope you enjoy the conversation — and a big thank you to Beth! The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Beth Craigen: The outdoors youth worker changing lives through nature appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. This episode takes Liv Bolton to the beautiful Howgill fells in Cumbria to walk with Angela White, better known as the Running Granny. Angela is a retired doctor and surgeon and now an ultra runner and personal trainer. Over the past 15 years, she’s taken on some extraordinary challenges: 100-mile races, 24-hour mountain challenges, and even a Guinness World Record for running 875 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End. And the remarkable thing? She only started running at the age of 53. She’s now trying to spread the message about the importance of staying active throughout life so you can live healthier for longer. Liv joined Angela for a rather steep hike (!) to hear her thoughts on healthy ageing, but also how the outdoors and her running challenges have helped her through some incredibly tough times. We hope you enjoy the conversation — and a big thank you to Angela! The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post ‘It’s never too late’: The Running Granny Angela White on ultra running & healthy ageing appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. This episode takes us to the beautiful Dove Stone Reservoir on the edge of Greater Manchester, where Liv Bolton walks with Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird — the duo known as Soft Girls Who Hike. They’re the voices behind the viral #softhiking trend — a social media movement that’s reached millions and is redefining what it can mean to go for a walk in nature. Their message? Hiking doesn’t have to be intense or hardcore. You can take it slow, go at your own pace, and still reap all the benefits of being outdoors. Emily and Lucy, who live in Manchester and the Peak District, credit their time hiking together with deepening their friendship, helping with grief, and sparking a vibrant online and real-life community through their group walks. Liv joined them for a gentle hike to learn more about the women behind the movement — and why they believe soft hiking is appealing for so many right now. We hope you enjoy the conversation — and a big thank you to Emily and Lucy! The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Soft Girls Who Hike: Meet Emily and Lucy, the women behind the #softhiking viral trend appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. In this episode, Liv Bolton is off to Shropshire for a walk — and a bit of a splash — with Fran Pearson. Fran is the founder of Kitsquad, a brilliant outdoors charity that’s already helped nearly 5,000 people experiencing poverty to get properly kitted out for adventures in nature. Think waterproofs, sleeping bags, rucksacks, walking boots — all donated, and all making a world of difference. Fran’s passion for the outdoors comes from a deeply personal place. And living in social housing and experiencing the realities of life on benefits, Fran knows just how expensive outdoor gear can be — and how that cost can be a major barrier to getting outside safely and confidently. So, in 2020, she set up Kitsquad — turning generosity into access, and tackling gear poverty head-on. Liv joined Fran for a walk near her home in Shropshire. It started off a little soggy— but they dried off inside the Kitsquad warehouse, surrounded by shelves of donated jackets, boots, sleeping bags, and stories. Wanting to hear more about what inspired Fran to start the charity, Liv also asked why she’s so passionate about breaking down the cost barriers to the outdoors. We hope you enjoy this episode and a big thank you to Fran and the volunteers of Kitsquad too! Please be aware that there’s a discussion around a period of difficult mental health in it, so you can find more information and support on the Mind or Samaritans websites. The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post How Kitsquad’s Fran Pearson helped nearly 5,000 people in poverty to access outdoors gear appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton. In the first episode of a new series, Liv Bolton goes for a walk in Sydenham Hill Wood in south London with Chantelle Lindsay. Chantelle knows the 23-acre wood extremely well as she’s a wildlife conservationist who works there for the London Wildlife Trust. She’s also a presenter on CBeebies’ Teeny Tiny Creatures and has reported for BBC Springwatch. Chantelle’s mission is to get young people and underrepresented communities engaged with nature and the outdoors. She’s also a huge advocate for urban green spaces. Walking through the wood, Liv wanted to find out more about Chantelle’s love of nature, what her work in Sydenham Hill Wood involves and how she’s trying to make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible. We hope you enjoy this episode and a big thank you to Chantelle too! The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would be fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Chantelle Lindsay: The wildlife conservationist who loves urban hiking appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. As there are now more than 60 episodes of The Outdoors Fix, and while I’m working on a new series, I thought I’d help you pick out some of my favourite conversations from over the years with these throwback episodes. In this episode, I’m revisiting my conversation with Carla Khouri. Carla is a qualified mountain leader who’s also the course director for Black Girls Hike, a Duke of Edinburgh assessor, paddlesports leader and Merrell Hiking Club organiser. But she lives in London and she used to be a science teacher! Carla is also one of only two black female mountain leaders in the UK and she’s on course with her training to be the only black female winter mountain leader. Carla took me to a beautiful park just minutes from her home in London, and we recorded the episode sitting on the grass within sight of a herd of fallow deer. Someone who’s unafraid of following her heart, Carla’s story left me feeling inspired about having courage to follow your dreams at any age, and the impact of contributing to the outdoors community. The post The Outdoors Fix throwback: Carla Khouri, the outdoors trailblazer appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.