Elise Downing: Life after running 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain

Hello! I’m currently in the middle of producing a new series of The Outdoors Fix podcast. So in the meantime, I’ve got a special episode for you that I think you’ll enjoy! Some of you will remember an episode I recorded with Matthew Bannister back in 2020 - he’s the founder of the multi-award winning Folk on Foot podcast where he goes walking with leading folk musicians in beautiful spots that have inspired their music. I really loved chatting with Matthew and hearing all about how and why he started Folk on Foot, and I’ve devoured each episode over the years. It’s an absolutely stunning podcast, and complete escapism, even if you’re like me and don’t know a huge amount about folk music. So I’m thrilled that he’s let me share with you one of my favourite episodes of Folk on Foot which I think you’ll love. It’s Matthew’s walk and conversation with the author Raynor Winn, who’s bestselling book, The Salt Path, tells the story of her journey along the 630-mile South West Coast Path with her husband Moth, after they’d become homeless and he’d been diagnosed with a terminal neurodegenerative disease. Raynor has also been collaborating with the Gigspanner Big Band to create a show which marries her words about the South West and traditional music from the area. The Outdoors Fix has always been about sharing conversations and inspiration so we can all fit more of the outdoors into our lives - so I hope you enjoy Matthew’s wonderful chat and walk with Raynor and you take away something from it too. There are dozens of other episodes of Folk on Foot available, recorded all over the country, from Shetland to Port Isaac, and with musicians like Eliza Carthy, Johnny Flynn and Karine Polwart. One of my favourite episodes is with Sam Lee where he sings among nightingales in Sussex - I’d definitely recommend listening to that one. Just search for Folk on Foot wherever you get your podcasts, or find them @folkonfoot on social media. If you’d like to listen to my conversation with Matthew on The Outdoors Fix, where he tells me all about his outdoors life and why he set up Folk on Foot, it’s the episode from July 2020. And stay tuned for a brand new series of The Outdoors Fix podcast in the next few weeks! Until then, enjoy your adventures outside - we all know it’s the best place there is. Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos and videos from the recordings on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is now available: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc Folk on Foot team: Host: Matthew Bannister Producer: Natalie Steed Digital marketing manager: Owen Ralph The post Feed swap: The Salt Path author Raynor Winn speaks to the Folk on Foot podcast appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

*10 February 2024 marks 5 years since the first episode of The Outdoors Fix podcast!* To celebrate this milestone, I’ve got a NEW PODCAST EPISODE for you of some of my favourite moments from The Outdoors Fix recordings over the years! I’ve loved speaking to every single one of my guests, but the moments I’ve picked are some of the snippets that have had the biggest impact on me and helped me to make the outdoors a bigger part of MY life. So if you’d like to listen, head to your podcast platform and I hope you enjoy the episode! I’d also love to hear what your favourite episode has been and why. I remember 10 February 2019 very clearly - it was a grey, drizzly day. I shared my first episode and then went on a long walk on the Capital Ring in London with friends to distract and shake off the nerves. It had taken me weeks to make fitting it around my job, I’d freaked out several times over the recording equipment, and I didn’t know whether anyone other than my family would listen to it… But ever since my 10-week Te Araroa hike in New Zealand after burning out, and how much better the outdoors made me feel, I’d wanted to learn from the people who knew more about it than me, and share their knowledge. I hoped that perhaps the podcast could help us motivate and equip EACH OTHER to get outside and experience nature’s power more often. Via 50+ conversations and episodes recorded all over the British countryside (favourite location so far was hiding from the rain in a sheep barn…), I’ve learnt so much about the outdoors, and I hope you might have taken away something too. But most of all, I think what I’ve found most valuable from these past 5 years was discovering something incredibly simple - that even just 10 minutes in nature can make things feel better. It’s a tool that I wished I’d known about much, much earlier. I’ve also learnt that the people who love the outdoors are some of the kindest, most generous and inspirational people I’ve met. So thank you for all the support for The Outdoors Fix podcast since 2019 and to all my wonderful guests. What a ride it’s been! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Liv’s highlights from 5 years of The Outdoors Fix podcast appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

Tom Burns is the ranger and woodsman at Knepp estate in West Sussex, a pioneering rewilding project led by the estate’s owners and conservationists Charlie Burrell and Isabella Tree. But growing up in the town of Crawley and passionate about rugby, Tom never expected that his life would lead him to a career where he’s up at dawn with the birds, coppicing woodland and protecting ancient trees. Tom took me for a walk around Knepp - and we saw so much wildlife, including Exmoor ponies, stags, long-horn cattle and buzzards. It’s a truly beautiful place filled with hope about nature and protecting our planet’s biodiversity. Don’t miss Tom’s suggestions for the best places to see ancient trees at the end of the episode, as well as a minute of the sounds of nature from Knepp for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Tom’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% discount at Merrell.co.uk (One product per person until 31 Dec 2023) Just use the code OUTDOORS20. The post Tom Burns: The Knepp rewilding project’s ranger and woodsman appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

Munira Ali discovered the joy of walking in 2019 when she was struggling with her mental health. She’s now attempting to walk in all of London’s 3,000 parks, spreading the message, particularly within her British-Somaliland community, about the pleasure of exploring urban green spaces. Munira’s enthusiasm about walking in London’s parks is utterly infectious so I couldn’t wait to chat to her and hear more about the impact of the outdoors on her life and why she thinks city green spots are so important. For our walk, Munira took me to Wanstead Park in east London, a beautiful place with ancient woodland, lakes, old ruins, and meadows. Despite living in London for a decade, I’d never heard of it beforehand - so it summed up for me the endless possibilities of exploring from your doorstep - and how a curiosity about your local area can lead to big adventures. Munira shares her must visit London parks at the end of the episode, so don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Munira’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% discount at Merrell.co.uk (One product per person until 31 Dec 2023) Just use the code OUTDOORS20. The post Munira Ali: Walking London’s 3,000 parks and green spaces appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

Sarah Banks is a journalist and writer who’s just spent 18 months researching and writing the Wild Guide to North East England. In search of 1,000 different wild spots for the book, Sarah explored all over Northumberland, the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Wolds and the North Pennines, finding lakes and rivers for swimming to hidden meadows, beaches and ancient ruins. That sounded so much fun I knew I had to chat to Sarah to find out how she did it, and all the adventures she had along the way, so we went for a walk in Worm Dale in the Yorkshire Wolds together. Sarah shares her suggestions for her must visit adventure spots in North East England at the end of the episode, so don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Sarah’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% discount at Merrell.co.uk (One product per person until 31 Dec 2023) Just use the code OUTDOORS20. The post Sarah Banks: Writing a Wild Guide to North East England appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

Katy O’Neill Gutierrez is a mum of two and the founder of Blaze Trails, a network of walking groups all around the UK for parents and their babies. Realising that getting outdoors was crucial to her mental health after a traumatic labour with her first daughter, Katy started organising walks with friends. Those initial walks have led to the creation of a network of 56 walking groups around the UK with thousands of parents inspired to get out in nature with their young children. I went for a walk with Katy by the River Chess in the Chess Valley in Hertfordshire - a beautiful spot with a rare chalk stream. I wanted to find out more about how the outdoors helped her as a new mum, why she wanted to set up Blaze Trails, how she’s grown it to what it’s become today and what it’s been like to make the outdoors into her career. Katy shares her favourite family walks and hiking with your baby tips at the end of the episode, so don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Katy’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% discount at Merrell.co.uk (One product per person until 31 Dec 2023) Just use the code OUTDOORS20. The post Katy O’Neill Gutierrez: The mum who set up Blaze Trails, the parent and baby walking community 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. Elise Wortley is an adventurer who follows in the footsteps of intrepid female explorers of the past. Her fascination with these women has taken her on expeditions all over the world for her Woman with Altitude Project, from the Himalayas dressed in a yak coat and wooden backpack; to Iran trekking with a mule in a 1930s Burberry mac; and to the Scottish Highlands, wearing a 1940s cotton skirt and hobnail boots. More recently, Elise took part in Channel 4’s survival series, Alone, where she managed to survive for weeks on her own in the Canadian wilderness. Elise took me for a walk in Battersea Park in London and we recorded her episode of The Outdoors Fix podcast there. I wanted to find out what was behind all of Elise’s adventures, how she balances it with her full-time PR job, and what it took to survive for weeks in the Canadian wilderness. Elise shares her bushcraft and survival tips at the end of the episode, so make sure you don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Elise’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% discount at Merrell.co.uk (One product per person until 31 Dec 2023) Just use the code OUTDOORS20. The post Elise Wortley: Surviving alone in the Canadian wilderness & following forgotten female explorers 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. Carla Khouri 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. Carla shares her tips for lesser-known spots to explore around the UK at the end of the episode, as well as how to start out and secure work if you’re interested in becoming a mountain leader, so make sure you don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Carla’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. It’s also embedded below. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% discount at Merrell.co.uk (One product per person until 31 Dec 2023) Just use the code OUTDOORS20. The post Carla Khouri: The science teacher turned mountain leader training to be the first black winter ML 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. Emma Holland is a qualified mountain leader who runs her own mountain leader business, Emma Holland Mountain Training. You’ll often find her in the Peak District leading groups on hikes, teaching navigation or wild camping in the hills. Through her walks and courses, she’s trying to give people the confidence to safely plan their own outdoors adventures. Having worked for Nottingham City Council since she was 18, it wasn’t until her 40s that Emma took the big leap to shift the direction of her career and life towards the outdoors. Her story proves that it’s never too late to pursue your passion. Emma took me for a stunning hike on the eastern edge of the Peak District for this episode and we recorded it sat on the grass in the shade of some birch trees. It was a fascinating conversation about turning the outdoors into a career and how it can positively influence the path of your life. Emma shares her tips for becoming a mountain leader and where to go walking in the Peak District at the end of the episode, so make sure you don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Emma’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is now available to pre-order: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% off discount on their shoes at Merrell.co.uk So just use the code FIX20 which is valid on all full price items on their website. The post Emma Holland: Becoming a mountain leader in mid-life in the Peak District 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. Debbie Croydon found a deep love of swimming in open water later in life and she’s working hard to encourage women, particularly from Black and Asian communities, to give it a go too. Debbie’s a swimming teacher, an open water coach and triathlon coach - she’s also the co-founder of the community swimming group, Soul Swimmers. Set up in 2020, the group aims to encourage more women from diverse backgrounds to take up swimming, particularly outdoors in open water. Debbie’s based in London and she’s also a triathlete who has competed for Team GB in the World Championships for triathlon in her age category of 60-64! Debbie and I met back in the summer and chatted by the shores of the West Reservoir in London, an open water swimming reservoir. I wanted to find out how Debbie found her love of open water swimming, what sparked the idea to set up Soul Swimmers, and why she’s determined to see more women from diverse backgrounds enjoying a dip outdoors. Debbie shares her tips for open water swimming at the end of the episode, so make sure you don’t miss her advice. There’s also a minute of the sounds of nature at the end for a little bit of escapism in your busy day. Debbie’s episode of The Outdoors Fix is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. I hope you enjoy it! Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is now available to pre-order: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. Merrell are offering listeners of The Outdoors Fix a 20% off discount on their shoes at Merrell.co.uk So just use the code FIX20 which is valid on all full price items on their website. The post Debbie Croydon: The open water swimming coach who set up Soul Swimmers appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.