Notes from Big Trails

Big Trail Adventures // Rob Savin
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Notes from Big Trails: Stories from Big Trail Adventures is a podcast about finding joy out on the trail. In each episode, we share stories from the people walking, running, and adventuring on the world's best long-distance trails. Sometimes it’s reflective, sometimes it’s funny — always grounded in the real highs and lows of life on the move.

  1. 31 Days on the Cape Wrath Trail

    2 DAYS AGO

    31 Days on the Cape Wrath Trail

    Most people tackle the Cape Wrath Trail as a challenge of endurance — covering big miles through some of the wildest terrain in the UK. Stephen Passmore took a different approach. In spring 2023, Stephen spent 31 days walking north from Fort William to Cape Wrath. Along the way he wild camped, stayed in bothies, carried painting supplies in his pack, and created a watercolour painting almost every day of the journey. In this episode we talk about: Walking the Cape Wrath Trail slowlyCarrying a heavy pack for 31 daysBothy life in the Scottish HighlandsRiver crossings and navigationFollowing spring north through ScotlandWhat changes when you stop rushing through landscapes Stephen also shares stories from Torridon, Sandwood Bay, Knoydart and some of the quieter moments that stayed with him long after the trail ended. Links Stephen PassmoreBook: Painting the Trail – Cape Wrathhttps://www.artpassmore.art/product/painting-the-trail-cape-wrath/3 Get out on your own adventure - find out more at bigtrailadventures.com.

    33 min
  2. Is The Dales Way Britain’s Best First Long-Distance Walk?

    1 MAY

    Is The Dales Way Britain’s Best First Long-Distance Walk?

    The Dales Way is often recommended as one of the best first long-distance walks in the UK — but that doesn’t mean it’s without challenge. In this episode of Notes From Big Trails, Rob speaks with Jessica Mather, who completed the trail in four days last summer — covering roughly 20 miles a day while camping along the route. Starting in Ilkley and finishing in Bowness-on-Windermere, Jess shares what it’s actually like to move quickly across the trail — from the open landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales to the familiar feeling of walking back towards home in the Lake District. Along the way they talk about planning a multi-day trip, choosing campsites, dealing with swollen feet and finding unexpected moments of trail magic. They also talk about why multi-day walks feel so different to day hikes — and why confidence matters more than experience when you're starting out. In this episode What the Dales Way is and why it’s so accessibleWalking 80 miles in four daysCamping along the routeFollowing seven rivers through the Yorkshire DalesSwollen feet in the summer heatTrail magic honesty boxesThe people you meet on long-distance trailsWhy finishing can feel strangely overwhelmingAdvice for first-time multi-day walkers About the trailDales WayDistance: 80 miles / 129kmLocation: Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, EnglandTerrain: riverside trails, farmland paths, rolling hills and villagesDifficulty: moderateBest for: first-time multi-day walkers, experienced hikers wanting a shorter challenge, and anyone who likes pub stops with their adventure Get out on your own adventure - find out more at bigtrailadventures.com.

    27 min
  3. I Ran Around Britain With £1,000, a Tent... and the Kindness of Strangers

    24 APR

    I Ran Around Britain With £1,000, a Tent... and the Kindness of Strangers

    Wayne Russell set out to run 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain with little more than a tent, £1,000, and a huge idea. What followed was ten months of sleeping in church porches, bus shelters, caves, strangers’ gardens and fire stations as he circled the entire British coastline. He began the run to raise money after losing his sister to a rare heart condition—but as he explains in this conversation, the journey became about far more than fundraising. We talk about: why he decided to do itshattering his ankle just before departurecrying in a cave in Cornwallthe strangers who helped him survivehow Britain’s fire services became his accidental support crewthe beauty of the Scottish Highlandswhy finishing felt strangely anticlimacticand why adventure is far more accessible than most people think This is a funny, moving and deeply honest conversation about grief, resilience, kindness and what happens when you decide to do something wildly ambitious before you feel fully ready. Get out on your own adventure - find out more at bigtrailadventures.com.

    1hr 1min
  4. I Needed a Reason to Quit - So I Ate All My Chocolate

    17 APR

    I Needed a Reason to Quit - So I Ate All My Chocolate

    Jess Day joins Notes From Big Trails to talk about walking the Te Araroa Trail — a 3,000km route stretching the full length of New Zealand. Walking solo over four and a half months, Jess shares what the experience actually felt like — from early nerves and self-doubt, through to trail family, unexpected kindness, and yes, the importance of chocolate. This isn’t just a story about distance. It’s about what happens to your mind when you’re out there for that long — and the small moments that end up meaning the most. In this episode, we cover: How Jess went from shorter UK trails to taking on Te AraroaThe reality of walking 3,000km soloThe mental challenge of long-distance hiking — including dealing with anxiety and PMDD on trailThe contrast between the North and South IslandsExtreme weather — from relentless sun to snow and freezing fogTrail family, shared hardship, and why people bond so quicklyTrail angels and the kindness of strangersWhy she ate all her chocolate — and why it was the right decisionWhat finishing actually feels like (and why it’s not what you expect)Why you don’t need to do something huge to have a meaningful adventure Enjoy! Follow Jess Jess shares more of her adventures, reflections, and journey into long-distance hiking here:Instagram: @shoes_full_of_feet_ Get out on your own adventure - find out more at bigtrailadventures.com.

    43 min
  5. The GR5 — Walking It With My Kids, Year After Year

    10 APR

    The GR5 — Walking It With My Kids, Year After Year

    The GR5 is one of Europe’s great long-distance trails — stretching nearly 1,500 miles from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. In this episode of Notes From Big Trails, Rob speaks with Ryel Kestano about walking the trail not in one go — but in stages, over several years, with his children. Starting when they were still young, Ryel introduced his kids to long-distance walking through shorter trips before committing to the GR5 — returning each summer to pick up where they left off. So far, they’ve covered nearly 1,000 miles — crossing the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and into France — moving gradually from flat northern landscapes into more remote and mountainous terrain. Along the way, the experience has become about far more than the trail itself. There are moments of challenge — getting lost, injuries, long days on tired legs — but also moments of connection: quiet miles in conversation, shared meals, small rituals, and the satisfaction of reaching the end of each stage together. It’s also a story about parenting — about giving children something difficult to take on, and watching their confidence grow as they realise they can do more than they thought. And perhaps most of all, it’s about time — the rare chance to spend long, uninterrupted days together, away from the distractions of everyday life. In this episode What the GR5 is and how it spans EuropeWalking a long-distance trail in stages over multiple yearsIntroducing children to multi-day hikingThe rhythm of returning to a trail year after yearHow time on the trail changes family relationshipsWhy doing hard things early in life matters About the trail GR5 (Grande Randonnée 5) Distance: ~1,500 miles / 2,500 kmLocation: Netherlands to France (North Sea to Mediterranean)Terrain: flat lowlands, forests, farmland, mountains and alpine terrainDifficulty: highly variable — increases significantly towards the Alps The GR5 is one of Europe’s classic long-distance routes — offering huge variety, from quiet northern landscapes to some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Alps. See more from Ryel and his family at https://www.youtube.com/@ryel-kestano. Find out more about solo adventures at bigtrailadventures.com.

    24 min
  6. The South Hams Way — A New Trail on the Devon Coast

    3 APR

    The South Hams Way — A New Trail on the Devon Coast

    The South Hams Way is a newly launched 100-mile circular trail through South Devon — linking the South West Coast Path, Dartmoor, and a network of towns and countryside routes across the region. In this short episode of Notes From Big Trails, Rob speaks with Claire, who lives right on the trail and has been walking it in sections — often returning to familiar places and seeing them in a new way. Because the route is divided into ten manageable sections, it works just as well for short local walks as it does for a longer multi-day trip. Along the way, Claire talks about the rhythm of picking up a trail again and again, the small discoveries you make even close to home, and how the same stretch of path can feel completely different depending on the weather, the season, or simply the time of day. There’s no single standout moment — and that’s kind of the point. This is a trail made up of many small moments: a quiet beach, a stretch of moorland, a change in the light, or just the simple act of getting outside for a few hours. It’s also a reminder that you don’t always need to travel far to find something that feels like an adventure. In this episode What the South Hams Way is and how the route is structuredWalking the trail in sections rather than all in one goDiscovering new places close to homeCoastal vs moorland sections — and personal favouritesPracticalities: terrain, navigation, and accommodationThe mental and physical benefits of simply getting outside About the trail South Hams Way Distance: ~100 miles / 160 kmLocation: South Devon, EnglandTerrain: coastal paths, moorland, countryside tracks and small townsDifficulty: moderate — some steep coastal sections, but manageable in stagesThe South Hams Way is a new addition to the UK’s long-distance trails — designed to be flexible, accessible, and easy to break into sections, making it ideal for both visitors and locals. Find out more about solo adventures at bigtrailadventures.com. Find out more about Claire and her Woman On A Mission coaching at https://womanonamissioncoaching.com or follow Claire at https://www.instagram.com/claire_womanonamission/.

    12 min
  7. Walking the Western Front Way: 500 Miles Through History

    27 MAR

    Walking the Western Front Way: 500 Miles Through History

    The Western Front Way is a 500-mile route tracing the line of the First World War — running from the Swiss border to the North Sea through France and Belgium. In this episode we talk to Briana Gervat, who has published a book about her experience on this trail - ⁠There Will Come Soft Rains⁠. This conversation is about her solo journey along the entire route — a 36-day walk through one of the most historically charged landscapes in Europe. Camping along the way and carrying everything she needed, Briana experienced the full rhythm of life on the trail — from mountain paths in the Vosges to the vast battlefields of Verdun, the Somme, and beyond. But this is not a typical long-distance walk. Along the route, history is ever-present — in the form of trenches, bunkers, cemeteries, and villages that were never rebuilt. Briana describes these as “architectural ghosts” — reminders of lives lost, and stories that still linger in the landscape. There are moments of heaviness — walking through fog in Verdun, camping under the same skies soldiers once slept beneath, passing through quiet towns marked by memorials. But there are also moments of connection and light: sharing food with strangers, conversations in passing, standing in front of the cathedral at Amiens, and the simple rhythm of walking day after day. Beyond the practicalities of the walk, this episode explores something deeper — how we process history, how we find peace (or don’t), and what it means to walk through a place shaped by both destruction and renewal. In this episode What the Western Front Way is — and how it traces the line of WWIWalking 500 miles solo over 36 daysThe experience of solitude over a long-distance journeyWhat it feels like to walk through landscapes shaped by war“Architectural ghosts” — and seeing what others might missThe emotional weight of places like VerdunCamping, daily rhythm, and managing the physical tollEncounters with people along the wayThe contrast between destruction and beautyReflections on peace, history, and human nature About the trail Western Front Way Distance: ~500 miles / 800 kmLocation: France & Belgium (Swiss border to the North Sea)Terrain: mountains, forests, farmland, canals and lowland plainsDifficulty: moderate physically, but significant due to length and emotional weightThe Western Front Way is less a traditional hiking trail and more a journey through history — offering a unique way to experience the landscapes of the First World War and reflect on their lasting impact. Find out more about solo adventures at bigtrailadventures.com.

    29 min
  8. Running the Rob Roy Way - What You See, What You Miss

    20 MAR

    Running the Rob Roy Way - What You See, What You Miss

    The Rob Roy Way cuts across the heart of Scotland — a quieter long-distance trail linking Drymen to Pitlochry through forests, glens, old railway lines, and the edges of big Highland lochs. In this episode of Notes From Big Trails, Rob speaks with Pawel Cymbalista — or Pav — who set a fastest known time on the route, covering the entire trail in a single push. Moving fast through a landscape most people take a week or more to walk, Pav experienced a very different version of the trail — one shaped by rhythm, focus, and constant forward motion. Along the way there are moments that still stand out: climbing through forest above Aberfeldy, the sound of water rushing through narrow gorges, the long stretch beside Loch Tay with Ben Lawers rising through the cloud… and one very human moment outside a bakery in Callander that nearly derailed the whole effort. Beyond the pace and the performance, this is a conversation about mindset — about stubbornness, self-reliance, and the quiet internal negotiation that happens when things start to hurt. And it’s also a reminder that this trail — like all of them — isn’t just for records. It’s a route to be walked slowly, taken in properly, and experienced in your own way. In this episode What the Rob Roy Way is really like underfoot — from forest tracks to old railway linesWhy Pav chose the route and how the FKT idea took holdPreparing for a solo, unsupported effortManaging discomfort, fatigue, and doubt during the runThe mental strategies that keep you moving when things get hardA navigational wobble, a stunning gorge, and a near-miss with a bakeryHow the trail changes as you move south towards DrymenWhy this is a route worth doing at a slower paceWhat FKTs mean — and why they don’t always matter About the trail Distance: ~79 miles / 127 kmLocation: Central Scotland (Drymen to Pitlochry)Terrain: forest tracks, estate paths, quiet roads, old railway lines, lochside pathsDifficulty: moderate — non-technical, but with steady climbing throughoutThe Rob Roy Way is one of Scotland’s lesser-known long-distance trails, offering a quieter alternative to routes like the West Highland Way — with fewer crowds, easier terrain, and a strong sense of journey through the landscape. Find out more about long-distance walking and running adventures at bigtrailadventures.com.

    20 min
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About

Notes from Big Trails: Stories from Big Trail Adventures is a podcast about finding joy out on the trail. In each episode, we share stories from the people walking, running, and adventuring on the world's best long-distance trails. Sometimes it’s reflective, sometimes it’s funny — always grounded in the real highs and lows of life on the move.

Information

  • Creator
    Big Trail Adventures // Rob Savin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Big Trail Adventures // Rob Savin
  • Show Website
    Notes from Big Trails

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