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. Solo on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path: 15 Days by the Sea

    4 DAYS AGO

    Solo on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path: 15 Days by the Sea

    The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of Britain’s most dramatic long-distance walks, stretching along the wild Atlantic edge of West Wales. In this episode of Notes From Big Trails, Rob speaks with Sophie McCarthy about her fifteen-day solo walk along the entire route. Carrying everything she needed on her back and camping along the way, Sophie experienced the full rhythm of life on the trail — from remote wild camps and windswept cliffs to small harbour towns and the occasional well-earned pub meal. Along the way she encountered wildflowers in full summer bloom, dramatic coastal scenery, seals in the sea… and one rather inquisitive badger that paid her tent a late-night visit. Beyond the practicalities of the walk, Sophie reflects on why she enjoys putting herself into challenging environments and how experiences like this can remind us that we’re capable of more than we think. In this episode What the Pembrokeshire Coast Path is really like underfootWalking the entire trail solo over 15 daysCampsites, wild camping and carrying a heavy packWildlife encounters along the Welsh coastThe joys of small trail luxuries — from ice cream to harbour-side pubsWhy long walks can change how you see your own capabilities About the trail Distance: ~186 miles / 300 kmLocation: West WalesTerrain: cliff paths, coastal grassland, beaches and rugged headlandsDifficulty: moderate to challenging due to constant ascent and descent The trail forms part of the Wales Coast Path and is widely regarded as one of the finest coastal walks in Europe. Find out more about solo adventures at bigtrailadventures.com.

    28 min
  2. Going Alone: The Reality of Solo Hiking

    27 FEB

    Going Alone: The Reality of Solo Hiking

    What does “solo adventure” really look like? In this episode, Rob speaks with Elise Downing and Kirsty Reade about hiking and running alone — not in remote wilderness for months on end, but in the more familiar, human space of big days out, multi-day trails, and personal challenges. Together they explore: What first pushed them to go aloneThe fears that show up before you set off (yes, including axe murderers)The difference between real risk and mental noiseHow running versus walking changes the experienceUnexpected encounters on the trail — from sea shanties in Scotland to chance friendships in the LakesThe small practical steps that make solo trips safer and more enjoyable And perhaps most importantly, the feeling at the end of a long day — when you realise you did it yourself. Find out more about solo adventures at bigtrailadventures.com.

    32 min
  3. Finding Space on the South West Coast Path

    20 FEB

    Finding Space on the South West Coast Path

    In this episode, Morgan shares his experience walking sections of the South West Coast Path — a 630-mile route tracing the coastline of south-west England. We cover: Why he chose the Coast Path during a difficult period in his lifeThe accessibility of the route and how easy it is to join by trainThe Jurassic Coast and its dramatic geologyWhy the South West Coast Path can feel surprisingly remoteWhat a typical day on the trail looks likeConversations that stuck with him, including:Two soaked bivvy-baggers caught in a stormA solo woman walking the entire route using all her annual leaveFood highlights — including a cream tea cooked on a stove in the middle of nowhereThe River Erme crossing near MothecombeWhat to leave out of your packThe importance of knowing your experience level Morgan also talks about documenting his journeys on social media — and the tension between capturing the moment and simply living it. See more from Morgan on Instagram.

    25 min
  4. What’s Not to Like? Rethinking the Pennine Way

    13 FEB

    What’s Not to Like? Rethinking the Pennine Way

    In this episode of Notes from Big Trails, Rob speaks to Jon Barton, founder of Vertebrate Publishing, about walking — and running — the Pennine Way. They explore why the Pennine Way divides opinion, what the early sections across Kinder and Bleaklow are really like, and why places such as High Cup Nick, Upper Teesdale, Cross Fell and the Cheviots leave such a strong impression. Jon reflects on: Growing up visiting Swaledale and Upper TeesdaleHow childhood landscapes shaped his wanderlustExperiencing the Pennine Way through the Spine eventsThe reality of “boggy” sections and bleak reputationsWildlife encounters — curlews, golden plover, roe deerLimestone country around MalhamThe strange surreal feeling of walking through busy places after days on the moorWhy motivation matters more than raw fitness They also discuss practical considerations — kit familiarity, pacing, and whether the Pennine Way should be your first long-distance trail.

    25 min
  5. Walking the Edge of England

    6 FEB

    Walking the Edge of England

    Martyn Howe talks to us about how he walked the coast of England - following what has become the King Charles III England Coast Path. Martyn shares: How the walk began with a single acorn waymarker in CromerWhat it’s like to stitch together a coastal path that was still being completedUnexpectedly wild places like The Wash, where land and sea seem to dissolveIndustrial coastlines in the North East — and the surprising signs of recovery thereMemorable encounters with birdlife, including kestrels, peregrines, and wintering geeseWhy public art along the coast — from Time and Tide bells to community projects — became central to the journeyThe idea of an “experience map” rather than a route map, and how that changes how you plan and walkHow carrying less — physically and mentally — altered his relationship with long-distance walkingWhether walking can still act as a form of protest or environmental witnessThe kinds of conversations that only seem to happen when two people are walking side by side We also talk about Martyn’s book The Coast is Our Compass, and how writing became a way of processing the journey — not just recording where he went, but what it meant. Links: The Coast is Our Compass Experience Map More trail Inspiration at Big Trail Adventures

    38 min
  6. Exploring the Peak District by Its Summits with Anna Paxton

    30 JAN

    Exploring the Peak District by Its Summits with Anna Paxton

    In this episode of Notes from Big Trails, Rob is joined by Peak District local and author Anna Paxton for a walk-and-talk on the Eastern Moors. Anna’s book, Peak Bagging Peak District, brings together 121 of the region’s most rewarding hills — including the Ethels — into 32 carefully designed routes for walkers, fastpackers, and trail runners. Rather than treating summits as boxes to tick, the book focuses on routes that feel satisfying in their own right: journeys with variety, character, good access, and (where possible) a pub or café at the end. What people miss when they only visit Peak District classicsWho Ethel Haythornthwaite was — and why the Ethels matterDesigning routes that work on the ground, not just on the mapWalking, running, slowing down — and choosing the right pace for the dayQuiet encounters, wildlife, and seasonal changeWhy familiarity can be just as adventurous as novelty Get Peak Bagging Peak District at Vertebrate Publishing. Find inspiration for your next adventure at Big Trail Adventures.

    19 min
  7. Running Across the Canary Islands: Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera

    23 JAN

    Running Across the Canary Islands: Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera

    Janie Oates joins Notes from Big Trails to talk about a self-designed running adventure across the Canary Islands. Starting with a race trip to Gran Canaria, Janie and three friends came up with the idea of running across multiple islands — Tenerife, La Palma and La Gomera — using ferries to link them together. Over the course of a week, they crossed volcanic landscapes, climbed ridgelines above the clouds, stayed in unmanned mountain refuges, and carried everything they needed between towns. In this episode, we talk about: Designing your own route rather than following a known trail Running across three islands in one week — and what that really involved The contrast between Tenerife’s heat and tourism, La Palma’s high ridges, and La Gomera’s cloud forests Managing water, food and pack weight in hot, exposed terrain Fell running skills and long days of climbing and descent Why La Palma left such a lasting impression Travelling and running as a group of women — and the reactions they met along the way This is a conversation about curiosity, contrast, and the quiet satisfaction of linking places together under your own power. Enjoy!

    37 min
  8. The Alta Via 1: Does this trail deserve its popularity?

    16 JAN

    The Alta Via 1: Does this trail deserve its popularity?

    Stephen and Richard Ross from Big Trail Adventures walked the Alta Via 1 in mid-September, one of Europe’s most celebrated high routes across the Dolomites. In this episode, we cover: What the Alta Via 1 actually is — and why it’s known as a “high route” How hard it really is, day to day Planning late versus booking far in advance What it’s like staying in Italian mountain refuges (food, showers, dorms, sleep) How busy the trail felt — and when it suddenly didn’t Carrying light: why 5kg made the experience better Managing long, hot days with big climbs Swimming in lakes and rivers to reset mid-route Who you meet on the trail — from first-timers to seasoned alpinists How the Alta Via compares to more familiar Alpine routes Whether this trip changed how they think about future European trails This is an honest conversation about walking in the Dolomites — what surprised them, what worked, and what they’d do differently next time.

    26 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
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Big Trail Adventures // Rob Savin
  • Show Website
    Notes from Big Trails

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