Notes from Big Trails

The Alpamayo Circuit and the Most Beautiful Mountain in the World

In this episode, Rob speaks with Bodil Oudshoorn and Ross Brannigan about their seven-day journey on Peru’s Alpamayo Circuit in the Cordillera Blanca. Carrying around 16kg each — including a full week of food — they crossed multiple high passes above 4,500 metres, wild camped throughout the route and spent days without seeing another hiker. The conversation explores the realities of trekking at altitude, the logistics of self-supported travel, the impact of isolation, and the moments that stay with you long after the trip ends. Along the way they talk about: * Seeing Alpamayo emerge through cloud for the first time * Why the first three days nearly ended the trip * Sleeping above 4,000 metres * Meeting Quechua farming communities in the mountains * Condors, hummingbirds and collapsing glaciers * Carrying seven days of food through the Andes * What adventure teaches you about resilience and partnership Route Facts * Route: Alpamayo Circuit, Peru * Region: Cordillera Blanca, Andes * Distance: Approx. 120km * Duration: 7 days * Highest passes: Over 4,500 metres * Style: Self-supported wild camping * Resupply points: None * Direction walked: Anti-clockwise Follow & Support If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave a rating or review on your podcast platform of choice. Get out on your own adventure - find out more at bigtrailadventures.com [http://bigtrailadventures.com].

Elise Downing on the Ridgeway: Britain's Oldest Road, in Three Days

Elise Downing ran 87 miles of the Ridgeway in three days in 2020, between lockdowns, with her friend Sophie. Their two friends, Ange and Oscar, walked the same daily distances - the same format the four had tried on the West Highland Way two years earlier, when Ange and Oscar bailed after day two. We talk about why running suits the less-scenic sections, the feeling of walking an ancient road, a chance meeting on a footpath, finishing at an empty Avebury Stone Circle, and whether the running-and-walking format worked any better the second time round. About Elise Downing Elise is part of our team at Big Trail Adventures, where she runs our social media. She's also one of Britain's best-known long-distance runners. A few years before this trip she ran 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain on her own with her kit on her back. She's written about it in a book and a newsletter. What we talk about * The Ridgeway as a "gateway" first trail * Walking and running on Britain's oldest road * 29 and 33 mile days, and how miles reframe themselves * The running-and-walking format, tried for the second time * The day-two overtake and the frosty reception * The empty Avebury Stone Circle at the end * A chance meeting on the trail If listening to this has got you thinking about your own adventure, head to bigtrailadventures.com [https://bigtrailadventures.com].

Chris Townsend on the GR5: No Huts and No Plan

Show notes Chris Townsend walked the Alpine section of the GR5 in autumn, as the mountain huts and village shops were closing for the season. He took about a month, slept under a tarp, and bought the food for his first week at a supermarket in Geneva train station before he started. We talk about the rhythm of a month-long walk, finding water in unfamiliar mountains, the surprise of the southern forests, and the strange business of walking out of the mountains and onto the beach at Nice. There's also a story about singing Italian waiters in a near-empty hotel and a tangent into Death Valley, which last we checked is nowhere near the GR5. About Chris Townsend Chris is one of Britain's most experienced long-distance walkers. He's been writing about backpacking and the outdoors for decades, including books on his walks across the USA, Scandinavia and the UK, and regular work for outdoor magazines and his blog. What we cover * The two halves of the GR5: high alps in the north, rocky forested mountains in the south * 1200 metres of ascent every day, and how to pace it * Sleeping under a tarp rather than a tent * Water and food planning when the season has ended * The thunderstorm decision and the snow the next morning * The sweet chestnut forests of the southern half * The Italian-run hotel and the casual shopkeeper * Walking into Nice with a rucksack and hill clothes * Why a long walk feels different from a short one Links * Chris's blog: https://www.christownsendoutdoors.com [https://www.christownsendoutdoors.com] * Chris's books: https://www.christownsendoutdoors.com/p/publications.html [https://www.christownsendoutdoors.com/p/publications.html] If listening to this has got you thinking about your own adventure, head to bigtrailadventures.com [https://bigtrailadventures.com]. Subscribe to Notes From Big Trails wherever you get your podcasts.

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 slowly * Carrying a heavy pack for 31 days * Bothy life in the Scottish Highlands * River crossings and navigation * Following spring north through Scotland * What 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 Passmore Book: Painting the Trail – Cape Wrath https://www.artpassmore.art/product/painting-the-trail-cape-wrath/3 [https://www.artpassmore.art/product/painting-the-trail-cape-wrath/3] Get out on your own adventure - find out more at bigtrailadventures.com [http://bigtrailadventures.com].

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 accessible * Walking 80 miles in four days * Camping along the route * Following seven rivers through the Yorkshire Dales * Swollen feet in the summer heat * Trail magic honesty boxes * The people you meet on long-distance trails * Why finishing can feel strangely overwhelming * Advice for first-time multi-day walkers About the trail Dales Way Distance: 80 miles / 129km Location: Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, England Terrain: riverside trails, farmland paths, rolling hills and villages Difficulty: moderate Best 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 [http://bigtrailadventures.com].