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Solo Long-Distance Walking In England With Holly Worton

“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin

Walking for a longer-distance can bring clarity of mind, a reconnection with nature, and a sense of well-being that does not emerge with a short stroll. It takes time to settle into your physical body, and walking an ancient path can help take you into that deeper state. In this episode, I discuss our mutual love of long-distance walking with Holly Worton.

Holly Worton is the author of 17 nonfiction and self-help books around business mindset and personal growth, as well as long-distance walking and the wisdom of nature. She’s also the host of the Into The Woods Podcast.

Show notes

How long walks help us disconnect from our wired world
Planning and navigating the South Downs Way
Bucket list long walks
Tips for avoiding hiking mistakes
Preparing for all kinds of weather
Dealing with fears and having the right mindset
The restorative powers of nature
Recommended books about walking

You can find Holly Worton at HollyWorton.com

Header photo by Cat Bassano on Unsplash

History As A Fine Art. Victorian London With David Morrell

Unusual Places

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If you look below the surface of an ancient city, you can travel through time and find its deeper layers. In this episode, David Morrell talks about how he researched Victorian London for his historical mysteries about Thomas De Quincey, and how he brought to light the “chasms and sunless abysses” of the first British serial killer.

David Morrell is the multi-award-winning and many times bestselling author of over 30 books, as well as short stories, essays, comics, and collaborations that have sold millions of copies and are available in many different languages. He has a Ph.D. in American literature and was a professor of literature at the University of Iowa. His novel First Blood became the Rambo franchise, but today we’re talking about the Thomas De Quincey historical mysteries set in Victorian London. The first in the series is Murder as a Fine Art.

Show notes

Time travel through book research as a way of dealing with grief
Thomas De Quincy, addiction and the unconscious
How De Quincy invented the true crime genre
Finding inspiration in mid-Victorian London
Famous locations that inspire David’s work

You can find David Morrell at DavidMorrell.net

Header photo: St Pancras Station, finished in 1868 and abandoned by the 1960s. After much lobbying, it was restored to its glorious Victorian self and re-opened in 2007. It is one of my favorite stations in London!

Druids, Freemasons and Frankenstein. The Darker Side of Bath, England

Unusual Places

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Bath is known for its ancient Roman spa, medieval abbey, and sweeping Georgian terraces. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site in Somerset in the south-west of England and visitors often come on a circular cultural trip that takes in Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon.

But it’s not all Jane Austen bonnets, Regency dresses, and afternoon tea — there is a darker and more interesting side of Bath if you escape the tourist traps and explore the layers beneath. In this episode, I talk about the city I currently call home.

How finding a map shop helped me discover a different side to Bath
Curse tablets for an ancient goddess
Angels and demons and the dead of Bath Abbey
The city of Frankenstein
Ley lines, Druids and Freemasons
Walking the Kennet and Avon canal
Finding home in Bath during the pandemic
Recommended restaurants, bars, pubs and coffee shops away from the tourist traps
Recommended books about or set in Bath

Finding Beauty In The Ordinary. A Different Side Of Poland With Ben Aitken

Unusual Places

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In this wide-ranging interview with Ben Aitken, we talk about challenging cultural stereotypes, identifying as the ‘Other,’ and how to find beauty in the ordinary, as well as thoughts on where to visit and what to eat and drink when visiting Poland.

Ben Aitken is a freelance writer, playwright, and the author of three travel books. Today, we’re talking about his book, A Chip Shop in Poznan: My Unlikely Year in Poland.

Show notes

The relationship between the UK and Poland and how that changed while Ben lived there during the referendum
How travel can change attitudes
Finding beauty in the ordinary
Recommendations for food, drink, and places to consider visiting in Poland
The joy of travel without planning
The possibility of a return to more local travel in the wake of the pandemic
Why Ben chooses unusual trips like taking coach tours with the elderly as he writes about in his latest book, The Gran Tour
Recommended books about Poland

You can find Ben Aitken at BenAitken.com

Travels In Blood And Honey. Kosovo With Elizabeth Gowing

Places

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The word Kosovo brings to mind images of the Balkan War — a place of blood — but Elizabeth Gowing talks about it as a place of sweetness, a place of honey with wonderful food, welcoming people and a complex patchwork of religion that manages to get along together in a tiny country. She also explains how her unexpected move to Kosovo led to her love of beekeeping and a new direction helping local communities.

Elizabeth Gowing is the author of five books, including Travels in Blood and Honey: Becoming a Beekeeper in Kosovo. She’s also a professional speaker and co-founder of The Ideas Partnership, a charity that empowers and supports people in need in Kosovo.

Show notes

An unexpected transfer to Kosovo
Exploring Kosovo and the hospitality of the people
The dying art of silver filigree
The religious buildings and their significance
Is it safe to travel to Kosovo?
The symbolism of the traditional Kosovo foods
Working with the Roma and Ashkali communities to educate children
Tips for sustainable tourism in Kosovo

You can find Elizabeth Gowing at ElizabethGowing.com

Elizabeth’s headshot photo credit: Jonada Jashari

A Pocket Of Wilderness: Adventure Travel With Anna McNuff

Unusual Places

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Adventure is a mindset. You can find it in a pocket of wilderness in your local area just by doing something different and seeking out the unusual — or you can find it by running Great Britain barefoot, cycling the Andes, and running the length of New Zealand!

In this interview, adventurer Anna McNuff talks about the definition of adventure, finding the element of the unknown, encouraging young people to explore, and the acceptance that change is the only constant.

Anna McNuff is a British adventurer, professional speaker, and author named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the 50 most influential travelers of our time. And by The Guardian as one of the top modern female adventurers.

Show notes

What is ‘adventure’?
The changing motivations for adventure travel
Cultivating a voice that supports adventure
Stepping into the unknown
Running from Scotland to London barefoot
Change is a constant
What travel might look like in the future
How adventure travel is actually about storytelling
How moments from our young lives shape us

You can find Anna McNuff at AnnaMcNuff.com and on Instagram @annamcnuff

Photos used with permission from Anna McNuff.

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