Jen Lowthrop is a travel blogger and adventurer who craved more time outdoors and wanted to learn more about our beautiful National Parks. So she set herself the challenge to walk across each of the 10 English National Parks across 10 weeks.
Together with her rescue dog, Cookie, they hiked over 1,000 miles and raised over £10,000 for the Peak District Foundation, a charity that cares and improves inclusivity for the national park.
Jen shares the inspiration behind this ambitious challenge, the preparation it required, and the unforgettable experiences she had along the way. From breathtaking landscapes to unexpected challenges, Jen's adventure showcases the beauty of the UK’s natural spaces and the joy of exploration.
Join us as we explore the highlights of each park, the lessons learned, and the personal growth Jen experienced during this extraordinary journey.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker, a dog lover, or someone who dreams of outdoor adventures, Jen’s story will motivate you to get out and explore the world around you.
Right before this recording, Jen had just returned from a 6 day Nature Facilitation course where she had been on a full digital detox without her phone or any form of communication with the outside world.
In this episode, we talk in depth about Jen’s experience learning about nature facilitation and how she hopes to bring more of this into her work in the near future
For more information on Jen and her blog: https://shegetsaround.co.uk/
Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653
Mentioned in the podcast:
Nature facilitation course: https://www.changeinnature.org/nature-facilitation-training
Jen’s Co-working space: https://coworkingcorner.co/
The Peak District Foundation: https://www.peakdistrictfoundation.org.uk/
Get in contact:
https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/
https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast
https://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Returning from off-grid weekend
17:08 Practicing more disconnection
23:36 Jen's need to rediscover Nature
26:17 England's 10 National Parks
29:14 UK's other National Parks
31:03 National Landscapes (formerly AONB)
34:01 The formation of the 10 national parks challenge
40:59 Leaving fears behind
44:26 The logistics of a 10 week tour
49:24 Doing an adventure your way
52:38 Building self belief and finding joy along the way
01:00:35 Northumberland National Park
01:04:39 North York Moors
01:06:40 Yorkshire Dales
01:09:05 Lake District
01:13:01 The Broads
01:17:12 The South Downs
01:20:41 The New Forest
01:22:55 Dartmoor
01:25:15 Exmoor
01:27:40 Peak District
01:35:09 Supporting the National Parks
01:36:50 She Gets Around Blog
01:38:13 Creating a space to run retreats