In this episode I talk with Martyn Howe, author of Tales from the Big Trails. Martyn set out to walk every one of the UK’s national trails — a journey that took him from the wild coastlines of Pembrokeshire to the vast openness of the Pennine Way and the remoteness of the Southern Upland Way.
We talk about:
The rhythm of trail life and why its simplicity is so powerful
The moments of awe (and the soggy sandwiches) that come with long days on the path
Homesickness, resilience, and what to do when you hit a low point
The surprising role of stiff hips in causing blisters — and how Martyn fixed it
How technology has changed the way we plan and record adventures
The people, characters, and even a three-legged dog that brought joy along the way
His upcoming book The Coast is Our Compass, about walking the English Coast Path
Martyn’s reflections on walking, writing, and the way landscape changes us are inspiring and thought-provoking — whether you’re planning your first trail or your fiftieth.
Links and resources
Tales from the Big Trails by Martyn Howe
Martyn’s digital maps: trailplanner.co.uk
Follow Big Trail Adventures: bigtrailadventures.com
