#55 The Joy of Navigating Nature & Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival with Austin Knott
In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Austin Knott, an outdoor enthusiast, founder of Walk the Moorlands, and facilitator of the annual Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival.
We dive into the revival of the festival, which runs from Friday, 25 April to Monday, 5 May 2025, the types of walking and outdoor activities available, and how these events can serve as a canvas for community expression and engagement.
Austin shares insights into his active lifestyle, which revolves around walking and outdoor navigation. He discusses the growing popularity of outdoor activities, the health benefits of spending time in nature, and his early memories of exploring the outdoors. Austin also provides tips for those looking to embrace nature in their daily lives and delves into the history and revival of the Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival as a response to local outdoor activity gaps.
In this episode:
Outdoor activities are becoming increasingly popular as national and local governments invest in initiatives promoting nature's physical and mental wellbeing health benefits.
The Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival has grown year on year since 2022, with 2024 seeing over 900 attendees, 50 activities, more than 30 collaborating organisations, and over 70,000 website visitors. Future aspirations for inclusivity and community bonding, the festival serves as a canvas for community expression and engagement.
Please connect with Austin and the team to learn more about the events and activities available during the festival. Away from the Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival, contact Austin about leisure walks across the Moorlands and navigation training courses.
Freelancing in the outdoors allows for a flexible and enjoyable career. Austin is also an Associate at Peak Navigation Courses and a National Navigation Award Scheme Course Director.
Also mentioned in this podcast:
Soundbites from Austin
"I should be retired, but I'm still active."
"There are quite a few different strings to my bow, but it'salmost one-dimensional… it all involves the outdoors and walking."
"I got a crazy idea to offer walks."
"Long walks and Sunday saunters."
Podcast Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Austin
03:01 A Day in the Life of an Outdoor Enthusiast
05:02 Navigating the Outdoors: Skills and Experiences
07:32 The Growing Popularity of Outdoor Activities
09:48 Early Memories of Nature
12:37 Tips for Embracing Nature in Daily Life
14:38 The Festival: History and Revival
21:32 The Birth of the Walking Festival
24:34 Growth and Community Engagement
27:37 Inclusivity and Accessibility in Events
30:05 Mental Health and Nature
30:19 Festival Logistics and Participation
38:34 Personal Connection to Nature
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