In this special episode of The Outdoors Fix to mark the end of the current run of conversations, I wanted to pick out my highlights from the past year.

I’ve had so much fun heading out to record conversations in all sorts of outdoor places — from a hillside in the Howgill Fells in Cumbria, to a reservoir on the edge of Greater Manchester, to a valley in Eryri — or Snowdonia — and a woodland in London.

Along the way, I’ve met some extraordinary people whose lives have been profoundly shaped by the outdoors, and who are now encouraging and enabling others to experience nature too.

So, I’ve gone back through the archive and picked out some of my favourite moments from the past year — as well as the conversations that have had the biggest impact on me personally in making the outdoors a bigger part of my own life. I’ve also shared a few behind-the-scenes stories along the way.

I really hope you enjoy this special episode — and don’t forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are.

I’ll be sharing some new episodes with you in the not too distant future, but in the meantime, if you know someone who’d be a great guest, let me know!

Thanks again for listening,

Liv x

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk

This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you!

You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix

The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc

The post Liv’s highlights from the past year of The Outdoors Fix podcast appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton.

This week my guest is Francesca Donovan, a hiker, outdoor swimmer and co-editor of The Great Outdoors Magazine.

Now, you might expect someone in that role to have grown up immersed in nature… but Francesca’s background is quite different.

Her childhood wasn’t outdoorsy— and for a long time, she didn’t see herself as someone who belonged in those spaces.

It wasn’t until her mid-20s, almost by accident — and initially for health reasons — that she discovered hiking, starting with day trips out into the Peak District.

But what began as a small step has grown into something much bigger. Since then, Francesca has gone on to explore landscapes across the UK — from wild camping and bothy stays to cold water swimming — all while navigating what it means to find your place in the outdoors, even when you might not think you fit the traditional mould.

Francesca took me on a beautiful spring walk near Pym’s Chair in the Peak District — blue skies, wide-open moorland, and skylarks overhead.

It was a beautiful setting for a conversation about her work on the magazine, discovering the outdoors later in life, and realising that you don’t have to be a certain kind of person to belong there.

I really hope you enjoy our chat — and don’t forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are.

Thanks again for listening,

Liv x

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk

This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you!

You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix

The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc

The post Francesca Donovan: From city life to co-editor of The Great Outdoors magazine appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It’s hosted by Liv Bolton.

Let me ask you something: How well do you know the trees in your local area? Do you have a favourite?

One of mine is an ancient sweet chestnut in the Ashridge Estate in the Chilterns, not far from where I grew up. It’s enormous, with beautifully twisted bark, and it’s thought to be more than 400 years old. It’s the kind of tree you can’t help but stop and stare at for a while.

And that’s exactly what this episode is about — noticing the trees around us, and seeing them in a new light.

I’m joined by Paul Wood, author of Tree Hunting: 1,000 Trees to find in Britain and Ireland’s Towns and Cities. Paul spent four years travelling across the UK documenting remarkable trees in the places we often overlook — and encouraging us all to pay closer attention to something we usually walk straight past.

As he says, if you simply start looking up a little more, it can completely transform how you experience the outdoors.

We recorded this conversation while walking through Richmond Park in London — so as you listen, keep an ear out for the sounds around us: woodpeckers, parakeets, and the occasional plane heading to Heathrow…

I really hope you enjoy our chat — and don’t forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are.

Thanks again for listening,

Liv x

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk

This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell.

If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you!

You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix

The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc

The post Paul Wood: Tree hunting in Britain and Ireland’s towns and cities appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.