Outdoors Fix

Liv Bolton is a journalist, writer and podcast host. In 2018, after years of working in the high-stress environment of London newsrooms, she took a career break and hiked 800 miles down the South Island of New Zealand on the Te Araroa long-distance trail. The three months of being outdoors every day changed her perspective on life and work, and led to the creation of The Outdoors Fix podcast. She has subsequently interviewed people from all over the UK whose lives have been positively impacted by the outdoors. Recordings have taken place on the sides of mountains, by lakes, in sheep barns and in the pouring rain. Liv is also a producer for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and her writing has appeared in Telegraph Travel, The Great Outdoors and Adventure Travel magazines. She lives on the edge of the Chilterns.

• IntroductionEnjoying the outdoors safely, respectfully and responsiblyThe career changers- Ben Dolphin: Becoming a countryside ranger in Scotland- Helen Iles: Life as a mountain rescue volunteer and landscape photographer- Becky Angell: Banking to backpacking across Britain- Frit Tam: Finding filmmaking and myself in the outdoors- Emily Scott: A move from accountancy to the mountains- Kenny Block: From the railways to photographing the Lake DistrictThe community builders- Rehna Yaseen: The outdoors instructor breaking barriers in the Peak District- Debbie North: Wheelchair wanderings around the UK- Zahrah Mahmood: Adventures as ‘The Hillwalking Hijabi’- Gilly McArthur: The Lake District’s ice swimmer and rock climber- Oge Ejizu: London hiking with Black Girls Hike- Iona Andean: Bringing people together in the Scottish outdoors20 small ways you can make your life more outdoorsy right now!The movers- Jen Benson: A wild and whole-hearted family life all around Britain- Harrison Ward: An alcoholic’s journey to the hills- Suzanna Cruickshank: Becoming a wild-swimming guide- Laura Doling: Moving from Essex to be a postie in the Lake DistrictThe after-work adventure seekers- Nic Hardy: Waking up to the possibilities of adventure- Jack Williams: From the Himalaya to Snowdonia- Jamie Neill: Badminton to bagging Munros- Rory Southworth: 5 p.m.–9 p.m. adventuring- Kumbi Kariwo: The rock-climbing senior NHS nurse- Jessica Mather: Life and loss in the mountains20 outdoors spots to explore in the UKThe wildlife warriors- Sophie Pavelle: The Devon writer going wild for nature- Tolga Aktas: Carving out a career in conservation- Clare Dyson: Horseback adventures in the Lake DistrictThe big-trip adventurers- Jo Moseley: The coast-to-coast midlife paddleboarder- James Forrest: Bagging 1,001 mountains in the UK and Ireland- Preet Chandi: Breaking barriers at the South Pole- Alex Staniforth: Finding Everest in the UK- Elise Downing: A 5,000-mile running adventureHow could YOU make the outdoors a bigger part of your life?Books, magazines, festivals, and websites that might take your interestGlossaryAcknowledgmentsContributors