Imagine hiking up a mountain under a full moon with fresh snow under your feet, breaking through the tree line and feeling that warm glow of sunrise hitting your face. Riding a sleigh pulled by huskies in a winter wonderland, cross- country skiing through villages nestled in the Austrian Alps, tobogganing down a mountain at sunset, swimming in a frozen lake or ski-touring up a mountain and descending through the trees. Imagine ending your day in a rejuvenating thermal spa before dinner and a well-earned sleep, to wake up and do it all over again. Welcome to winter holidays in Austria!
Not many thoughts enter my mind apart from what I am doing. I wish everyone could do something like this once a year, or even once in your lifetime. We need it! I switch off from everything. A challenge like this is so all encompassing that I don’t have space for much else. All my energy goes into the challenge, and the micro world I create with the adventure I am on, the world directly around me and the people I am with. My world becomes small but this gives me freedom to become bigger than I’ve ever felt. My mind is not filled with events going on all over the world, with emails, news, social media, and the need to reply to messages, my mind is filled with fresh air and miles, hills, sweat, tears and food stops. My mind is filled with views so dramatic and mind-blowing, I am speechless. My heart flips a bit with each corner I turn and the awe that the NC500 route delivers again and again.
It’s been a year since I started the project of creating my dream van ↠ @theonelifevan ↞ and as I get a lot of questions about it, I wanted to share the process and some resources with you! If you are thinking of building or buying a van i can say it’s ONE HUNDRED PERCENT as awesome as you might think it is! And my journey with van life is only just beginning... However, it can be a bit of a minefield and hard to know where to start. I hope this helps :)
There are preciously rare occasions in life when you are handed an opportunity to go somewhere or meet someone that truly inspires you. Somewhere that shifts your centre of gravity, allowing you to refresh, refocus and restart. Or someone that has the capacity to capture your imagination and transport it to places you aspire to go but don’t quite know how to access. When your mind has gone there, the chances are your body will follow…
In October 2019, I took 10 girls sailing for five days on a Tall Ships Youth Trust sailing adventure proudly sponsored by KEEN footwear. It was magical and lives were changed!
We stepped off the boat with a different perspective. With love in our hearts, faith in ourselves and confidence to go forth and grow into the women we know we can be. I asked the girls to capture their experiences and what it meant to them…
One of my big passions in life is bringing together a group of people to experience all that I love about adventure; challenge yourself, try new things, face fears and create memories! I invited my community to join me on an adventure weekend in Sussex with Land Rover Explore to experience the new outdoor ‘built for adventure’ phone…
If you dream of adventuring at the edge of the world, in a place that feels as wild as it does welcoming, go to Shetland. I spent an incredible five days exploring Shetland by kayak, foot and campervan; wild camping on remote beaches, chasing glorious sunsets, being out in the sea surrounded by seals and puffins and eating fresh fish and seafood.
Shetland left me with a deep appreciation for saying yes to new experiences and all the wonder and joy that can come flooding into your life when you do. Here are my favourite hidden treasures of Shetland (and useful links at the bottom) to help you to plan your own magical adventure at the edge of the world.
I love it when a few of my favourites things in life blend into a moment of total magic. On this particular occasion it was a wondrous combination of London, whisky and adventure.
Last week I was invited by Talisker and Secret Adventures (who organise unusual adventures in London and beyond) to take part in a kayaking challenge down the River Thames.
Myself and a group of fellow adventurers set off from St Mary’s Church in Battersea and finished at the historic Mayflower pub in Rotherhithe for a dram of celebratory whisky as the sun set.
If I had to choose one mission to dedicate the rest of my life to, it would be this. To inspire and empower ordinary people, like you and me, to achieve extraordinary things, develop a robust self-belief, and overcome the fears, doubts and obstacles that hold us back.
Every year I run my annual London to Paris Sportive where 120 people join me from all over the world to take on the epic challenge of cycling 200 miles in 24 hours between two of the world’s most iconic cities.
A week before the event this year, Caroline contacted me saying she would be unable to come because her Stepfather was dying and she had just split with her boyfriend. After a few emails back and forth, she said she was committed to giving L2P24 her best shot. Here is her story of heartbreak, bravery, resilience and ultimately, pride...
I have always felt like life tries to make you fit into boxes. Social norms, expectations and boundaries placed on our lives. We can often find ourselves adhering to other people’s rules about how we should live and who we should be.
Through adventure I realised there are no limits to who you can be or what you can achieve. In fact, it’s the opposite. Today I’m sharing with you my favourite cycling challenges that could raise your life to the next level, should you choose to accept the mission.
Mum and I will forever cherish those lazy afternoons relaxing in the Palazzo listening to the waves lap on the shores of Lake Como. The sun filtering through our window, and the memories of that morning’s activity - kayaking, cycling, breakfasting - fresh in our minds. Lake Como has been on my bucket list for 20 years and the moment I laid eyes on the place, I knew why.
The Outer Hebrides is one of the most magical places on earth. As my love affair with Scotland developed over the last few years, I remember whispers from people saying I had to go there. Having spent a week road tripping, adventuring and wild camping through the OH, I urge you to add these islands to your bucket list. If you are looking for an unforgettable, breathtakingly beautiful, fun, adventurous and off the beaten track experience, here are my favourite hidden gems for you to explore and experience.
It’s no secret that I have a sweet spot for Scotland. I confess, it’s more like a deep, passionate love fest for the place! What is it that I love so much about Scotland, and specifically, The Cairngorms?
It’s the raw and rugged beauty that gets me every time. Scotland has kind of scenery, wilderness and tranquillity you may think you’d have to travel to New Zealand or Canada for, yet it’s accessible with a one-hour flight from London. It’s the place I visit to step back, breathe, hang out in nature and reset my balance.
I have teamed up with Visit Cairngorms to share with you my favourite places; hidden gems as well as more well-known hot spots, experiences and adventures. Enjoy!
“Do you ever question your sanity?” I ask Andy as I stop digging momentarily to assess our progress. We have been digging for three hours, the daylight is fading fast and it feels like I have barely made a dent in the snow pack. At this rate, I'm worried we will still be digging come midnight. “Just keep going” Andy replies, “it will all come together soon, you’ll see.”
