Britain is threaded with public footpaths in a way almost nowhere else is — you can walk across it, coast to coast or end to end, on rights of way that are centuries old.
Five episodes with people who have actually done it, and know what it takes.
Derwentwater from Friar’s Crag. Photo by Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The right to walk across other people’s land is one of the genuinely remarkable things about Britain, and it is the thing American visitors are most consistently surprised by. There are more than 140,000 miles of public rights of way in England and Wales alone.
Quintin Lake walked the entire coast of Great Britain and came on to talk about what that does to a person over several years. Emily Graver of Macs Adventure gave us the practical version of the Hadrian’s Wall Path — how long, how hard, where to sleep, and what the baggage transfer really changes. We came back to Hadrian’s Wall later with someone who has walked every National Trail in the country.
Gillian Healey introduced us to Dartmoor, which is wilder and emptier than most visitors expect and demands more respect than it usually gets. And our guide to Cumbria and the Lake District covers the walking alongside everything else the region is good for.
You do not need to be an athlete for most of this. You do need decent boots, a waterproof, and a realistic view of British weather.
A national trail, a coastline, and a moor.
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas welcomes back photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake to discuss the Hadrian's Wall National Trail. They explore…
Listen to this episode →
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake about his remarkable journey walking the entire coastline of Great…
Listen to this episode →
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Gillian Healey, an expert guide in Dartmoor National Park. They discuss Gillian's journey to…
Listen to this episode →Every walking episode in broadcast order.
May 16, 2025 • 52:21
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake about his remarkable journey walking the entire coastline of Great Britain. Over five years, Quintin captured the beauty and diversity of Britain’s shores through his photography, documenting the challenges and discoveries he made along…
Jun 6, 2025 • 37:14
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Gillian Healey, an expert guide in Dartmoor National Park. They discuss Gillian’s journey to becoming a Dartmoor guide, the unique features of Dartmoor, and why it should be on every American’s travel bucket list (there are several important…
Sep 12, 2025 • 49:30
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan Thomas explores the beauty and cultural significance of Cumbria and the Lake District. He shares his personal experiences, literary connections, and the planning process for his trip, including a writer’s retreat. The conversation delves into the stunning landscapes, historical sites, and the…
Sep 19, 2025 • 52:40
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews Emily Graver, an adventure operations specialist at Macs Adventure, about the Hadrian’s Wall walk. Jonathan is planning to walk the trail, a lifelong goal, in summer 2026. They discuss the history, planning, and preparation needed for this iconic 84-mile…
Mar 13, 2026 • 44:25
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas welcomes back photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake to discuss the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail. They explore Quintin’s experiences walking the trail, its historical significance, the unique landscapes, and the challenges of photography along the route. The conversation also touches on…
In the order we recorded them, oldest first.
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake about his remarkable journey walking the entire coastline of Great…
Listen to this episode →
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas speaks with Gillian Healey, an expert guide in Dartmoor National Park. They discuss Gillian's journey to…
Listen to this episode →
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan Thomas explores the beauty and cultural significance of Cumbria and the Lake District. He shares his personal experiences,…
Listen to this episode →
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews Emily Graver, an adventure operations specialist at Macs Adventure, about the Hadrian's Wall walk. Jonathan…
Listen to this episode →
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas welcomes back photographer and adventurer Quintin Lake to discuss the Hadrian's Wall National Trail. They explore…
Listen to this episode →We turn our favourite conversations into full feature articles — the same material, written up properly, for people who’d sooner read than listen.
Companion articles for this series are being written — check back soon.
Trail guides, countryside writing and city walks from our sister sites.
Editor’s Note: The following is a guest article from one of our advertisers, Cotswolds Walks, a company that helps you plan the perfect walking…
Read on Anglotopia →
London certainly offers many great opportunities for walking no matter the time of year or the conditions under which the city finds itself. While…
Read on Londontopia →
The Tarr Steps are a prehistoric clapper bridge, crossing the river Barle. Photo credit M Clarke Autumn suits Devon… the lanes and beaches are peaceful…
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It’s nice to go out for a good walk, especially when that means a chance to explore a new place. In a city such…
Read on Londontopia →
Here’s another great article from our friends at Visit Britain that highlights the best sites to visit in Dorset – our favorite English county.…
Read on Anglotopia →Explore the 100-year-old Mail Rail tunnels for an underground walking tour that will allow you to discover one of London’s best-kept secrets.
Read on Londontopia →New episodes every Friday, and we’re always after another trail to try.
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