Francesca Donovan: From city life to co-editor of The Great Outdoors magazine

<p>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.</p>

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

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

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

<p>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. </p>

<p>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. </p>

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

<p>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. </p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Thanks again for listening,</p>

<p>Liv x</p>

<p>Enjoyed this episode? Get some of my podcast walking routes, full transcripts and practical takeaways over on The Outdoors Fix Substack 👉 https://bit.ly/4uRT0GY</p>