In this episode we talk to Richard Newsome — Mountain Bothies Association volunteer, responsible for Rohoish Bothy and involved in wider MBA work across the West Highland Way.

What we cover:

• Why bothies create such a strong emotional pull for walkers

• What actually happens on a maintenance visit

• The strangest things Richard has found behind a bothy door

• Vandalism, rubbish, winter conditions — and why none of it has put him off

• Memorable nights: Burns Night in a bothy and strangers who become friends

• The story of how the West Highland Way led Richard to move to Scotland and meet his wife

• The one thing every first-time bothy visitor should know

Mentioned:

• Rohoish Bothy

• Strathcailleach (Cape Wrath)

• Greg’s Hut (Cross Fell, Pennine Way)

• Mountain Bothies Association (MBA)

A father and son take on the Alpine Crossing of the E5 — the section that starts in Germany, crosses Austria, and finishes in Italy. It’s six days of demanding terrain, high passes, long descents and huge scenery. In this conversation, Andy and Scott talk through:

• What the E5 actually is (and why most people only walk the Alpine bit)

• Their tough but brilliant first two days: steep climbs, vast snowfields, and the famous Zams Gorge

• Staying in the Bella Vista refuge and crossing into Italy on foot

• Their favourite moment on the whole route – a narrow ridge on day two with a 360° view of the Alps

Trail:
The E5 Alpine Crossing — a 120–200 km (depending how many cable cars/buses you dodge) high-level route from Oberstdorf in Germany to Vernagt/Vernago in Italy, crossing deep valleys, snowfields, exposed gorges and Tyrolean villages.

Rob chats with adventurer and writer Elise Downing and her dad Dave about their five-day trip around the Tour des Fiz, a quiet alpine loop near Chamonix. They talk about choosing this as Dave’s first big outing after hip surgery, the joy of slower days, navigating tiny French huts, run-ins with sheepdogs, gear they always carry, and why this lesser-known trail is such a good entry point for hut-to-hut hiking.

• What and where the Tour des Fiz actually is
• Why they chose this as a comeback adventure
• Slow, short days and why they loved the change of pace
• The difference between this trail and the Tour du Mont Blanc
• Hut life: tiny dorms, friendly hosts, and endless cheese
• Wildlife highlights (marmots, ibex, the world’s angriest sheepdog)
• Walking as a father and daughter — silence, pace, and faff etiquette
• What they carried and the kit they swear by
• Elise’s wider philosophy on accessible adventure
• Why this route is ideal for beginners to hut-to-hut hiking
• Their standout moments — and the one they never want to relive

What We Cover