A Second Life on Foot: Jacquetta Megarry and New Adventures After Midlife
At the age of 50, while most people are thinking about slowing down, Jacquetta Megarry decided to speed up - on foot. A career in ICT was swapped for muddy boots and mountain paths after one frustrating but hugely adventurous hike along the West Highland Way sparked a bold idea: to create waterproof, lightweight, beautifully crafted guidebooks that could actually survive the Scottish weather.That spark became Rucksack Readers, now a 25-year success story with over 40 titles covering the UK’s best long-distance trails - and a few far-flung adventures from Kilimanjaro to Antarctica. In this episode, we about the joy of multi-day hiking, the art of turning passion into purpose, and the power of taking a giant leap midlife. Jacquetta shares the lessons she’s learned from a second career built on adventure, her advice for tackling altitude sickness, and we discuss how to make the most of every summer before it slips away.It’s a conversation not just about walking - but also about courage, creativity, and how to keep exploring, no matter your age.Find out more about Rucksack Readers here: https://www.rucsacs.com/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeahTimestamps:00:00 Intro02:22 London life vs. Rural Scotland Life05:34 50th Birthday inspiration07:19 Rucksack Readers12:39 The adventures of a multi-day hike16:39 Following your interests to make a career out of it18:44 Managing altitude sickness23:59 Creating a career around lifestyle26:36 Taking a leap aged 5030:03 Persistance and resilience within a creative pursuit34:47 Setting manageable itineraries38:58 Golden Eagle Encounter41:02 Solo tours vs. company45:06 Access rights48:45 Age is just a number50:46 Making time for these journeys51:49 Bad weather54:58 Different takes on adventure58:35 Research vs. Curiosity01:00:43 How preconceptions of places can be wrong01:05:55 Tom's summer story01:12:21 Midges in Scotland01:16:11 Jacquetta's favourite trails01:20:42 It's not always about the destination01:23:58 Hunter gatherers01:25:02 Technology on the trails01:28:19 Making retirement a career
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The Real Story of Small Boat Crossings from Journalist & Broadcaster Horatio Clare
Horatio Clare is one of Britain’s most captivating writers and broadcasters. From trekking across two continents following the migration of swallows, to voyaging on container ships, to writing about mental health and the natural world, his work is rooted in curiosity, humanity, and a deep urge to understand the world around us.In this episode, we dive into his brand new book We Came by Sea – a fearless exploration of migration across the English Channel and the stories of those who are helping in what Horatio hails as one of the great search and rescue operations of all time. Horatio talks about immersing himself in both sides of the debate, from spending time in right-wing pubs to listening on the ground in Dover. He shares what he witnessed first-hand at the frontline of Britain’s migration crisis, and why he believes current government policies are not just failing but wasting money.We also step behind the curtain of his writing life: how he shapes ideas, the craft of putting words to paper, and why writing remains for him both an art and an act of public service. For more information on Horatio and his books: https://horatioclarewriter.com/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
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Rave on for the Avon: Bristol’s Swimming Revolution - Charlotte Sawyer & Aggie Nyagari
What happens when you mix sewage pollution in our rivers with the creative, rebellious soul of Bristolians?The answer is Rave On For The Avon - a documentary about Bristol’s wild swimming community and their complicated, joyous relationship with the very waters others treat as a dumping ground.In this episode I sit down filmmakers Charlotte Sawyer and Aggie Nyagari, to explore how their cameras captured one community’s joyful yet defiant battle to reclaim the River Avon.We dive deep into the questions of access, ecology, and the very human need to connect with water. Charlotte and Aggie reveal how the Avon swimmers turned playfulness into protest, from data collection to mermaid costumes - and why sewage, though shocking, is just 4% of the problem.Our conversation ranges from the poetic - attempts to give the river legal personhood - to the profoundly personal, including Meg’s extraordinary story of marrying the River Avon. We discuss how the film’s reception is already reshaping perceptions of rivers, and why falling in love with nature might be the most radical thing we can do in the face of environmental crisis.This is an episode about activism, creativity, and community - but above all, it’s about remembering that rivers are not just scenery. They are living, breathing systems that we depend on, and perhaps even kin.Find a screening of Rave on for The Avon here: https://www.eightysita.com/raveonfortheavondocumentarySupport the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
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From Novice Cyclist to Record Breaker in 2 Years - Sarah Ruggins
In May 2025, Sarah Ruggins made history.She became the fastest person to cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back, covering the 1,677-mile route in an astonishing 5 days, 11 hours, and 14 minutes.Sarah didn’t just smash the women’s record - she claimed the outright record.But what makes her achievement all the more extraordinary is everything she had to overcome to get there.Just over two years earlier, she had barely ridden a bike. Before that, she spent years recovering from a debilitating illness that stripped her of her physical strength and sense of identity. And yet, through grit, precision, and an unshakeable mindset, she transformed herself from a complete novice into one of the most elite endurance cyclists in the world.This episode is about more than athletic achievement, it’s a story of what happens when you set an audacious goal, back it with discipline, and believe that setbacks are just the start of something greater.Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_ruggins/Mentioned in the Podcast:The Bike Project: https://thebikeproject.co.uk/Bikes for Refugees: https://www.bikesforrefugees.scot/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Get in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah
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Misadventures #3 - The Speed Project, Free UK Getaways and the Surprising Hollywood Follower...
Tom and Benny P are back with more tales of triumph, chaos and the curious art of blagging a bargain.Fresh from The Speed Project, Benny P shares what it was like to run a non-stop relay from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and still somehow make a decent coffee at the end. Meanwhile, Tom’s been gallivanting around Northumberland and Cornwall without spending a single penny on accommodation - he spills the beans on how he did it, and the magic he found along the way.We also reveal the trick to getting into the Eden Project for free and there’s a surprise cameo from a very famous Hollywood Brit who dropped in on Tom’s socials.Plus, we draw from the Great British Misadventures pot and hear one of Tom’s funny and/or embarrassing stories from his own misadventures. Visit Ben's Trailside Coffee Van: https://www.instagram.com/trailsidecoffee/Follow Ben: https://www.instagram.com/mr.bennypalmer/Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653Trusted Housesitters: Get 25% off your membership: https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/refer/RAF116724/?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=refer-a-friend&utm_campaign=refer-a-friendMentioned in the conversation:Jonty Brown: https://www.instagram.com/jontyruns/The Travel Project Episode: https://spoti.fi/4bUcPWaGuy Richie's Fountain of Youth https://youtu.be/1gB9h0ELEf0?si=P1sbFq6xP2SQfbwuOrigin Coffee: https://www.origincoffee.co.uk/Knoops: https://knoops.com/ukGet in contact:https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcasthttps://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeahCHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:37 Coming up04:38 Ben takes on The Speed Project17:58 How to manage a 48 hour tempo 25:49 Jonty Brown's Solo Speed Project30:59 Is holidaying in the UK actually expensive?36:54 For the love of stone circles39:48 Is the UK weather actually bad?44:52 Tom's famous Hollywood follower50:49 Tom's birthday in Northumberland58:11 Charlie Bennett's episode59:31 Cornish adventures01:06:49 Fowey's famous authors01:11:18 Getting into the Eden Project for free01:18:55 Minions, Cheesewring and Wild Guides01:25:14 Holidaying off season01:31:34 Trusted Housesitters01:33:12 Merlin Bird ID01:36:14 Writing challenge update01:42:38 Murder your darlings01:45:31 Coffee Corner01:49:54 Great British Misadventures
Hey I'm Tom! I'm a film-maker, adventurer and former BBC journalist. Join me in conversation with those who chose a life of adventure, those who don't take normal as normal and those with incredible stories to tell.
If you think you know someone who has a Great British Adventure story to tell, please get in contact: https://linktr.ee/tombryanyeah
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