Walk & Talk with Julia Bradbury
Her hugely popular TV series Wainwright Walks has almost single-handedly changed the public’s perception of hillwalking in recent years, bringing her boundless enthusiasm and a touch of glamour to what was seen as a traditionally male-dominated and unfashionable hobby. Now Julia Bradbury wants to do the same for the Ramblers, as she tells Dominic Bates…
Why did you want to be president ofthe Ramblers?
When I was approached, my gut reaction was yes and my immediate instinct was excitement because the Ramblers is such an iconic institution and I have a great passion for walking.
You’re certainly a popular choice with our readers – this is the second time you’ve been voted walk readers’ Walking Celebrity of the Year. Did that encourage you to make your decision?
It sounds dreadful, but I didn’t know! So no, I wasn’t swayed by that but I’m pleased I’ve got a slight head start as president.
You’ve done a great deal to raise the profile and appeal of walking in the media through Wainwright Walks, Coast to Coast, and Railway Walks – can you do the same with the Ramblers?
That’s exactly what I’d love to do. I know my walking programmes have inspired people to get out there and enjoy themselves in the hills and fells, and I hope I can continue sharing my enthusiasm for walking with the Ramblers. I see becoming president as an opportunity for us to move into a new era together, sharing the news that walking is quite cool and sexy, and lots of people do it.
When and how did you first get the walking bug?
I got it from my dad. He and his brother were born in Tideswell, Derbyshire, and were your archetypal outdoors explorers – tickling trout in streams, hiding in caves and generally getting muddy, dirty and into trouble in that old-fashioned way. As a result, he grew up with a great love and knowledge of the countryside, and took me walking from the age of four. I’ve walked with him more than anyone else. But my mum is more cosmopolitan – she likes cities and culture – so I’ve grown up with this double appreciation of the excitement of exploring cities and relaxing in the countryside.
Derbyshire has a great heritage for the access movement – were you aware of that growing up?
Of course – my dad told me stories about the Kinder Scout Trespass. It seems impossible to believe in our age of national parks that only 60-odd years ago, you had to fight for access to walk in these places.
How often do you go out walking?
Filming Countryfile gets me out on the road and walking every single week, and when I’m not doing that I’m doing a walking series! Even in London, I walk to meetings if I can. I love walking – it’s gorgeous on a sunny day down the King’s Road.
What’s the most memorable thing that’s happened to you on a walk?
Oh gosh, there are so many! Walks aren’t just about big achievements, they are about little moments. On a family holiday with my dad last year, we went up a small hill in Scotland called The Knock. We got about halfway up and he had to stop because his knees were tired. For the first time, he couldn’t make it to the summit with me. So, saddened, I carried on to the summit, where I took some photographs, and then turned around to see my dad popping over the top. It was such an emotional moment for me and I really hoped that it wasn’t our last summit together.
Who do you admire?
Wainwright may have been a curmudgeonly old soul but he was also an incredibly dedicated human being, and I admire the fact that he had an exact plan to write the pictorial guides to the Lakeland Fells over 13 years and then finished them a week early! Essentially, I admire driven, passionate people; people like Stephen Fry, Ranulph Fiennes and Eddie Izzard. And Joan Bakewell and Joanna Lumley are my personal broadcasting heroines.
Just how important is Britain’s heritage of footpaths to you?
We certainly do have a walking network to be envious of. I don’t know anywhere else in the world where you can pop a pin in a map of the country and find a walk within spitting distance. You can in this country, which is pretty neat.
You’ve said you want to see people of all ages walking more. What can the Ramblers do to help achieve this?
It’s just about communicating a message that walking is one of the most accessible sports or pastimes. You can urban walk or walk in the countryside, and it’s not expensive – you might need a pair of walking boots, but that’s really about it. People need to know the benefits of walking, too. A good, strong half-hour walk is as beneficially healthy and burns as many calories as a half-hour run. Which is good news for me because I’ve got dreadful knees and I’m not a runner! Then we need to show people how easy it is to build walking into their lives. You might not have time to go to the gym, but you can take the stairs instead of the lift, or walk to a meeting instead of using the bus or car. I’m not being worthy about it – we’re not a religious sect! But I get letters from people every day who have taken up walking and turned their lives around. It’s brilliant.
You’ve done some pretty extreme challenges on TV – from climbing in Ultimate Britain to hunting your own food in Kill It, Cook It, Eat It. What drives you to push yourself and are there any challenges you’d still like to do?
I’m not a complete thrill-seeker and I do get frightened and say no to things. But I think it’s important to push yourself every now and again because we can constantly surprise ourselves by what we can do and achieve. You have to keep that part of you alive, otherwise you stop growing. So I’d definitely like to walk the Himalayas and explore the effect of climate change in the region. And in the UK, there’s the Pennine Way still to go, and the Cotswold Way is another great one… I want to walk them all!
If there’s one thing you’d like to see achieved during your presidency of the Ramblers, what is it?
To heighten the awareness of the Ramblers, increase membership and, hopefully, convince people that rambling’s cool.
What’s your favourite…
…city walk?
Dublin, because it’s the city where I was born.
…countryside walk?
Castle Crag in the Lake District. It’s a tiny walk by Fells’ standards, but I absolutely love it.
…piece of walking kit?
I can’t stop buying backpacks – I love them! And I really like Mountain Hardware’s range.
…view?
Over Rutland Water reservoir from my home in Rutland.
…post-walk tipple?
Half a pint of Wainwright Ale or cider.
