Ramblings

Trent, Dorset

10 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Clare joins a lively primary school walking club as they ramble through the Dorset countryside. Pupils, teachers, local farmers and parents join the g...

Samaritans

03 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks from the famous dragon at Bures on the Essex/Suffolk border to Assington in Suffolk. Joining her is a group of volunteers from the...

Loughrigg Fell - Simon Ingram

25 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding explores Loughrigg Fell, in Cumbria with the writer and journalist, Simon Ingram. With all the passion of a convert, he explains to Clar...

Walking with a Purpose: The Surrey Hills

18 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding joins Jenni Williams and her disabled three year old daughter, Eve, as they take their daily walk in the Surrey Hills. These walks are t...

Artists' Ways - North Somerset

22 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with Carolyn Savidge in the final programme of this series which has been themed Artists' Ways. In the first programme she walked ...

Artists' Ways - Wiltshire

16 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding has been exploring Artists' Ways in this series of Ramblings. This week she walks with Matthew Hopwood whose project 'A Human Love Story...

Nun Appleton House, North Yorkshire

14 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding goes in search of Nun Appleton House in North Yorkshire, the subject of one of Andrew Marvells most famous poems. She's accompanied by c...

Artists' Ways - Falkirk

01 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks along the Forth and Clyde canal to the spectacular Kelpies - 30 metre high statues of horses' heads, modelled on Clydesdales. Walk...

Windsor Great Park with Bill Bryson

22 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding heads out across Windsor Great Park in the company of writer and prolific walker, Bill Bryson. He explains how he developed a passion fo...

Artists Ways: Louise Ann Wilson, Warnscale

17 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding discovers the essential role walking plays in contemporary artist's work. In this programme she walks with Louise Ann Wilson, a sceneogr...

Edge Hill

30 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding revisits the English Civil War by walking round Edge hill in the company of a group of fathers who've been walking together for twenty y...

The Red Ramblers in Dorset

30 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding joins The Red Ramblers, members of the local Labour party, who instead of being downhearted after the general election result, are glad ...

The Malvern Hills

11 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding joins Team Zulu, a group of walkers, led by Tarquin Shaw- Young, who prepare for long distance charity walks by training on the majestic...

Lyke Wake Walk

04 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding undertakes a section of the Lyke Wake Walk on the North York Moors. The route was originally devised sixty years ago by a local farmer w...

Old Birds, Pegsdon Hills

28 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks in the Pegsdon Hills, Bedfordshire, with a group of female birders who call themselves the 'Old Birds'. The group initially bonded...

Royal Greenwich Park

21 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of a new series of Ramblings, Clare Balding meets a group of parents who regularly share uplifting walks in Royal Greenwich Park. The wal...

Derbyshire - Family Walk

26 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding travels to Derbyshire this week to ramble with a group of families who gather once a month for a long walk and a pub lunch. Paul Cotton,...

Nordic Walking in Bramcote Park, Nottingham

19 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding takes a lesson in Nordic Walking as she joins national coach, Catherine Hughes, in one of her classes in Bramcote Park in Nottingham. So...

Hertfordshire - Bell-Ringers

12 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

The theme of this series of Ramblings is 'bonding' and this week Clare walks with a group who bond, not just through walking, but through their shared...

Philip Marsden, Truro, Cornwall

09 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with the writer Philip Marsden from his home near the banks of the River Fal out to the Cornish coastal path. Clare and Philip dis...

Cardiac Walkers

05 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In today's programme Clare Balding walks with a group of medics who have all suffered - as they put it - a 'cardiac event'. With good humour and no re...

Bonding Walks: Stiperstones, Shropshire

19 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this new series of Ramblings, Clare Balding explores the way walking can help us bond with other people, the countryside and our history. In this f...

The Dales Way, Part Six

23 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding enjoys the final leg of The Dales Way in the company of one of the men who designed it, Colin Spearman. Colin, joined by his wife Fleur,...

The Dales Way, Part Five

16 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is now really into her stride as she comes close to the end of her journey along The Dales Way, walking from Dent to Sedbergh. The route...

The Dales Way, Part Four

09 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding reaches one of the most beautiful stretches of the Dales Way, setting out from Buckden to Beckermonds, in the company of the Chairman of...

The Dales Way, Part Three

02 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding continues her journey along The Dales Way, hiking from Grassington to Kettlewell in the company of two experienced long distance walkers...

The Dales Way, Part Two

25 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding embarks on the second leg of her journey along The Dales Way, one of England's most loved long distance walking paths. This week she wal...

The Dales Way, Part One

18 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding embarks on her first leg of The Dales Way, in the company of Sarah Howcroft. Sarah, an enthusiastic walker and climber for many years, a...

The Diamond Ramblers, Otterton

26 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding has a sparkling day out joining The Diamond Ramblers for a circular walk from the South Devon village of Otterton. The group came togeth...

Arundel, West Sussex

19 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Tristan Gooley is the self-styled 'Natural Navigator' who makes his living teaching people how to orient themselves by using clues and signs within th...

Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo

12 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding completes one of her very favourite walks in South Devon, Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo. Today she's in the company of a U3A local walki...

The Doward

05 Jun 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This series of Ramblings is themed 'waterways' and in the second of two programmes based on the banks of the River Wye, Clare Balding walks with Nadia...

Hay-on-Wye

29 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Ramblings, Clare Balding walks with a group of women who met while on a horse-trekking trip in Outer Mongolia. Firm friendships were formed o...

Thundersley, Essex

22 May 2014

Contributed by Lukas

There's a watery theme to this new series of Ramblings, as Clare Balding walks along rivers, lakes and streams. In this first programme we find her ex...

Over the Hill walkers, Windsor Great Park

20 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This series is themed 'Ramblings Revisited' as Clare Balding walks again with some of her favourite and most memorable guests.In the spring of 2006, C...

Tennyson Down, Isle of Wight

13 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In this series of Ramblings, Clare Balding revisits some of her favourite walks and walkers. After thirteen years she returns to the Isle of Wight to ...

Mental Health Walking Group, Shrewsbury

06 Mar 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This series of Ramblings is themed 'Ramblings Revisited' as Clare catches up with people she walked with once before.In 2005 Clare rambled with a grou...

Hopetoun with the Monday Walkers

27 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In this series Clare Balding revisits some of her favourite walks and walkers from past programmes. Here she travels to the Hopetoun Estate, just west...

Rachael Kiddey, Avon Estuary

20 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

This series is themed 'Ramblings Revisited' as Clare Balding walks again with some of her favourite and most memorable guests.In March of 2006 Clare B...

Tom Isaacs, Chorley Wood

13 Feb 2014

Contributed by Lukas

In this new series Clare Balding revisits some of her favourite and most memorable guests. Eleven years ago she joined Tom Isaacs in West Wales as he ...

John McCarthy walks with volunteer rangers on the South Downs

24 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

John McCarthy is this week's guest presenter, while Clare is away.The theme of this series of Ramblings is listeners' walks .Today's guests are volunt...

The Same Walk 365 Times

17 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

This week's walk is a little unusual. The guest, Cathy Dreyer, wrote to the programme to suggest we join her on a short, local route which she has cho...

Newbiggin on Lune to Kirkby Stephen

10 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

This week's Ramblings is presented by the broadcaster and musician, Dougie Vipond, who took over the map and microphone on a beautiful July day when C...

Durham with Maggie and Keith Bell

03 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is in Durham for today's edition of Radio4's walking series, when she joins Maggie and Keith Bell. They take her on one of their favouri...

Werca's Folk, Warkworth in Northumberland

02 Oct 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is in Northumberland to join the walking group from the local women's choir, Wercas Folk. It was formed over eighteen years ago by the w...

The Tuesday Walkers of North Devon

19 Sep 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks in Somerset as the guest of The Tuesday Walkers of North Devon. Meeting at the village of Exford on Exmoor, they set out on a six ...

Tara Bariana recalls his long walk home to India

27 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks on Cannock Chase with Tara Bariana who recalls his extraordinary walk home to India.Tara Bariana was born in Punjab, and at the ag...

West Highland Way from Balmaha

20 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks a section of the West Highland Way, north from Balmaha, with twin sisters Pauline Walker and Fiona Rennie.Pauline and Fiona are bo...

In Search of the Old Ways

13 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with the celebrated author and academic, Robert Macfarlane who takes her from his home in Cambridge out onto the Icknield Way. For...

George Monbiot in search of the wild

06 Jun 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding goes rambling, near Machynlleth, with the writer and environmentalist, George Monbiot. The theme of this series of Ramblings is 'In Sear...

In Search of Love

30 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding meets those who have found love and companionship through walking when she joins a group to walk a section of the Greensand Way in Surre...

Chilterns American Women's Club hiking group

23 May 2013

Contributed by Lukas

In this new series of Ramblings, Clare Balding will be walking in search of new places, new people and new experiences. In this first programme she jo...

Michael Weltike - Barefoot Walker

14 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Weltike tries to persuade Clare Balding of the benefits of barefoot walking on a wintry wander in the West Country.They meet at the church of ...

David Sedaris

07 Mar 2013

Contributed by Lukas

David Sedaris, the American author and comedian, takes Clare Balding on a litter-picking walk in West Sussex.When David Sedaris was a child he would c...

Toyah Willcox

28 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Actress and singer, Toyah Willcox, takes Clare Balding for a walk in rural Worcestershire.The theme for this series of Ramblings is 'self-improvement'...

Walking with friends

21 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding explores the beautiful Longdendale Trail in Derbyshire, joining long -term friends, Tracey Standring and Christine Valentine. They expla...

Walking for Spiritual Renewal

16 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking for self improvement in this series of Ramblings and today she hopes to find a new inner calm with the help of Dr Kate Kirkwo...

The Walking Book Group

09 Feb 2013

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking for self improvement in this new series of Ramblings; in six weeks time she hopes to be smarter, fitter, calmer and cleverer....

Steve Backshall

25 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with naturalist, author & TV presenter, Steve Backshall. Together they stroll along his favourite stretch of the Thames from B...

Simon Evans of the Wye and Usk Foundation

18 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with Simon Evans and his family along a tributary of the Usk, in the shadow of the Sugar Loaf. Simon is a passionate fisherman and...

Samuel West at Rainham Marshes in Essex

11 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with the actor, and passionate bird-watcher, Samuel West around one of his favourite birding spots, the RSPB reserve at Rainham Ma...

Dublin Bay with Eanna Ni Lamhna

04 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding continues her series of wildlife walks with a visit to the Irish Coast. Today it's "Ramblings reunited", as she is joined again by Irish...

The Wicklow Mountains with Eanna Ni Lamhna

04 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist and well-known broadcaster Eanna Ni Lamhna takes Clare into the fabulous walking country of the Wicklow Mountains. She's a mine of in...

Taxidermists in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire

27 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this series Clare Balding is going on wildlife walks around the UK. Today Clare meets taxidermists and life long friends Dave Astley, Mike Gadd and...

Richmond Park, London, with Artist Nicola Hicks

20 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this series of Ramblings Clare Balding is going on wildlife walks around the UK. Today she is in Richmond Park in London with internationally renow...

Whitley Bay with Barry Stone

28 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) throughout this series of Ramblings.Prog 6 - Whitley Bay with Barry StoneIn this week's programm...

Pen Farthing on Dartmoor

21 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) throughout this series of Ramblings.Prog 5: Pen Farthing on Dartmoor Pen Farthing is a former Ro...

Larkhall, South Lanarkshire

14 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) throughout this series of Ramblings.Prog 4: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire.This week Clare Balding ...

Alnmouth, Northumberland

07 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) in this series of Ramblings. Programme 3: Alnmouth, Northumberland If you go walking with a dog,...

Dartmoor

31 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) in this new series of Ramblings. Prog 5: Dartmoor with Alex Lyons who is a search and rescue dog...

Flamborough Head to Bridlington

31 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) in this new series of Ramblings. Programme 1: Flamborough Head to Bridlington with Stuart Jessup...

Sir Andrew Motion

15 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the final programme in a series of inspirational walks, Clare Balding is joined by the former poet laureate, Sir Andrew Motion, to walk around the ...

Brecon Beacons - Art in the Park

08 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks part of the Beacons Way in the Brecon Beacons National Park to find out how people are being inspired to create their own response...

Kinder Scout

01 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Almost 80 years since the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout, Clare Balding joins ramblers from Manchester and Sheffield to mark this inspirational moment ...

Storytelling in Cornwall

23 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the third in a series of inspirational walks for Ramblings, Clare Balding is in Cornwall where she is joined by writer and storyteller, Anna Maria ...

Northern Ireland - The Wee Binnians

16 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In the second in a series of inspirational walks, Clare Balding joins members of the Wee Binnians, Northern Ireland's biggest walking club. The walkin...

Kent - Octavia Hill Centenary Trail

09 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding returns with a new series of Ramblings in which she joins people who have either been inspired, or have inspired others, to walk in the ...

Devon - Hope Cove to Salcombe

22 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding joins Gordon and Caroline Luff and their son, Sam, to walk a section of the South West Coastal Path from Hope Cove to Salcombe. This is ...

Lincolnshire - The Wolds

15 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the fifth of this series of listener's walks, Clare Blading sets out three people who live in Lincolnshire and share a passion for the Wolds. Liste...

Discovering Kent from Chilham to Wye

08 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the fourth in a series of listener suggestions for Ramblings, Clare Balding walks part of the ancient track of the Pilgrim's Way in Kent. Often tho...

Dales Way

01 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the third programme in a series of walks suggested by listeners, Clare Balding joins Colin Speakman, creator of the Dales Way and campaigner for wa...

The Roaches and Lud's Church

24 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of a series of walks suggested by listeners to Ramblings, Clare Balding explores the area around the gritstone escarpment of The Roaches...

John Jones - Walking & Gigging

20 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding returns with a new series of walks based on suggestions from listeners to the programme. The series begins as Clare joins John Jones, le...

Alderley Edge - Alan Garner

25 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Alan Garner spent his early childhood in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England, and he remains associated with the area. Many of his works, including The W...

Daphne Du Maurier - Fowey

18 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Daphne Du Maurier lived and worked in Cornwall and the area surrounding Fowey features in many of her novels. Today the town is home to the annual Dap...

Darwin - Quantock Hills

11 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Inspired by Richard Dawkins book 'The Ancestor's tale: a pilgrimage to the dawn of life' the 'Ancestor's Trail' is intended as a celebration of evolut...

Malcolm Saville - Shropshire

04 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding joins walkers and members of the Malcolm Saville society in the Shropshire Hills where the author of children's fiction based his Lone P...

Hereford - Bruce Chatwin

28 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks on the Black Hill near to Hereford in the footsteps of novelist Bruce Chatwin who explored the border between Wales and England fo...

Heptonstall - Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath

21 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is back with a new series of walks with a literary theme, beginning in Heptonstall, the childhood home of poet Ted Hughes, and the buria...

Birmingham - Lickey Hills

12 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In the last programme of the series, Stuart Maconie walks the Lickey Hills overlooking Birmingham with a group of first time walkers, from the inner c...

Manchester - Marsden

05 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Maconie takes in the Manchester skyline with poet Simon Armitage on his home turf.

Wales - Garth

26 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing his series of short walks for winter days that take in city skylines, Stuart Maconie walks the Garth outside of Cardiff with a group who ca...

Lancaster - Slyne

19 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Broadcaster, journalist and keen walker Stuart Maconie continues this series of Ramblings, finding walks that are perfect for short winter days and wh...

Ireland - Belfast Hills

12 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and keen walker Stuart Maconie is presenting this series of Ramblings and is setting out to find accessible walks that offer great city vie...

Somerset - Bath Skyline

05 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and passionate hiker, Stuart Maconie hosts this series of Ramblings on Radio 4, embarking on the first of six city skyline walks, perfect f...

Scotland - Glasgow Necropolis

23 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks through the magnificent Glasgow Necropolis, a green oasis in the heart of the city.

Scotland - Pentland Hills

16 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with the Friends of the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh, a group who share a love of what the writer Robert Louis Stevenson referred...

Derbyshire - Wardlow

09 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks with a group of women who have produced their own book of walks in the Peak District called 'Women's Ways' that celebrates their f...

Gloucestershire - Forest of Dean

02 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding is in the Forest of Dean with a group who've been walking through the county of Gloucestershire for two months with donkeys. As part of...

Wiltshire - Swindon

25 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Clare Balding walks through the Wiltshire countryside with a Swindon based group of people with early onset dementia. The support they give one anothe...