About Julia Bradbury Q&A

Have you always had a love of the outdoors?
Yes. My Dad Michael took be exploring the great outdoors with him when I was a little girl of about 6yrs old and I’ve been out there ever since! But I do live in a house not a tree house, in London, and contrary to the rumours, I like cities too!

What are the areas in Britain which particularly inspire you?
Where do I start…Castle Crag in the Lake District, I love the way this little walk ends at an incredible dramatic summit that looks like something out of the Lord of the Rings! Cleveland Way, Yorkshire, this walk covers some really stunning coastland and all the wild, craggy heathery magic of the Yorkshire Moors.

What was it like to follow in Alfred Wainwright’s footsteps for Wainwright Walks?
I always say I am very proud to be the woman following in Wainwrights man-boots. That original series was just meant to be a bit of a diversion from my other telly projects, an opportunity to pursue a hobby at work, so the reaction to the show was amazing and a bit of a surprise to everyone I think. We filmed three series of Wainwrights including the granddaddy of all long distance walks the Coast to Coast …

Any tips for those about to embark on the renowned journey themselves?
Don’t wear new boots, get some training in if you’re thinking about doing the walk in one go, but if you don’t have time (and I know a lot of people don’t) consider breaking the experience up over several weekends.

How would you describe your home (The style / feel etc.)?
My home has contemporary modern feel, lots of glass and limestone (and some gorgeous green slate from the bathrooms from the Honister Slate Mine in the Lakes).  I’m also a street art fan so we have graffiti artwork up some of the walls by a street artist known as Mighty Monkey.  I have an outdoor shower in the garden which is a hangover from my travels (I’ve presented several travel series over the years).  My first outdoor shower was in South Africa and I’ve loved them ever since.

What benefits do you think families can draw from outdoor life?
The list is endless and I could bang on for hours and hours but to me camping isn’t all about the actual camping, its about finding a beautiful outdoor location that you feel happy in and you think differently when you have an entirely new set of functions to perform and there is a freedom away from the routines at home.

What is your best family camp/camping experience to date?
As Matt Baker is godfather to one of my twin girls, I would count him as family and one of the funniest experiences I had was camping with him in the New Forest when he appeared wearing a duvet onesie in bright red. He looked hilarious!