Subscribe Spotlight 🌿Finding magic, peace and adventure in the outdoors

I haven't done a Subscribe Spotlight for such a long time, and I thought it was about time I brought it back.

One of the things I love about Life Between the Trails is discovering how differently people experience nature. For some, it's about adventure and exploring somewhere new. For others, it's a place to escape, to breathe, to reconnect or just be.

And sometimes, it's all of those things at once.

When my spotlighter was was asked what adventure means to her, her answers immediately made me smile.

"Exciting, exploring, creative journey, often finding new experiences and nature's treasure."

I think that captures something really special about being outdoors. Adventure doesn't always mean doing something big or daring. It can be the excitement of taking a path you've never walked before, wondering what you'll find, or stopping to notice something small that you might otherwise have walked straight past.

A little treasure hidden amongst the ordinary.

She isn't particularly drawn to big groups, though. In fact, she says the noise of lots of chatting can "erode the contemplating."

And I completely understand what she means.

She enjoys company, but often their walks are quiet, with not a lot of conversation. There is something lovely about being able to walk alongside someone without feeling the need to fill the silence.

And sometimes she chooses to escape into nature alone, with her dog for company.

There are plenty of outdoor memories that have stayed with her over the years.

Walking through cornfields of pure gold.

Walking through rushes towering above their heads near the coast, with the wind rattling through the stalks.

And then there is Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean , an amazing, mossy, cool valley that feels like somewhere from another world.

"A place of magic and legends."

It sounds like the kind of place where imagination takes over, and maybe that's exactly what makes it so memorable. Fairies, wizards and warlocks don't seem quite so impossible when you're wandering through ancient-looking woodland covered in moss.

"Our imagination runs wild."

Puzzlewood is one of her favourite places, along with Lud's Church in Staffordshire, and more recently they've been exploring the Ethel walks in the Peak District.

But, when she describes her favourite landscapes, she doesn't talk about sunshine or perfect weather.

"My favourite is always green damp forests, especially in winter."

There is something about what she says here that I love.

Probably because winter woodland has its own kind of magic. The dampness. The moss. The muted colours. The sound of the wind through the trees. The feeling of being tucked away from the rest of the world.

And for her, nature isn't simply somewhere to have an adventure.

It is somewhere to feel better.

"It is my peace, my sedative but also my recharge."

She describes feeling energised and calmed by being outside. Sometimes it's not even about going anywhere at all.

Ten minutes in the garden, pottering around.

Winding through the trees.

Sitting beside the stream near home and letting the water take away some of the worry and anxiety.

"Ten minutes in my garden pottering or winding through the trees is equal to any therapy."

There is something so powerful in that.

As I always say, we often think we need to go somewhere special to experience the benefits of nature, but sometimes the most important places are the ones we can reach within minutes.

A garden.

A local path.

A stream.

A little patch of green.

Just enough space to breathe.

Her love of the outdoors also comes through in the adventures she shares with her family.

Wild swimming in rivers with their float bags. Climbing hills simply to reach an incredible vista. Exploring quiet coastlines and beachcombing along the shore.

I can see how the beachcombing can be like the ultimate mindful activity.

Listening to the waves ebb and flow.

Looking down at the pebbles and seaweed.

Searching for pieces of beach glass.

"Is the best meditation."

I can just picture it- walking slowly along the shoreline, eyes down, noticing the tiny treasures amongst your feet while the sound of the sea becomes the soundtrack.

No rushing.

No particular destination.

Just noticing.

And nature has always been a huge part of family life too.

Their holidays are built around beautiful places — beaches, glades, forests, sand dunes, ancient monuments, castles and caves.

They celebrate the seasons and what they bring.

Daffodils appearing in the hedgerows.

Bluebells.

Golden cornfields.

Going outside at night to look at the stars and moon.

Listening to the wind and rain during a storm while sitting beside the fire.

Harvesting fruit.

Snow.

Sledging.

Snowball fights.

And although her children are now in their twenties, those experiences haven't disappeared.

They've become memories.

"Memories hold us together and bind us together, wrapped in the blanket provided by Mother Nature."

I love how she describes this.

Because perhaps that is one of the greatest things about adventures with the people we love. We aren't simply visiting places. We're creating memories that stay with us long after we've come home.

Years later, it's often the little things we remember.

The weather.

The funny moments.

The places we discovered.

The things we found.

The feeling of being together.

And, of course, no outdoor adventure would be complete without the essentials.

A float bag.

A walking stick.

A thermos flask.

"We love a wild cuppa."

Little sitting mats, field guides for wildflowers and grasses, and apps for identifying birds and plants all come along too.

And if you're heading out with children or people who are new to adventuring, her advice is refreshingly simple:

Plan, organise, take a flask — and don't forget the home-baked treats.

I think we can all agree with that.

But I feel her most important piece of advice is what I think we all need to hear sometimes.

Look local.

"Your back door holds a key to a world of joy."

There are local paths, parks and little oases of green everywhere. Places where wildlife is quietly going about its business, often without us even noticing.

You don't need to travel miles.

You don't need expensive equipment.

You don't need to be an experienced adventurer.

Just start looking.

"We get out every day and find a path to positivity."

And maybe that is the real message behind this Subscribe Spotlight.

Adventure doesn't always have to be a grand expedition.

Sometimes it's a quiet walk with your dog.

Sometimes it's a muddy woodland in winter.

Sometimes it's finding a piece of beach glass.

Sometimes it's sitting beside a stream and letting the water carry your worries away.

Sometimes it's a wild swim, a hilltop view or a flask of tea shared with someone you love.

And sometimes, it's simply stepping out of your front door and seeing where the path takes you.

When I asked what nature has taught her, her answer brought everything together beautifully.

"We are small creatures in a huge world of beauty and magic."

And maybe with that comes a responsibility.

"Our place is to enhance it, to respect it, value the wonders it brings, not to destroy or harm it."

I totally agree.

Nature gives us so much -adventure, peace, memories, perspective, connection and somewhere to simply be.

All we need to do is notice it, appreciate it and look after it.

So, if you haven't been outside today, maybe this is your little nudge.

Look out your back door.

Find a path.

Follow it.

See what you discover.

You never know what little piece of nature's treasure might be waiting for you. 🌿

A little thank you...

A huge thank you to this Subscriber for sharing her thoughts, memories and love of the outdoors, and for allowing me to share her words.

I hope her stories have inspired you to look a little closer at the adventures waiting right on your doorstep.

Who knows where your next path might lead?