Shows / Ramblings
Ramblings
Clare Balding and guests share inspiring conversations while walking in the great outdoors.
Fresh air and nature, wonderful views and uplifting chat, each week Clare hikes in a different part of our glorious countryside. Walking side by side is the perfect way to cover a huge range of subjects: literature, art, wildlife, nature, taking on personal or physical challenges, dealing with grief, confronting preconceptions about the kind of people who love to ramble.
The conversations are as varied…
Episodes
- Ramblings
Arundel, West Sussex
Tristan Gooley is the self-styled 'Natural Navigator' who makes his living teaching people how to orient themselves by using clues and signs within the…
- Ramblings
Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo
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 walking group…
- Ramblings
The Doward
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 Smith on…
- Ramblings
Hay-on-Wye
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 on that…
- Ramblings
Thundersley, Essex
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 exploring…
- Ramblings
Over the Hill walkers, Windsor Great Park
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, Clare…
- Ramblings
Tennyson Down, Isle of Wight
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 meet…
- Ramblings
Mental Health Walking Group, Shrewsbury
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 group based…
- Ramblings
Hopetoun with the Monday Walkers
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 of…
- Ramblings
Rachael Kiddey, Avon Estuary
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 Balding…
- Ramblings
Tom Isaacs, Chorley Wood
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 walked…
- Ramblings
John McCarthy walks with volunteer rangers on the South Downs
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 volunteer…
- Ramblings
The Same Walk 365 Times
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 chosen to…
- Ramblings
Newbiggin on Lune to Kirkby Stephen
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 Clare…
- Ramblings
Durham with Maggie and Keith Bell
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 favourite routes…
- Ramblings
Werca's Folk, Warkworth in Northumberland
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 well-…
- Ramblings
The Tuesday Walkers of North Devon
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 mile…
- Ramblings
Tara Bariana recalls his long walk home to India
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 age of 13…
- Ramblings
West Highland Way from Balmaha
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 both…
- Ramblings
In Search of the Old Ways
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 a man…
- Ramblings
George Monbiot in search of the wild
Clare Balding goes rambling, near Machynlleth, with the writer and environmentalist, George Monbiot. The theme of this series of Ramblings is 'In Search Of.'…
- Ramblings
In Search of Love
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 Surrey. She…
- Ramblings
Chilterns American Women's Club hiking group
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 joins the…
- Ramblings
Michael Weltike - Barefoot Walker
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 St…
- Ramblings
David Sedaris
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 clear up…
- Ramblings
Toyah Willcox
Actress and singer, Toyah Willcox, takes Clare Balding for a walk in rural Worcestershire. The theme for this series of Ramblings is 'self-improvement' and for…
- Ramblings
Walking with friends
Clare Balding explores the beautiful Longdendale Trail in Derbyshire, joining long -term friends, Tracey Standring and Christine Valentine. They explain the…
- Ramblings
Walking for Spiritual Renewal
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 Kirkwood. Kate…
- Ramblings
The Walking Book Group
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. In this…
- Ramblings
Steve Backshall
Clare Balding walks with naturalist, author & TV presenter, Steve Backshall. Together they stroll along his favourite stretch of the Thames from Bourne End to…
- Ramblings
Simon Evans of the Wye and Usk Foundation
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 river…
- Ramblings
Samuel West at Rainham Marshes in Essex
Clare Balding walks with the actor, and passionate bird-watcher, Samuel West around one of his favourite birding spots, the RSPB reserve at Rainham Marshes in…
- Ramblings
Dublin Bay with Eanna Ni Lamhna
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…
- Ramblings
The Wicklow Mountains with Eanna Ni Lamhna
Environmentalist and well-known broadcaster Eanna Ni Lamhna takes Clare into the fabulous walking country of the Wicklow Mountains. She's a mine of information…
- Ramblings
Taxidermists in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire
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 James…
- Ramblings
Richmond Park, London, with Artist Nicola Hicks
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 renowned…
- Ramblings
Whitley Bay with Barry Stone
Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) throughout this series of Ramblings. Prog 6 - Whitley Bay with Barry Stone In this week's programme Clare…
- Ramblings
Pen Farthing on Dartmoor
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 Royal…
- Ramblings
Larkhall, South Lanarkshire
Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) throughout this series of Ramblings. Prog 4: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire. This week Clare Balding travels…
- Ramblings
Alnmouth, Northumberland
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…
- Ramblings
Flamborough Head to Bridlington
Clare Balding is walking with dogs (and their owners) in this new series of Ramblings. Programme 1: Flamborough Head to Bridlington with Stuart Jessup, Kate…
- Ramblings
Sir Andrew Motion
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 village…
- Ramblings
Brecon Beacons - Art in the Park
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 to the…
- Ramblings
Kinder Scout
Almost 80 years since the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout, Clare Balding joins ramblers from Manchester and Sheffield to mark this inspirational moment in…
- Ramblings
Storytelling in Cornwall
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 Murphy…
- Ramblings
Northern Ireland - The Wee Binnians
In the second in a series of inspirational walks, Clare Balding joins members of the Wee Binnians, Northern Ireland's biggest walking club. The walking club…
- Ramblings
Kent - Octavia Hill Centenary Trail
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 British…
- Ramblings
Devon - Hope Cove to Salcombe
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 thought…
- Ramblings
Lincolnshire - The Wolds
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. Listener, Mike…
- Ramblings
Discovering Kent from Chilham to Wye
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 thought of…
- Ramblings
The Roaches and Lud's Church
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 on the…
- Ramblings
John Jones - Walking & Gigging
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, lead singer…
- Ramblings
Alderley Edge - Alan Garner
Alan Garner spent his early childhood in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England, and he remains associated with the area. Many of his works, including The Weirdstone…
- Ramblings
Daphne Du Maurier - Fowey
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 Daphne Du…
- Ramblings
Darwin - Quantock Hills
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 evolution…
- Ramblings
Malcolm Saville - Shropshire
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 Pine…
- Ramblings
Hereford - Bruce Chatwin
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 for his…
- Ramblings
Heptonstall - Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath
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 burial place…