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Interview

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK:
BEN FOGLE

21 August 2020

Interview | 21 August 2020

In this week’s Off the Beaten Track, we asked broadcaster and adventurer, Ben Fogle about his favourite places to visit, where his well loved Brady boots have travelled with him and what lockdown was like for him and his family.

Your life in a nutshell?

Travel to remote corners of the world to spend time with people off the beaten track.

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of rowing the Atlantic Ocean. It took me 49 days and was one of the hardest things of my life.

When you are travelling, what places locally do you most look forward to visiting when you get home?

I love simple, homeliness. I like small independent shops and restaurants, bars and cafes. As a family we love walking and hiking.

We live in the Chilterns. We love the countryside and its community. We love the landscape. The river. The people and the history.

What is the most remote place your Grenson boots have travelled?

My Grenson boots have been to Alaska, New Zealand, Australia and the Outer Hebrides. I took them to Siberia last year, that’s pretty remote.

 

You have been to some far-off places can you tell us your top 3 and why?

Papua New Guinea because it’s like stepping back in time. Ethiopia because of the people who are loveliest and warmest in the world and Bolivia as it is one of the first places I ever visited.

If you had to live anywhere except the UK, where would it be?

I think I’d choose to live in Sweden or Norway. I love the whole Scandinavia culture. I love the weather and the landscape and the way they embrace and celebrate nature.

Pictured: Ben wears Brady.

Favourite stores?

I love the Cloth Shop on Portobello for the fabrics. I love Liberty as I have been going there since I was a child and I love Labour and Wait for household goods.

3 favourite songs (we will add these to our Spotify Playlist)?

I love Hozier, The Man. Beck, Fat Freddy Drop, Blackseeds

3 Favourite Books

I love the Old Man and The Sea by Hemingway. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver and A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman.

3 Favourite Films

I love City of God, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Life Aquatic. Also Half a Sixpence as it starred my mother.

3 Favourite Podcasts

Louise Theroux, The Parenthood (my wife’s) and Belingcat.

Favourite places to visit/stay and why?

We love visiting Cornwall. We visit every year. St Mawes feels like home from home. We live swimming in the sea even in November.

Where do you live and what do you love about the area?

We live in the Chilterns. We love the countryside and its community. We love the landscape. The river. The people and the history.

What has life in Lockdown been like for you and your family – what positives do you think have come out of it if any!

We have embraced lockdown as a family. It is the longest consecutive period of time I have spent with my family but we have loved it. We have Moved house, grown a veg patch, and become passionate Gardeners and we have adopted two Guinean pigs.

What has life in Lockdown been like for you and your family – what positives do you think have come out of it if any!

We have embraced lockdown as a family. It is the longest consecutive period of time I have spent with my family but we have loved it. We have Moved house, grown a veg patch, and become passionate Gardeners and we have adopted two Guinean pigs.

Most inspiring IG account you follow?

Cabin Porn, Feel the Breeze Family.

Most exciting thing about your job?

I love travelling. I love meeting people. I love the wilderness.

What are you working on next? Anything you can share with us?

I have just written my 13th book – Inspire: Life Lessons from the Wilderness

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