This week we have conversations about an upcoming walking festival in Otley, in Yorkshire, and about a new book called One Woman Walks Europe, the follow up to Ursula Martin’s first book, One Woman Walks Wales.

Interview times:

06:37 Otley Walking Festival

25:35 Ursula Martin

Otley Walking Festival

From Saturday 28 June to Sunday 6 July, the popular Otley Walking Festival is back.

With more than 40 walks and events over the nine days of the event, organisers say there is something for everyone – short town-based walks, meadows and field paths, strenuous moorland hikes, evening events, and the return of popular old favourite walks like the allotment walk (really, listen to the interview to find out more) and some new themed walks.

The Otley Walking Festival showcases the historic market town and the Wharfedale countryside that surrounds it.

Some walks require booking, and some are already fully booked.

Our conversation about the festival is with Ruth Blackwell, chair of the Otley Walking Festival Committee.

Ursula Martin – One Woman Walks Europe

Ursula Martin’s first book, One Woman Walks Wales, drew critical acclaim following its publication in 2018. It chronicles her story of walking 3,700 miles around Wales after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

So, what do you do as a follow up to that?

In Ursula’s case, you walk from Ukraine right across Europe, to add another 5,500 miles to the total. And you write a second book about that adventure – One Woman Walks Europe, which was published in March, 2025.

She is now embarking on a book tour – but not an ordinary one. To take her walking total to more than 10,000 miles, Ursula is visiting bookstores across the UK as she does the Land’s End to John O’Groats walk.

One Woman Walks Europe is published by Honno Welsh Women’s Press, and can be found at many good bookstores, and online.

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