James Forrest

Packed lunch game is on point tbf 😋 . . . Spotted on Walla Crag this weekend during Keswick Mountain Festival. All love to everyone pictured here - do what you gotta do. Only sharing because I thought it was funny. Plus, I was jealous as I only brought a stale cheese sandwich for my packed lunch. This dude was the final boss of mountain snacks!

Of course those cocktails went straight to our heads 😍🤪🥴 #Recovery #TeAraroa #ElNido #Paradise #Philippines

Lake Ōhau to Wānaka Big climbs, bigger views, one 'zero day' in a hut and Nic's favourite meal (last slide). We left Lake Ōhau Lodge early and immediately got stuck into a 1000m climb. Woodland paths turned into wet tussock, skinks scattering left and right. Lunch at the saddle was a gourmet affair of hard boiled eggs, beef jerky and pretzels (my new 'go to' trail picnic). We finished the day by wading the Ahuriri River and collapsing into the tent like two exhausted bears ready for hibernation. The next morning we set off before sunrise to beat the incoming rain and climbed steadily to Martha Saddle at 1,680m just as the drizzle began. Perfect timing. We dropped into the next valley and landed at Top Timaru Hut where the trail signage plus the wet weather forecast frightened us into a full hut day off. No signal, rain on the roof, stretching, route planning, trail snacks and auditing/labelling 4 packs of cards. Honestly? Bliss. Once the weather cleared we tackled the next stretch via the high route, a narrow sidling trail above the cloudy river. Ten river crossings of said cloudy river llater we climbed up to Stodys Hut where we passed hunters, one casually carrying a full stag’s head with antlers. A standard New Zealand backcountry moment. Then came Breast Hill. Views down to Lake Hāwea, across to Mount Aspiring, and the kind of airy ridgeline walking that makes you stop every five minutes just to stare around grinning. We descended to Pakituhi Hut, shared stories with trailmates, and the next day dropped all the way down to Lake Hāwea where the first order of business was an immediate swim followed by coffee and brunch like civilised humans. The final stretch into Wānaka was cruisy riverside and lakeside walking with an ice cream stop in Albert Town and another swim in Lake Wānaka because… when the trail gives you alpine lakes, you jump in them 😁

Windy Point to Arthur’s Pass #TeAraroa We skipped 11km of the trail to dodge incoming 🌧weather and set off through meadows and forest feeling wildly sensible. By lunchtime we were reading surprisingly funny/thought-provoking graffiti at Hope Halfway Hut (see last carousel pic) and by evening we were lakeside with hunters who handed us cold beers from a boat-borne cool box while we smartly positioned our tent out of the potential firing line 🔫 There was a stream crossing where James channelled Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing by shimmying across a log while I chose the far less cinematic but more stable 'simple wade' technique - a regular favourite. I also inhaled a fly at some point which I’m fairly sure is still touring my respiratory system 🤢 Next day served: a literal jungle gym forest thanks to recent storms, cows (much to JMFs despair) and then… natural hot springs. Straight in, in our underwear, zero hesitation. Absolute highlight (until the sandflies bullied us out of the hot pool). This was followed by hours of climbing over, under and through fallen trees while my legs got absolutely filleted by gorse-like bush. We crossed a 3-wire bridge, spotted rare kākā, crested Harper Pass with outrageous views, and gave outselves a fighting chance of getting out before the really torrential rain hit (hard to imagine it was even coming when everything up to this point was sundrenched and gorgeous). Day three was rivers. So many rivers. Knee deep, back and forth. Unfortunately I've developed tendonitis but my foot actually thanked me for the cold water of the rivers which numbed the pain temporarily. Heavy rain set in properly and our plans changed mid-stride. By lunchtime we bailed to Otira with a hitch from a lovely traveller from Bolivia. And then… the hotel. Imagine a haunted museum curated by a time-travelling antique collector with a sense of humour. Creepy dolls. Taxidermy. A jukebox. Unhinged signage. And a giant blood-soaked Gollum on the roof. Easily the most chaotic place we’ve ever stayed and somehow exactly what this section deserved (hotel pics to follow on my stories).

Our next chapter of Te Araroa (southbound down the South Island of New Zealand): Saint Arnaud to Boyle Village… also known as 'The week we forgot what dry socks felt like' 🥾💦🤣 This section had everything. Travers Saddle served broody peaks in swirling cloud, Waiau Pass delivered a full epic saga of scree scrambles, slick wet down-climbing, sacred lakes glowing through the mist, and waterfalls that upgraded themselves from gentle curtain to full stage production. We camped beside huts, in a cave, in the forest, by creeks, and occasionally in the presence of ankle-biting sandflies. We squelched back into wet shoes each morning with the enthusiasm of people pretending this is all character-building. No more daintily stepping from stone to stone across a creek or hopping across the felled trees positioned across muddy patches of trail, we've now realised it's easier to just walk right through 😁 We hiked a 35km+ day in this section (day 4) because a northbound tramper described it as “cruisy” and we believed them. This decision got us one night closer to civilisation, which meant hitchhiking straight into Hanmer Springs aboard a luxury tour bus who stopped for my outstretched thumb and (likely) desperate facial expression 🤣 Now: curry, rest, laundry, thermal pools, and the sweet simple joy of not having to wear waterproofs or wet socks 🥳 South Island, you’re wild, dramatic, relentless, and we’re absolutely hooked. Many more photos and stories can be found on my @komoot profile - link in bio #komootadventure

And we’re off 🥾🌞 Te Araroa trail (South Island) kicked off with the Queen Charlotte Track, aka the best way a 1300km walk could possibly begin. Ferry in on the Beachcomber to Ship Cove, then three days of undulating trail, ridiculous views over the sounds, and constant “wowee” moments all the way to Anakiwa, then on to Havelock for a strategic rest and snack refill before the Richmond Ranges try to humble us. Trail fam for stage 1 assembled: Josh (fellow TA sufferer in training), Harry and Rachael (UK imports turned Te Ika-a-Māui locals), and Mandy from Perth. Excellent humans, elite banter, many laughs. Mornings started with a full-volume dawn chorus from tūī, evenings ended in well managed campsites with everyone exhausted and asleep by 9pm. Important warning: weka (birds) are cute, confident, and criminals 🤣 Leave food unattended and it’s gone. One even stole a hiker’s crochet teddy bear Christmas present 😢 No one is safe. Protect your snacks with your life. No blisters yet (we’re shocked too), one stubborn winter cold came all the way to New Zealand with me (Nic), but honestly… with turquoise water, endless bays, and sunshine like this, I think I'll survive. Why didn’t we do this sooner? If Te Araroa isn’t on your bucket list yet, at least put the Queen Charlotte Track on there immediately. You can thank us later 😉🇳🇿✨ Full route and more photos available on my @komoot profile (link in bio)

New lifetime PB aged 42 . . . After fracturing my foot in March, dropping out of Manchester Marathon and then enduring 4 long months of recovery (with no running for 12 weeks), this felt like a real redemption race. It was sweltering in Valencia 🌞🥵 and I suffered badly in the heat (I need 3C not 23C), but I hung on for dear life to bag a new PB by 6 mins. Super happy 😀😀😀 Not too bad for an old man!

My favourite hike of 2025? Easy. The Peaks of the Balkans. It’s where wild mountains meet wilder hospitality. Where you hike past grandmas herding cows, eat homemade byrek until you burst, and somehow feel like part of the family in every village. Six stages, three borders, one unforgettable reminder that adventure’s not just about the peaks – it’s about the people too. ❤️ (Also, shout-out to my @inov_8 kit and footwear for surviving heat, dust, leeches and Balkan dancing.)

It's not a race (ahem), but... . My recent ParkRun antics (oh man, what an institution - love it): Cockermouth Greenway, 1st place, 19.06 - 18 Oct Keswick, 3rd place, 17.46 - 27 Sept Carlisle, 1st place, 19.46 - 20 Sept Maryport Prom, 1st place, 17.20 - 23 Aug Plus I've raced: Keswick Half Marathon (1.23.35 - very hilly) Great Cumbrian Run Carlisle Half (1.19.48) Manchester Half (1.17.48) Yorkshire Marathon (3.00.55) @inov_8

I’m the 2nd person ever to complete this entire trail - silver medal! This summer I walked the whole Stockholm Archipelago Trail in Sweden – all 270km of it, across 20 islands and 22 ferries. It’s a wild mix of pine forests, red cabins, sea swims, meatballs, and more ferry timetables than my brain could handle. Launched in 2024, the trail links Sweden’s stunning islands east of Stockholm — a proper island-hopping adventure for anyone who likes their hikes salty, scenic and slightly chaotic. Would I recommend it? 100%. An absolute dreamy Swedish adventure Wearing my trusty @inov_8 footwear and clothing for all of my hiking exploits, as always

A Swedish hiking trail with "lagom" - just the right amount of what you need That’s exactly what the island-hopping 270km Stockholm Archipelago Trail deliver. Not too wild, not too tame. Not too tough, not too easy. Just 270km of perfect balance: pine forests, sea dips, cinnamon buns, and a whole lot of peace. After 16 days of island-hopping, I realised adventure doesn’t always have to be extreme – sometimes it’s just about slowing down, looking up, and letting nature do its thing. 🇸🇪🌲 (Still rocking my @inov_8 shoes on this trip – because just the right amount of grip makes all the difference.)”

Living my dream life ❤️