L THE COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE COUNTRY GENT
Ben Fogle chats to T e Countryside Experience about why there’s no place like home when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors
B
en Fogle’s career is inextricably linked to the outdoors. It was on a remote island in the
Outer Hebrides that he fi rst came to the public’s attention when he starred in the popular BBC show Castaway. Since then he has spent 15 years travelling around the globe climbing mountains, navigating rivers and undertaking extreme challenges in some of the harshest climates on planet Earth. But it is his work for the seminal British TV show
Countryfi le for which he is perhaps best known. As one of the show’s main presenters between 2001- 2009, as well as a brief return in 2013-2014, viewers watched with delight as Ben traipsed up-and-down the country exploring the British Isles. His time with the show led him to believe that Britain can match any other country in the world when it comes to natural beauty.
Ben Fogle has travelled to over
“The UK has some of the most
beautiful countryside of anywhere in the world,” says Ben. “The Outer Hebrides, where I started all those years ago, is one of my favourites. But I also love the West Country, Cornwall, Devon; all of which I think are very special. And it goes without saying that all of our National Parks are extraordinary.” Bitten by the adventure bug at an early
100 countries in the past 15 years, including Mongolia, Tanzania and the Arctic Circle. But none surpass the UK in his heart
age – Ben’s childhood was split between London and Canada – it was those carefree days which inspired him to go travelling across Central America upon leaving school. Now he’s trying to instil that same love of nature into his own children. “Nature makes me feel alive. We’ve got these incredible landscapes to explore in this country and it’s very, very beautiful. That’s what I love and what I want to pass
on,” he adds. His love for nature is
apparent in the charitable
projects he supports. Ben is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, an ambassador for the WWF and Tusk. He is a patron for the Royal Parks Foundation. He is also a keen supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, Shelterbox, the Prince’s Trust, Centrepoint and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Quite a list, but Ben is still keenly aware of the environmental impact he has: “My impact on this planet is pretty signifi cant. I’m certainly not a perfect greenie. But you can make up for that in other ways. And I’d like to think that some of the conservation and environmental work I do goes some way to lessening my impact on the planet.” Part of his charity work is being an ambassador for getting people out and about in the countryside,
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but he’s careful not to make it out to be some sort of playground. “I think the countryside is in danger of a kind of Disneyfi cation in which people think that if you go to the countryside you need to do stuff . But there’s nothing better than just going for a walk to take in the beautiful scenery,” explains Ben. “There’s this whole movement towards slow food, slow travel, slow living now – it’s become a big thing. That’s because there’s nothing more relaxing than going for a leisurely walk. You don’t have to have kids or dogs with you either. Just go on your own and soak up our glorious countryside, that’s what I’d recommend.” Like many country gents, if you were to ask Ben
what he couldn’t live without he would give you a simple answer: his Land Rover Defender and his
beloved Labradors. But what is it about them he fi nds so appealing? “I’ve always loved Land Rovers. I’ve seen them all over the world, and as a proud Englishman, I love the fact that these cars really did change the world. There’s a simplicity about them which is the antithesis to most other cars you’ll have on the street,” explains Ben. “It’s a similar sort of thing with dogs. The
relationship with a dog is so uncomplicated, it’s so black and white, they rely on you and they give you love in return, and that’s it. It’s unfailing love. “It’s the same with a Land Rover – it’s a very
simple black and white car. There are no complex buttons. You get in, turn the key and put it into fi rst gear and you just drive off . I like simple things. I don’t like complication.”
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Fogle is involved with numerous
conservation charities
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Cover Image: aluxum/
istock.com. Left Image: Rex/Shut ersotck/ Right Image: Oskar Proctor
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