Zoe Langley-Wathen: 630 Miles Braver: Mid-lifing on the South West Coast Path. The reality of imposter syndrome, facing solo adventures and the warmth of personal connections.
- xtinecruzat
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Zoe Langley-Wathen is a writer, speaker, and adventure seeker who has spent over a decade inspiring others to embrace the outdoors. From solo-walking the South West Coast Path in 2011 to becoming the first woman to walk the Wales Coast Path in 2012, Zoe has continually pushed her boundaries—while navigating the realities of midlife, imposter syndrome, and solo adventures.
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Zoe shares the journey behind her latest book, 630 Miles Braver: Mid-lifing on the South West Coast Path, which chronicles her transformative experience walking the iconic trail. She opens up about the challenges of writing, the joy of creative expression, and why she’s passionate about encouraging midlife women to step outside their comfort zones.
We also dive into her upcoming coastline walk of mainland Great Britain, the logistics of planning such a mammoth adventure, and her mission to prove that adventure has no age limit.
Tune in to hear Zoe’s incredible story, her insights on bravery, and her advice on making adventure a lifelong pursuit.
Listen to Zoe on previous episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast
Nov 7, 2017 - Zoe Langley-Wathen - Walking Adventures include the South West Coastal Path, Wales Coast Path
Aug 29, 2019 - Zoe Langley-Wathen - Her love for long distance walking, #100mappydays & Head Right Out
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Show notes
Writer, speaker and adventure seeker
Walking the SWCP solo in 2011
Becoming the first woman to walk the Wales Coast Path in 2012
Peri-menopause!
From living in a house in Dorset to living on a narrow boat
Living in Somerset and loving life and adventures
Knowing Zoe since 2015
Women’s Adventure Expo in Bristol
Speaking to Zoe in 2017 on the Tough Girl Podcast
Starting her own podcast in 2021- Headrighout
Speaking to midlife women who are pushing their comfort zone in the outdoors
Wanting to promote adventure for midlife women
What happened in 2020 and 2021
The covid years….
Glamping in an empty house for 4 months
Saying yes to the book!
Being inspired by The Salt Path
5,000 word chapter..
Seeing her words and drawings in print
Being a creative person and loving the creative process
Her writing journey and putting her story down on paper
Book: 630 Miles Braver - midlifing on the South West Coast Path
Writing every morning
Connecting with the London writers salon
Discussing the book with Mike and reliving the memories
Book get published on the 15th April
25th April 2025 - The Salt Path movie goes live in the UK
Walking from her home in Somerset to Cornwall
Going walking solo again in 2024 (after 10 years)
Re routing over Dartmoor, crossing flooded rivers and challenging walking!
Making new friends and being invited to a wedding!
The next adventure…..
Wanting to walk the coast of mainland Great Britain
1st October 2025…..
The route and the plan
Walking anticlockwise from Poole Harbour to Brighton to London
The rules…
Daily distances… going for lower millage days
Costs and estimated budget needed for the 2 of them over the 2 years 4 months
Renting the house out and paying for the challenge
The challenge of Scotland
Snow or midgets - what’s the best time of year to be in Scotland
The right to roam in Scotland
The inlets in Western Scotland…
Figuring it out when you get there
Don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you from enjoying the adventure
Raising funds for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Raising awareness about the positive benefits of adventure for any age
Working as an Ambassador for Adventure Mind
Registering for a Guinness World Record
How to connect with Zoe & Mike while they are on their adventures
Final words of wisdom and advice
Bravery and taking on new challenges
The power of discovering that adventure has no age limit
Finding ways to step outside your comfort zone
Reading and listening to other people doing similar things
The power of writing things down
What do you want to do and how do you feel about it
Keep a diary and a record of what you’ve done
Reflect back on the journey, what would you do again, what would you do differently?
Social Media
Website www.headrightout.com
Instagram @headrightout
Facebook @headrightout
Book: 630 Miles Braver: Midlifing on the South West Coast Path
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