Great Escapes with Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner

Trackanory brings stories to life from Great Western Railway’s new collection of myths and legends. Inspired by the landscapes, legends and locations connected by the railway, The Line To Legend Land offers listeners a chance to escape somewhere new, whether travelling by train or listening from home. Children’s author Michael Morpurgo reads his brand-new legend, The Miracle Dolphin of Mevagissey, with other stories told by children’s TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson and radio presenter Huw Stephens. Discover Trackanory from Great Western Railway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZvQDicHbfo&t=4s<...

Some stories belong to the past. Others are tied to places, waiting to be discovered. In this special episode of Great Escapes, Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner set off on a journey through myth, memory and the landscapes that have inspired some of Britain’s most enduring legends. They begin with GWR’s The Line to Legend Land book, joined by mythologist Graham Loveluck-Edwards, exploring what myths really are, why they persist, and how they become woven into the places we travel through. From there, they head to London Paddington station to see the...

Christmas is on the horizon, and this week Great Escapes heads to Cheltenham to meet the people who make the season feel magical. In this special Christmas episode, Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner explore Cheltenham at its most festive, from glowing Regency streets to countryside grottoes and backstage theatre bustle. Just outside town at Cotswold Farm Park, Dan meets a real-life Santa Claus – and when we say real, we mean it. Their conversation dives deep into the details of the role: how elves operate, the rules of the job and the practicalities of delivering presents to...

In this episode of Great Escapes, Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner travel across Devon and Cornwall to explore two iconic landmarks – one perched high above the moors, the other steeped in shadowy smuggler lore. From rose-pruning and brass-polishing at Castle Drogo to ghost stories and literary inspiration at Jamaica Inn, it’s a day of drama, history and proper hands-on adventure. Isy starts at Castle Drogo, the last castle ever built in England – perched high above the Teign Gorge with epic views over Dartmoor. She joins the gardening team to prune roses ahead of winter, before taking on a su...

In this episode of Great Escapes, Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner head to Exmouth – a classic Devon seaside town bursting with charm, creativity and seriously good fish and chips. Isy spends the day behind the counter at The Proper Fish & Chip Co., learning the ropes from Danny, a man with over 30 years’ experience in the art of perfect fish and chips. She takes her turn at the fryer, quickly discovering just how much skill goes into a truly great chippy. And the best part? She gets to taste her handiwork – and it might just be some o...

Beneath the Forest of Dean lies history, colour and creativity – from centuries-old mines to a home filled with art and light. In this episode of Great Escapes, Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner head deep into the Forest of Dean – a landscape of legends, light and remarkable contrasts. Dan ventures underground at Clearwell Caves, swapping daylight for headtorches and hard hats to experience the life of the freeminers who once worked beneath the forest floor. With Jonathan Wright as his guide – whose family has worked these seams for centuries – he learns it’s more than a trade; it’...

In this episode of Great Escapes, Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner head to Pembrokeshire – a place of wild seas, big skies and quietly brilliant people. Dan takes the plunge with Sian Richardson, founder of the Bluetits Chill Swimmers, for a bracing dip in the Irish Sea. What starts as a mad idea soon turns blissful – proof that a communal winter swim can clear the mind, lift the spirits and make you forget everything (apart from the cold). Meanwhile, Isy finds warmth of a different kind at Folly Farm, meeting the keepers who care for lions, rhin...

Join Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner as they roam the weird and wonderful corners of the UK, meeting the characters, unearthing the oddities and celebrating the glorious quirks that make every place special. In each episode, they go their separate ways, try something new and reunite at the end to compare notes. Great Escapes is about more than just travel – it’s about saying yes to the unexpected, discovering what makes a place tick and finding adventure (and laughter) in the most unlikely corners. In this Halloween special, Isy starts her day behind bars at Britai...

Great Escapes is the podcast that sets off in search of fascinating stories, delicious food, and the quirkiest customs the UK has to offer. Join Isy Suttie and Dan Skinner – two intrepid (and not always willing) travellers – as they explore towns and cities, meet unforgettable characters, try regional delicacies, and get roped into activities no one properly agreed to. Camping under the stars? Wild swimming? Cornish wrestling? One of them’s keen. The other’s calling their agent. It’s part travelogue, part comedy, and 100% fuelled by snacks, bickering, and unexpected detours.<...