Wilderness Mum: An inspiring true story of love and adventure on the UK coastline

by Kate Barron

'A truly inspiring story of courage, resilience and the call of the wild. Wilderness Mum is a testament to the extraordinary things we are capable of' - Tim Peake

Most people believe the wild years end when motherhood begins. For me, that’s when they truly started.

For years, Kate Barron lived a conventional life as a dedicated teacher in London – but her spirit longed for wilder horizons. Trading her classroom for a backpack, she embarked on a journey that led her from the jungles of Colombia to a windswept Scottish clifftop, where a chance encounter changed everything.

There she met Chris Lewis, a homeless ex-paratrooper whose own journey inspired the Sunday Times bestseller Finding Hildasay. Their meeting sparked an epic love story and a shared living in a tent for years while walking the entire length of the UK coastline. But Kate’s biggest challenge was yet to come. Choosing to have a baby without pausing their walk, she navigated pregnancy, childbirth and the realities of new motherhood while living completely outdoors.

Wilderness Mum is the extraordinary true story of what happens when you refuse to follow the script. It’s a love letter to the wild, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and an inspiring guide to embracing motherhood without sacrificing the adventure of a lifetime.

Genres: Autobiography, Nonfiction

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2026

Reviews

[Caz (Underlined)]

This is a true memoir about a woman’s journey in the wild through pregnancy and motherhood—connecting to nature, staying grounded spiritually, and fully embracing life.

[Linzi MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. It left me wanting to get pregnant and walk miles with my baby everyday. The bottle cleaning routine put me off wanting to live wild full time. I’ve read numerous books about living wild/off grid but i found this book gave a very unique perspective on raising a baby this way. 100 percent recommend this book to anybody that loves the grate outdoors or curious about raising an alternative life with a family.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful tribute to family, love, persistance to do it differently and nature 🥰

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardback.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, particularly enjoyed the book after the birth and Kate's determination to carry on with the walk. How wonderful to have your baby with you and be outside in nature all the time.

[caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible....completely different from normal reads...really enjoyed this book

[Laura Bowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have personally followed the author and partners journeys during their adventures of walking around the UK. Reading in an almost diary like story of said travels, I throughly enjoyed reading about parts I didn’t previous know. Heartwarming and very honest, this account of their lives is very admirable. Throughly enjoyed reading this book