Hello, I’m Anna McNuff
Endurance adventurer, author of seven books, keynote speaker and the voice behind Restless Mumma, a weekly newsletter about keeping an adventurous spirit alive through motherhood.
Keep your adventurous spirit alive, whatever life throws at you.
At a glance
Anna McNuff at a glance
Anna McNuff is a British endurance adventurer, author of seven adventure books, motivational keynote speaker and the voice behind Restless Mumma, a weekly newsletter about keeping an adventurous spirit alive through motherhood. A former Great Britain rower, she has run and cycled more than 20,000 miles around the world. She is the co-founder of Adventure Queens, a UK women’s adventure community of 15,000+ members, and lives a family-adventure life with her partner, fellow adventurer Jamie McDonald, and their three children.
- Ran 1,911 miles the length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa trail
- Cycled 11,000 miles through all 50 US states, solo and unsupported
- Cycled 5,500 miles along the Andes
- Seven books, including the award-winning Llama Drama
- Named one of Condé Nast Traveller’s 50 most influential travellers, and one of the Guardian’s top modern female adventurers
- TEDx speaker, featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC News and ITV News
- Ran 2,352 miles barefoot through Great Britain (Barefoot Britain)
- Former GB rower: gold at the 2006 World University Games, bronze at the 2007 European Championships
Hello
A bit more about me
Well howdy do. I’m Anna, and I’ve spent a big chunk of my life chasing big, human-powered journeys, then coming home to tell stories about them. Running, cycling, swimming (and once, kick-scooting across Wales).
Then I had three children in two years (hello: twins!), and discovered that motherhood was a way bigger challenge than anything I’d taken on before.
These days my adventures look a little different. There are running buggies, many more snacks and far less sleep.
But the adventuresome flame is still very much alight, because it refuses to go out. I believe adventures don’t end at motherhood; they evolve. Every week I write honestly about our travels and adventures as a family, and the escapes I make alone. The magic and the mess, all of it goes into the Restless Mumma newsletter.
With a background in psychology and a career as an elite athlete, the thread through all of it is the stuff I’ve always been fascinated by: resilience, self-belief, fear, courage, and the strength and magic in each of us that we rarely know is there until we go rooting around for it.
My adventures
The big adventures
Running New Zealand
1,911 miles along Te Araroa, carrying everything on my back
The 50 States
11,000 miles by bike through every US state
Cycling the Andes
5,500 miles and over 100,000 metres of climbing along the world’s longest mountain range
Barefoot Britain
2,352 miles through Great Britain, in bare feet
What I do now
Speaking, books and Restless Mumma
Speaking
Keynotes on resilience, endurance and self-belief for businesses, conferences and schools, in person and virtually, in the UK and internationally.
Book Anna to speak →
Books
Seven books: adventure memoirs, short-story collections and a children’s book, in paperback, ebook and audiobook.
See all seven books →
Restless Mumma
My weekly newsletter for restless souls: adventure, travel, family chaos and the inner workings of my noggin’. Join 3,000+ readers.
Free, weekly, unsubscribe any time.
You're in! 🎉
Check your inbox for a welcome email from Restless Mumma. If you can't see it, have a peek in your spam or promotions folder.
I’m also the co-founder of Adventure Queens, a community of 15,000+ women who love adventure.
Podcasts and interviews
Invite me on your podcast
I love a good long-form natter, especially on shows for women, for people who love the outdoors, and with hosts who like an honest chat and a good laugh. Topics I love talking about:
- Motherhood, honestly: keeping your adventurous spirit alive through the messy, sleepless, snack-covered years
- Nature as medicine: why time outdoors matters so much for our mental health, and how I squeeze it in as a mum
- Gentle resilience: what 20,000 miles of adventure taught me about getting through hard times, and why it’s not about ‘being tough’
- Unconventional family life: travel, nomad life and learning outside school
- Self-doubt, imposter syndrome and the inner critic
- Finding the funny: lost toenails, adventures gone wrong, and why laughing at the chaos gets me through
- Building a creative career from books, a newsletter and speaking
As seen on
As heard on
Get in touch
To invite me on your show, email hello@annamcnuff.com with the show name, your audience size and the angle you have in mind.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Who is Anna McNuff?
A British endurance adventurer, author of seven books, motivational speaker and former Great Britain rower, and the voice behind the Restless Mumma newsletter about adventure and motherhood.
What is Anna McNuff best known for?
Running the length of New Zealand, cycling through all 50 US states and along the Andes, and running 2,352 miles barefoot through Great Britain, plus the books she wrote about them, and her raw, funny and honest weekly Restless Mumma newsletter.
How many books has Anna McNuff written?
Seven: adventure memoirs, two short-story collections and a children’s book. Llama Drama won the Amazon Storyteller award.
What is Restless Mumma?
Anna’s weekly newsletter on Substack about keeping an adventurous spirit alive through motherhood, read by more than 3,000 people, with honest stories of family adventure, travel and mindset.
Is Anna available for podcast interviews?
Yes. Anna is a warm, funny and honest podcast guest, especially for shows for women and outdoor lovers. She has been a guest on 1000 Hours Outside, The Creative Penn, Women’s Running and Made by Mammas, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast, BBC News, ITV News, talkRADIO and BBC Radio Gloucestershire. She talks about motherhood, nature and mental health, gentle resilience, unconventional family life, self-doubt, and finding the funny in the chaos. Email hello@annamcnuff.com.
How do I book Anna to speak?
Email speaking@annamcnuff.com. See the Speaking page for keynotes and the School Talks page for prize givings and speech days.
Say hello
Speaking enquiries: speaking@annamcnuff.com
Podcasts and everything else: hello@annamcnuff.com