Battlegore and Bronze: A Million Words of West Country War and Peace

In this episode, Martin Hesp reflects on a staggering career milestone: 26 years of weekly 900-word columns for the Western Morning News and Western Daily Press. With over 1.17 million words written for his Saturday readers, Martin explores the responsibility of being the "eyes and ears" of the region since 1999.

Digging into his personal archives, Martin connects the modern anxieties of global conflict with his childhood in West Somerset—a landscape literally built on "Battlegore." From the silent, trauma-worn teachers of the 1950s to the cinematic Saxon slaughter of Vikings at Countisbury, this episode examines how history and local legend shape our understanding of the present.

It's a journey through the Somerset marshes, the high hill-forts above Lynmouth, and the evolution of a journalist who has spent a lifetime turning the "rough draft of history" into a legendary Saturday staple.

In this episode of Adventures in Journalism, Martin Hesp takes us behind the lens of his latest novel, The Cornish Snapper: The Granite Mystery.

Can a non-police sleuth still exist in the modern age of forensics and cordoned-off crime scenes? Martin argues they can—if they're carrying a press pass and a digital camera. He discusses the "brainwave" that turned a seasoned, world-weary reporter into the Dr. Watson for a sharp-witted, tech-savvy press photographer's Sherlock Holmes.

Highlights include:

• The 2002 Debate: How a BBC Radio 4 discussion on the "death of crime fiction" challenged Martin to find a new kind of detective.

• The "Snapper" Dynamic: Why the pairing of a veteran journalist and a modern photographer creates the perfect investigative duo.

• A Newlyn Awakening: Listen to an exclusive reading from the book's opening chapter, capturing the salt, grit, and authenticity of a Cornish fishing port at dawn.

• Journalism vs. Fiction: Reflections on how 50 years in the newsroom provides the ultimate toolkit for building a believable mystery.

The Cornish Snapper is available now. For more stories, articles, and to grab your copy, visit martinhespfoodandtravel.com.

Step inside the historic walls of Taunton's Castle Hotel in this episode of Adventures in Journalism. Host Martin Hesp sits down with legendary proprietor Kit Chapman to celebrate the 75th anniversary of his family's stewardship of this Somerset landmark.

Kit shares candid stories from the hotel's "black and white movie" past, including his father's 1950s restoration, the hotel's transformation into a Michelin-starred culinary destination, and humorous encounters with the likes of Henry Blofeld and Keith Floyd. We explore how the Castle has remained a permanent fixture in a changing world, serving as a gateway to the Quantocks, Exmoor, and the Somerset Levels. Whether you are a fan of English heritage, fine dining, or the art of hospitality, this interview offers a fascinating look at one of Britain's most prestigious establishments.

In this episode of Adventures in Journalism, veteran journalist Martin Hesp reflects on one of the most remarkable scenes of his career—the wreck of the MSC Napoli off the coast of Branscombe. Exactly 18 years after the ill-fated container ship came to grief on the Jurassic Coast, Martin pulls from his personal audio archives to revisit the chaos and curiosity that followed.

Join Martin as he shares original field recordings from the shingle beach, where hundreds of people gathered to witness (and sometimes scavenge) an extraordinary array of cargo—from BMW motorcycles and wine barrels to car mirrors and dog food. The episode also features an insightful and humorous conversation with award-winning press photographer Richard Austin, as the two old friends recount the "modern-day Poldark" scenes and the changing face of regional newspaper journalism.

In this feature-length episode of Adventures in Journalism, Martin Hesp visits the historic village of Kingsbury Episcopi. To coincide with this week's "Hesp Out West" column in the Western Morning News and Western Daily Press, we go behind the scenes to meet the people who define this unique corner of the Somerset Levels.

In this episode:

• [00:00] Intro: The view from One Tree Hill and the "Adventures Out West" sting.

• [05:15] The Cider Heritage: A visit with Julian Temperley among the oak barrels of the Somerset Cider Brandy Company.

• [18:40] Village Life: Conversations with the local history group on the traditions of the River Parrett.

• [32:10] The Local: Reflections on rural community and the future of village life.

About the Podcast: Adventures in Journalism is hosted by Martin Hesp, a veteran journalist with over 40 years of experience covering the West Country. This podcast brings the "Hesp Out West" newspaper features to life through on-location interviews and rural storytelling.

A quick explanation about why I am bringing Adventures in Journalism back to life. It's bascially because I am busy belting about the place seeing interesting things, visiting beautiful places, and meeting fascinating people.

Now 2026 has arrived, I've decided to restart my podcast series - firstly with some thoughts on warm and sunny places, seeing the weather has been so bad here in the UK.

This first episode visits some out of the way places in the Algarve and talks to a guide who will take visitors to some pretty magical locations down there in Southern Portugal.

We also visit Puglia, where we talk to a farmer who has been nurturing some of the oldest olive trees in the world. Some of them were ancient when Jesus Christ was born!

We set out to celebrate English Wine Week by visiting the Huxbear Vineyard in South Devon in the company of Wickhams Wine and the wine writer Stephen Barrett