We thought we were just going on a summer road trip. France had other plans.

Welcome

Welcome to The Alpine Edit! I’m Victoria, an expat, mum, and blogger navigating life in Chamonix after swapping Bristol for the mountains. Here, I share the raw realities of expat life, trail running adventures, family-friendly spots, and my passion for food and well-being. Whether you’re a runner, a fellow expat, or just mountain-curious, you’re in the right place!

What I Do

Hi, I’m Victoria — an ultra runner, mother, and creator sharing the honest highs and lows of moving abroad, raising a family, and chasing big goals from the French Alps.

In 2024, my husband Sion, our daughter Margot, and our cockapoo Thatcher set off in a van named The Pink Panther. What started as a three-month adventure across Europe quickly turned into something much bigger: a realisation that maybe, just maybe, we didn’t want to go home.

We weren’t running away from anything. We had a beautiful, grounded life in Bristol. But after loss, new life, and a whole lot of soul-searching, we were ready to see what else life had to offer — even if it meant starting from scratch in the mountains.

Now we live in the French Alps, raising a toddler, chasing big climbs, and figuring out expat life one baguette at a time. From early visa rejections to navigating French admin with a baby on my hip, I’ve learned a lot. And I’m here to share the real, unfiltered version of what starting over abroad actually looks like

What You Can Expect

The Alpine Edit is where I document the wild, wonderful, often messy reality of living differently. As a family, as a runner, as a woman rebuilding life in a new place.

Here you’ll find:

  • Stories from the trails and life in the French Alps
  • What it’s like parenting abroad
  • Tips for van travel, visa applications, and French bureaucracy
  • Thoughts on grief, motherhood, identity, and starting again
  • Resources to help you move abroad, train for an ultra, or find your own version of slower living

Whether you’re here for the mountain views, the expat insight, or just a friendly voice in the chaos — welcome. You’re in the right place.