Hilary Bradt – författare

A unique title from Bradt, showcasing a brand new collection of remarkable travellers' tales with a different slant, following on the heels of To Oldly Go!, one of the UK's best-selling travel titles of 2015. All the contributors were initially reluctant solo travellers, apprehensive about taking the plunge to go it alone after years of travel with a partner or friend. Some have embarked on the trip of a lifetime, walking or cycling alone through potentially hostile countries, but finding only kindness and hospitality - with a few hairy adventures thrown in. One story is by Bradt founder Hilary Bradt, who confronted her fears and set out to fulfil a childhood dream to ride a horse through Ireland shortly after her marriage broke up. Others are widows and widowers in their later years who were anxious about joining an organised trip on their own or who wanted to make a difference in the world by volunteering their experience and knowledge. Many ages, many personalities, one goal: to travel, and one stumbling block: anxiety. Part literature, part guide, with tips for successful solo travel. Reassuring, entertaining and inspiring.

David Attenborough, Dion Leonard (Finding Gobi), Dervla Murphy and Brian Jackman are just four of the authors whose work features in this new anthology from Bradt focusing on true stories about travelling with animals. In Beastly Journeys, there are 46 tales of extraordinary animal travel experiences, from hilarious holidays with pets to journeys on which wild animals somehow came along for the ride, including: David Attenborough tries to get an armadillo through Paraguayan customs; adventurer Ash Dykes takes a white cockerel to Maromokotro to ward off evil spirits; Mike Gerrard shares a car journey from Belsize Park to Canvey Island with a python; Brian Jackman rides, walks and swims with Abu the elephant; Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year Dom Tulett rows with a kingfisher; and John Rendall travels to Africa with Christian, the lion he bought at Harrods and raised in west London.Also included is a brand new piece of writing from ultramarathon runner Dion Leonard about his experience with Gobi, the stray dog who accompanied him for 80 miles over the treacherous Tian Shian mountains.A mix of new, previously unpublished writers and old favourites are included, with extracts from writers such as Mark Shand (Travels on my Elephant), Dervla Murphy (Eight Feet in the Andes) and Robert Louis Stevenson (Travels with a Donkey), not to mention Gerald Durrell, 19th-century explorer Isabella Bird and renowned publisher Michael Joseph.Compelling, engaging, surprising, humorous and entertaining. if this book proves one thing it's that travel with animals is every bit as unpredictable as you would expect it to be.

A new, thoroughly updated 13th edition of Bradt's Madagascar, the leading and most comprehensive guide to this unique island nation, written by Hilary Bradt, who first visited in 1976 and has returned roughly 35 times, and Daniel Austin, who has visited more than 15 times and continues to travel there annually. Bradt's Madagascar is by far the most thorough guide to the country in English and is written and updated by established experts whose unparalleled knowledge of Madagascar combines with contributions from over 50 specialists in a book which has been the most authoritative guide to the country for three decades. It covers national parks and protected areas and includes itineraries to suit all interests and budgets, plus details of around 1,000 hotels and restaurants.Madagascar is like nowhere else on earth. It is fascinating not only zoologically and botanically, but culturally, linguistically, historically and geologically. This vast island is the fourth largest in the world and also the oldest, which partly explains why it has evolved into an incredible hotspot for biodiversity, with a truly unique flora and fauna that is more than 80% endemic to the island, and with new species being described virtually on a daily basis. Madagascar is also the only place where you can see wild lemurs. Almost a quarter of the world's 450-or-so primates exist only here.With Bradt's Madagascar you can visit tropical rainforest and seek out its incredible flora and fauna; explore otherworldly eroded limestone spires, most famously at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - Madagascar's most striking landscape; discover the beach-fringed islands around Nosy Be with their fabulous scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, whale-watching and fishing; and make the most of a host of adventuring and sporting possibilities, including surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, rock climbing, tree climbing, caving, river trips, mountain biking, distance running, quad biking and hiking. Also covered are the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ambohimanga, the renowned Avenue des Baobabs, one of the country's most photographed scenes, and information on the best birdwatching spots: Madagascar has almost 300 avian species, with a high proportion of endemics, including five whole endemic families.

Hilary Bradt's classic account of a journey through Ireland on horseback in the 1980s published for the first time in a single volume.In 1984, Hilary Bradt achieved an ambition from her pony-mad childhood to undertake a long-distance ride. This warm, funny and heart-wrenching account centres on the growing bond between the author and her Connemara ponies, Mollie and Peggy. Using her experience of horsepacking in Peru with saddlebags imported from America, she and Mollie set forth with no decent maps, and only a vague idea of the route. The many challenges and obstacles they face include impassable rivers, bogs, stone walls, and the author's own shyness. The book is also a portrait of a vanished rural Ireland before the Celtic Tiger era, built up from descriptions and conversations with local people.The journey takes Bradt and her ponies a thousand miles south from county Mayo, around the peninsulas of Kerry and Cork, and inland towards Waterford. 'I've never tried hitchhiking with a horse before,' comments the author, faced with the challenge of getting across the River Shannon. 'It's not easy!' Originally published in two separate volumes, Connemara Mollie and Dingle Peggy, this brand new edition brings the whole story together for the first time, with additional, previously unpublished photographs.

A brand new title, part of Bradt's award-winning series of Slow travel guides to UK regions, offering the most in-depth coverage available to North and Mid Devon, arguably the most beautiful and unspoilt countryside in southwest Britain. With area-by-area coverage, from around Clovelly and the Cornish border in the north to Mid Devon's Exe Valley and Tarka railway line, it is packed with suggestions for where to go and what to do, including plenty of outdoor activities such as horseriding, coasteering, walking and cycling. Interesting places to stay and eat are detailed, as are festivals, local customs and traditions, historical aspects, anecdotes, gardens, National Trust properties and where to go stargazing beneath the region's Dark Skies.North Devon has a unique blend of wild rugged coastline, deep river valleys, heather-covered moorland, family-friendly sandy beaches, great surfing and enchanting villages. While the car-free village of Clovelly provides a glimpse of Devon as it was 100 years ago, North Devon is also one of the country's leading centres for coasteering. Mid Devon is the least touristy part of the southwest - truly Slow Devon. The towns still hold weekly pannier markets and the pubs are full of locals discussing the price of sheep and Ruby Red cattle. People still walk, ride and cycle as part of their lives and visitors are always struck by the region's diversity: the wonderful views, the range of wildlife and the clarity of the night skies. Join veteran traveller, author and Devon resident Hilary Bradt, and her fellow long-term travellers and Devon residents Gill and Alistair Campbell, to discover in this unique guide exactly what it is that makes this beguiling region so special. From Lundy Island to the haunted village of Lapford, and from the extraordinary Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre to the War Horse Museum, Bradt's Slow Mid and North Devon has everything you need for a perfect trip.

This new, thoroughly updated third edition of South Devon and Dartmoor is part of Bradt's distinctive 'Slow Travel' series of guides to UK regions, offering in-depth exploration of one of England's most popular areas. Written by resident experts Hilary Bradt, the late Janice Booth, and Gill and Alistair Campbell, it remains the essential companion to discovering not just the obvious and well-known sites, but also for getting off the beaten track and understanding what makes this gorgeous part of the country tick.Much of the information in Bradt's South Devon and Dartmoor has appeared in no other guidebook (apart from previous editions of this book) as the authors uncover the lesser-known charms of the region, as well as different aspects of the more popular places (from the English Riviera and South Hams to Salcombe and Dartmoor), together with colourful characters from the past, folk history and literary links from Agatha Christie to Arthur Conan Doyle. The guide has a special emphasis on car-free travel: walking (this edition features a revised selection of routes, including 'miles without stiles' - accessible Dartmoor walks), cycling and river boats, as well as local buses (including the new Dartmoor Explorer service) and trains. This edition has a stronger emphasis on local food (both in markets and when eating out), while the authors have updated their hand-picked suggestions for places to eat and drink, and for accommodation (from idyllically located campsites to boutique B&Bs, via caravans, treehouses and haunted coaching inns).Colourful and witty writing, along with the authors' enthusiasm for their subject, makes the guide a pleasure to read. With Bradt's South Devon and Dartmoor, discover the region's award-winning gin distillery and new whisky distillery; learn what really goes on at a wassail gathering; find out what you should do if you're harassed by pixies on Dartmoor; and discover unique local events like the annual Orange Race held in Totnes. Also included are entertaining and informative stories about historical characters and folklore, while small and historic village churches, with their idiosyncratic saints and intriguing carvings, are described in loving detail.

The new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt's Socotra remains the first and only guide available to the largest of the four islands that make up the Socotra Archipelago in the Arabian Sea, 390km offshore from their mother land, Yemen. A UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site packed with dramatically varied and essentially undisturbed landscapes (mountains, forest, ravines, sand-dunes, beaches, caves.), Socotra is unique. Sometimes known as 'The Galapagos of the Indian Ocean', the archipelago has an exceptionally large number of species found nowhere else in the world ('endemic') in an area barely the size of Wiltshire. Accordingly, wildlife-watchers love Socotra: of over 220 bird species recorded, 12 are endemic, while more than 300 plant species are endemic, as are all the land snails, 90% of reptiles and about 60% of spiders. Socotra offers much to fascinate the adventurous traveller. Visitors may snorkel from boats or pristine beaches; camel-trek into mountains formed by volcanic activity; gawp at bizarre plants - dragon blood trees that resemble huge, fuzzy-topped umbrellas and giant desert roses; engage with Socotra's rich history, which stretches back to the Stone Age and includes ancient cave art; and lunch at delightful fishing villages.Bradt's full-colour guide covers everything needed for a successful visit, including pre-departure planning, getting there, tour operators, where to stay and what to see. Background information on history, people, language and culture is followed by an easy-to-follow geographical breakdown covering all parts of the island, from the capital Hadiboh to Ayhaft Canyon National Park, Qaria lagoon, Rosh Marine Nature Sanctuary, Homhil Nature Sanctuary, Terbak village, Hoq Cave, Qalansiyah, Diksam Plateau and Firmihin Forest. To preserve its fragile environments, the recent growth in tourism - enabled by recent improvements in transport links and resulting in expansion of tourist infrastructure - is being handled with extreme care. Strict regulations are in force to preserve the island's natural heritage and nearly three-quarters has protected status. This pristine and relatively unknown little island, so full of natural treasures, may be on the brink of a very different future. Responsible tourism is paramount, so let Bradt's Socotra be your guide to this captivating island.

Part of Bradt's distinctive, award-winning series of 'Slow' travel guides to UK regions, this new, thoroughly updated third edition of East Devon and The Jurassic Coast (Slow Travel) remains the most comprehensive - and only standalone - guide available to this area. Written with insider knowledge that can only be gained by living in the area, and combined with colourful, enthusiastic and witty writing, plus contributions from local experts, this guidebook is as much a pleasure to read as an invaluable companion for exploring east Devon and west Dorset. Devon is the fourth most popular county for UK holidaymakers - and for good reason. Over a hundred square miles of East Devon are designated a 'National Landscape' (formerly 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty') and the internationally famous Jurassic Coast stretching into Dorset is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The charming coastal town of Seaton benefits from sensitive development, including the extension (to wildlife-packed Seaton Wetlands) of the Stop Line Way, a long-distance cycling and walking route to Bristol, originally designed to bolster World War II defences. Dorset's Lyme Regis, meanwhile, is Britain's fossil-hunting capital - as featured in the 2020 film Ammonite, starring Kate Winslet.With an emphasis on car-free travel - walking, cycling and local buses - this Bradt guide's detailed descriptions, historical glimpses, folklore and personal anecdotes whet readers' appetite for exploration. Many activities are covered for the first time in this new edition. Coastal walking has never been better following the reopening of the South West Coast Path locally. Paddleboarding tours and lessons now operate off Seaton beach and a new section of the Stop Line Way walking and cycling route has opened up through the sensational Seaton Wetlands. Savour the artisan coffee that has become a big deal locally, or taste the produce of the region's fastest-growing agricultural sector: wine. Giggle at the goings on at the ancient Goose Fayre in Colyton, and enjoy other idiosyncratic local festivals such as the Ottery tar barrels and Honiton hot pennies. And when you're done, reward yourself with one of Beer's Devon cream teas while admiring this picturesque fishing village. Wherever you amble, let Bradt's East Devon and the Jurassic Coast (Slow Travel) be your companion.

Taking the Risk is Hilary Bradt's engaging, insightful, amusing and sometimes alarming memoir about serendipitous adventures in travel and publishing. A travel industry trailblazer who co-founded Bradt Guides, Hilary looks back on 50 years of escapades, surprises, mishaps, disasters. and success. From her first solo trip aged three (on a British beach), she revisits six decades of hitch-hiking, feeding the travel habit by working abroad, and starting a successful travel-publishing company where knowing nothing proved a surprising asset. Barely into her twenties, Hilary Bradt thumbed lifts around the Middle East for three months before spending four years working and travelling in the US. Between 1973 and 1976 Hilary explored, and worked in, South America and Africa with her then husband George, often journeying through literally uncharted territory in their quest for new hiking routes. The discovery of an ancient trail to Machu Picchu unexpectedly inspired their first guidebook. From 1977 the pair wrote several backpacking guides, and set up Bradt Guides. This was just as well, because Hilary's career in occupational therapy ended when potential employers noticed that time taken off for travel exceeded periods of employment. During the 1980s, Bradt Guides grew and became successful - but that didn't stop Hilary travelling, including as a tour leader. Join Hilary as she relives the rigours of travel before the days of the internet or mobile phones, including smuggling her husband across an international border and frequently getting arrested despite efforts to be responsible tourists. Learn how Hilary's lack of experience made the early days of publishing quite unlike those of any other successful publisher. Laugh (or cry) at Hilary's ability to court media disasters while seeking the limelight, including waving around condoms on BBC TV. Taking the Risk comprises the collected stories of an inveterate, intrepid traveller whose joyous exploration of the world has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people - anyone who has ever owned a Bradt Guide. A unique book from a unique individual, it will delight anyone who has ever travelled or ever wondered what goes into making the books we read.

This thoroughly updated 14th edition of Bradt's Madagascar remains the leading and by far the most detailed guidebook to this unique African island nation - a place like nowhere else on Earth. Its authors are both established Madagascar experts: Hilary Bradt, who first visited in 1976 and has returned roughly 35 times, and Daniel Austin, who has visited 30 times across 20 years and continues to spend several months a year there. The world's oldest - and fourth-largest - island, Madagascar is fascinating not only zoologically and botanically, but culturally, linguistically, historically and geologically too. Evolution has transformed the country into an unparalleled hotspot for biodiversity, with four-fifths of its flora and fauna occurring nowhere else on the planet. More than a fifth of the world's 533-odd primate species exist only here, and Madagascar is the sole country to harbour wild lemurs.Offering itineraries to suit all interests and budgets, with Bradt's Madagascar you can visit tropical rainforests to seek out the country's remarkable animals and plants (including a thousand species of orchid); explore otherworldly eroded limestone spires, famously at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - Madagascar's most striking landscape; discover beach-fringed islands around Nosy Be with their fabulous scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, whale-watching and fishing; and make the most of a host of adventuring and sporting possibilities, including surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, rock climbing, tree climbing, caving, river trips, mountain biking, distance running, quad biking and hiking. Bradt's Madagascar also features the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ambohimanga, the renowned Avenue des Baobabs (one of the country's most photographed scenes) and information on the best birdwatching spots: the so-called "eighth continent" hosts almost 300 avian species, with a high proportion of endemics, including six families wholly endemic to the country and surrounding islands. National parks and protected areas are given detailed treatment, around a thousand hotels and restaurants are covered, and Madagascar's cultural richness is celebrated: the world's only truly Afro-Asian nation is geographically part of Africa but has an indigenous population that primarily originated from present-day Indonesia, and emerged from French colonial rule as recently as 1960. Madagascar truly is 'a world apart'.