Interview: Hilary Bradt MBE, Creator Of Bradt Travel Guides

February 24, 2009 Books, Products

She’s written or co-written thirteen travel books, and is off to Cambodia next week, so we managed to catch her for a few minutes in between polishing her new MBE and packing for her next trip.

GTC: You’re famous for creating the Bradt range of travel guides. What first inspired you to travel, and then actually sit down and write about it?

It was probably an advantage that I didn’t go abroad until I was 16, and did my first overseas trip without my parents when I was 18. By that time I was mature enough to indulge my interests – art and natural history – and relish the adventure. So I wrote long letters home. The desire to share my experiences in this way led naturally to the first guidebook and numerous articles.

GTC: What do you think makes your style of guide so different from the mass market of other guides available (not mentioning any names!).

There are various factors: an emphasis on history, culture and wildlife, as well as the unusual destinations that we specialise in. Most of all, though, it is the freedom we give our authors to induldge their enthusiasms. Our books are not formulaic, which we believe leads to better writing and so a more enjoyable read (check them out at Bradt Guides).

Continue reading this interview @ Girls Travel Club

Travel Beautifully

July 31, 2008 Products

We all know how addictive trips abroad can be – just like Duchy Original Chocolate Orange biscuits, one is never enough.

I’ve had itchy feet ever since my first big trip around the world. I’ve bored friends to tears with countless tales of high jinks in far off lands, dazzled them to the point of nervous exhaustion with photos of me on a camel/elephant/motorbike/night out/beach; and bored them senseless with cries of “Oh, I’ve been there!” whenever a temple/castle/waterfall appears on TV.

Many of us have our own tips, ideas and dreams floating about in our heads following some time spent travelling, but what do we do with them?

1. start to give slideshows to the local Womens Institute.
2. write a book that’ll never get published
3. finish that packet of Duchy Originals Chocolate Orange biscuits
4. start a website? 

For me it was 2, 3 and 4. After two long trips around the world writing diaries with almost obsessive care I’d amassed so many recipes, games and instructions on how to fold a swan out of a paper napkin I thought I might as well write a book on the subject. In addition, my tips on the revolutionary travel uses of an onion were gaining in popularity so I thought I’d better start a website.

There seemed to be a niche for well-designed, attractive and green products aimed at female travellers so I decided to fill it; thus www.girlstravelclub.co.uk was born. An online boutique providing accessories, tips, natural remedies, survival and bushcraft courses, and a blog where you can share your photos and travel stories with people who are more interested than your neighbours.

We also sponsor a project in Guatemala, helping build classrooms and hygiene facilities in sixteen villages. When travellers get back from a big trip they often tell people about the conditions other people live in; the squalour, the lack of facilities and how lucky we all are to be born in this country. I think that we should all try to help a little bit whilst the memories are still fresh in our minds. You can donate to a project, sponsor a child; or at the very least take your own water bottle so you’re not adding to the recycling problems caused by mountains of plastic left behind by travellers every year. And please don’t get stressed about haggling; what’s a couple of quid to you when it can make all the difference to someone else?