In this issue of The Inside Track, Hilary Bradt finds unexpected echoes of her own travels in The Odyssey. From the ancient Law of Zeus and the enduring importance of kindness to the powerful pull of home at the end of a long journey, she reflects on what it means to travel, and on the restlessness that can follow a return home. *** I’ve been reflecting on the film The Odyssey, brought into focus by the guilty realisation that I’ve never read that epic poem, despite my grandfather doing the...
7 days ago • 2 min read
September in Review September has been another busy month here at Bradt! Our 2027 New Travel Writer of the Year Competition is still open, with around one month to go until entries close. This year’s theme is ‘An Animal Encounter’, with a five-night South African adventure for two, courtesy of Safari.com, up for grabs. Africa has also been in focus elsewhere, with the launch of our annual best safaris in Africa round-up. Read on for our first two spotlights: safari classics Kenya and...
9 days ago • 4 min read
The prize is in...win a five-night South African adventure for two We’re delighted to reveal the prize for our 2027 New Travel Writer of the Year Competition - and it’s one for the books. The winner (and a guest of their choice) will be heading to South Africa for five unforgettable nights courtesy of Safari.com! ENTER HERE Your prize awaits… Your South African adventure begins with three nights at a luxury lodge in a private reserve in the Sabi Sands or Greater Kruger, where you’ll have the...
17 days ago • 2 min read
Hello! This week, explore Northern Greece on the Bradt App, from ancient ruins and mountain villages to beaches, local food and lesser-known corners of the region. Feeling inspired to tell your own travel story? Our New Travel Writer of the Year Competition 2027 is still open for entries! This year’s theme is ‘An Animal Encounter’, and we’re looking for true, first-hand stories of 600-800 words. And finally, we’ve rounded up the best autumn activities in the UK - from woodland walks to...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Hello! This week, discover the wild landscapes and peaceful corners of Northumberland, now available on the Bradt App. From dramatic beaches and ancient castles to Hadrian’s Wall and some of England’s darkest skies, our Slow Travel guide is packed with ideas for exploring this remarkable county at your own pace. We’re also delighted to share that Helen Watson has been shortlisted for the Ilse Schwepcke Prize for her book, Tea and Grit! The prize celebrates outstanding travel writing by women...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
August in Review August has been another busy month here at Bradt! We launched our New Travel Writer of the Year Competition, with this year’s theme ‘An Animal Encounter.’ Entries close 1 November 2026. We also announced the winners of our Photographing the British Isles Competition - and it’s not too late to brush up on your own skills with Will Gray’s guide to photography weekends. Our dog-friendly range grew with Dog Friendly Weekends: Scotland, now available with 25% off when bundled with...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Hello! This week, a reminder that entries are now open for our New Travel Writer of the Year Competition. This year’s theme is 'An Animal Encounter' - and we’re looking for true, first-hand stories, whether your animal encounter was wild, domestic or somewhere in between. Travelling with a four-legged friend? Our new article explores how to spend a weekend in the wonderful city of Glasgow with your dog, with plenty of ideas for making the most of a city break together. Plus, there are some...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
It's that time of year again... For over 25 years, our New Travel Writer of the Year Competition has been seeking out and championing new writing talent. Previous winners and finalists in the competition have gone on to see their work published in newspapers, travel magazines and books. Once again part of the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards, the leading book trade awards for travel writers, this is an unrivalled opportunity for unpublished travel writers. THE THEME The theme for this...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
A note from Hilary Bradt... In 1999, Janice Booth and I travelled to the Isles of Scilly hoping to see the total eclipse of the sun. We were lucky: it was the only place in the British Isles that had clear sky at the moment of totality. We were hooked. A guide to the two forthcoming eclipses in that Bradt-friendly continent, Africa, was already in the pipeline, and Janice’s story, reproduced below, was published as a prologue. Janice died in 2024. If moved by some event or episode in her...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read