Co-founded by Hilary Bradt MBE more than 40 years ago, Bradt Travel Guides is one of the world’s leading travel publishers. Their latest publication, Exmoor National Park, researched and written by Hilary, is the only Bradt guide devoted solely to a National Park. The 20th in their ‘Slow Travel Guide’ series, the book is available from 9 April.
The ‘Slow’ Travel series is the largest regional guidebook series in the UK and marketed and sold worldwide. Designed to seek out the hidden corners and take the road less travelled, the style of these guidebooks is very well matched to the Exmoor visitor who generally likes to get off ‘the beaten track’.
Hilary Bradt explains; “Ten years ago we launched the first Slow Travel guides with the aim of getting away from the ‘Top Sights’ formula by using local authors to describe the subtler attractions of their home county. Slow Devon & Exmoor was the first in this series. I soon realised that my favourite national park inconveniently straddled two counties. Then came a meeting with Visit Exmoor, and an idea was born and brought to fulfilment.”
Divided in to different regions, each area is described and illustrated by evocative images of the stunning area. There are walks and sketch maps, ideas of places to visit, eat and stay, information and hundreds of anecdotes, mostly known only to locals.
Exmoor is one of England’s smallest but most beautiful national parks encapsulating coast and countryside, high moors, deep valleys, forests, rivers and charming villages. This is also one of the most rewarding areas for walking, including both long-distance trails and shorter routes. Breath-taking views are a rich reward for steep-sided hills and rocky coastal paths and the famous Exmoor ponies are a welcome sight over the heather-rich moorland.
Working closely with Hilary Bradt, Visit Exmoor has been instrumental in getting this project off the ground. “We’re delighted that Bradt wanted to publish a stand-alone Exmoor Guide,” Jennette Baxter, Marketing & Development Manager, commented. “The ‘Slow’ series appeals to visitors who want to take their time to explore the area, attracting more visitors to discover this very special place and encouraging those who have visited before to come and re-discover what else Exmoor has to offer.”
Commenting on the publication, Dan James, Sustainable Economy Manager at Exmoor National Park said “Already millions of people visit Exmoor each year to escape the everyday and we have been pleased to work with Bradt and Visit Exmoor in supporting this publication to help visitors explore the National Park in all its beauty. It’s particularly appropriate that the book is launched during #DiscoverNationalParks fortnight, and on the 70th anniversary of National Parks in the UK.”