MEET THE ADVENTURER
THE TV PRESENTER AND FORMER SAS OFFICER ON RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL, COMFORT ZONES AND EXPLORING THE WORLD ON HIS DOORSTEP
Tell us about your earliest memory of travel.
My first real travel experience was going down to Dartmoor National Park, in southern Devon, with my dad. We went horse riding and wild camping, but it was winter and I was only six and was absolutely freezing. I remember my dad saying to me: “It’s OK. Sometimes you’ve just got to put your head down and get through the storms because what’s on the other side is amazing.” He was an ex-Royal Marines Commando and taught me so much about the resilience of the human spirit and being adventurous. Adventure always starts inside; it’s not just about your surroundings. It’s about living with your eyes wide open and with a gratitude for life.
You’re an expert at coaxing others out of their comfort zones. What takes you out of yours?
I’m not sure I particularly love the ‘getting there’ bit of travel, despite having done so much flying for work over the years. So, I wouldn’t say I’m a great traveller, but I do still try and visit new destinations as much as possible. In that sense, I spend most of my life out of my comfort zone. I think of it as more of a comfort pit —somewhere you want to get out of as quickly as possible.
Any top travel tips?
I always try to travel without expectations. Adventure only happens when things start to go wrong. Stay nimble, expect the unexpected and be sure to keep a sense of humour —no matter what happens!
Where’s your favourite place to explore in the UK?
My number one is always Wales. There’s so much to it: incredible coasts, mountains, caves, waterfalls. My family owns a little island a few miles off the coast of North Wales that’s totally off-grid. The house is powered by wind and solar; we even collect rainwater off the roof. It can be isolating sometimes, but I love that. I spend so much of my year around people and I’m not a natural extrovert —I need a little quiet time to sit and recharge.
How can people be encouraged to travel more responsibly?
It’s all about setting an example. You’ve got to try and make responsible living an aspiration. The world is a gift to be experienced, but we always have to temper that with a love and respect for the places we go. People are savvy now; they want to travel with companies that are socially responsible, and you’d hope that the adventure travel industry responds to that. After all, if you love something —a certain culture or environment —you should want to protect it
