Events, Festivals and Workshops
I regularly speak at bookshops and literary festivals both in the UK and internationally, most recently talking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the Dénia Festival of the Humanities in Spain, and the Festival of the Century in Aarhus, Denmark.
I’m a fluent interviewer and panel moderator. Recent engagements have included the Royal Geographical Society, American Express, Time Inc, the FT Weekend Festival, and How To Academy.
I speak about travel and literature for live and recorded radio and TV interviews, including the BBC, Times Radio, Economist, Tortoise, and NPR. My solo book talks are always supported by substantial photography and film gathered in my field reporting.
I teach non-fiction travel writing twice a year, at Arvon in the UK, and at the Happy House in Solukhumbu in Eastern Nepal.
-
Wealden Literary Festival, Kent
22.06.2025
At this two-day event in Kent, I will be in conversation about my new book, A Training School for Elephants, with a writer and broadcaster I hugely admire: Dan Richards, who most recently published Overnight: Journeys, Conversations and Stories After Dark.
-
Chalke History Festival, Dorset
29.06.2025
A fantastic line-up of speakers at this annual week-long festival, where I’ll be talking about my new book, A Training School for Elephants, with behind-the-scenes footage, and rare archive film. This talk will be one for anyone with an interest in Africa — including its wildlife, from both a historical and modern traveller’s perspective.
-
Arvon Residential Writing Course, Devon
22.09.2025 – 27.09.2025
I’ll be co-leading this residential writing week at Totleigh Barton with award-winning writer, Rory Maclean. We’ll focus on transforming travel experiences into compelling writing. Open to all levels.
-
Wells Festival of Literature, Somerset
18.10.25
This illustrated talk in Wells will feature more than 20 archive images and contemporary photographs that expand themes from my book, A Training School for Elephants, including colonial history, African travels, and how we treat animals, then and now.
-
Bridport Literary Festival, Dorset
07.11.2025
An illustrated talk about A Training School for Elephants — including behind-the-scenes footage of the author’s journey, in Iraq, Ireland, Tanzania and Ireland. This event will be held at Bridport’s Electric Palace at 4pm.
-
Royal Geographical Society, London
29.09.2025
In this Monday night lecture, I’ll connect ‘lost’ dots held in the archives of this institution, some unusual 19th-century history of European exploration in East and Central Africa, and my Sunday Times bestselling book, A Training School for Elephants. The talk will be accompanied with photography, maps and archive film.
-
Writing and Photography Workshop, Nepal
08.04.2026 – 18.04.2026
After a sell-out inaugural workshop in spring 2025, we are offering a second travel writing and film photography retreat in Nepal, co-led by my colleague, Michael Turek. Our base will be The Happy House east of Mount Everest. With a seven-night optional extension to Upper Mustang. Itineraries and prices on application via email link below.