I really appreciated this journey on learning how to continue experiencing the joy of travelling -- sustainably and responsibly. This book is so important as the Earth continues to become more polluted and congested. Perhaps we can save it and still enjoy areas of it far from our homes at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group –Leaping Hare for the ARC.

Hmmm… This glossy, repetitive book wants us to believe that slow travel is attainable for everyone, and indeed should be a considered way to go about our lives, for the amount we can discover, and the depth of experience we can bring back to our humdrum. The author's background seems to have been showy travel journalism, and it shows – these pages are just littered with carefully staged photos of her, random family members and fellow travellers, artfully arrayed in their walking clobber across wondrous hillscapes. These are not selfies – sometimes the photographer seems a hundred yards from the subject. Someone has bought a drone.

What the book wants is to portray the benefits of slow travel, and goes about it in multiple ways. First we see the way the author has had wonderful felicity in finding wonderful things when travelling off-piste, camping with a car as propellant or lugging a whole camper-van around. Fine, if you have the means and the desire to be permanently outdoors. We then see the benefits of connecting with where we're going and who we might meet there over food, which also failed to convince. At one point everyone is going to crack open their doors and have a spread laid out for all of you and all their friends to have a jolly conversational meal. It seemed as true as that old saw about how people will always jump up and invite you, the Johnny Foreigner, to their wedding party. I've tried that, it doesn't work.

After that we're back on the modes of transport, like sleeper trains and long distance walks, whether strict pilgrimages or otherwise, and sailing (even wild swimming) gets a look-in. A separate chapter takes in the virtues of being alone in the wilds – safely, and again you sense the photographer just off-camera with every visual page turn. No, you're not alone in a bothy. Then it's an attempt, more successfully, to get this kind of ethos into city breaks – looking at cemeteries for forest bathing, greenways, and generally getting lost off the beaten track.

I like the idea of a lot of this, but I know how I travel, and I like the way I travel, and the whole aeroplane magazine gloss attached to everything kind of put me off, meaning much of this still had the appearance of merely being unattainable. Doing a Dice Man-styled routine of choosing the way to turn of a morning, seeing the world through local eyes (and those of waterboatmen and river sewage, as in the UK), chillaxing while also on the move and learning about places – all seems sensible, but also fanciful. And I fear a better book would have won me over and encouraged me to think again about it. Two and a half stars.

Nonfiction | Adult
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Slow food, slow living, slow quitting, and now slow travel. Though truthfully, plenty of people have travelled “slowly” long before the global calls to live mindfully and intentionally gained popular attention. My spouse and I enjoy “living” in a city when we travel, staying long enough to visit the same restaurant and get to know the staff, learn the transit system, stroll through parks and feel like new locals, though temporary ones. Friends of mine have long taken walking treks through the U.K., strapping on boots and a backpack of daily supplies and walking their way between overnight stays in inns and B&Bs, using a service to deliver their small luggage pieces ahead of them. The hiking clubs I belong to offer another kind of slow, hyper-local travel, repeatedly exploring trails at different times of year, in boots, snowshoes and on skis, in burgeoning spring growth and in glorious autumn colour. We stop and study the flowers, trying to learn their names, taste the berries and wild asparagus (always leaving the first ones we find), and exclaim over the critters from snakes and beetles to marmots and bears. British-based Tinsley has put together a short (about 150 pages) but thoughtful call to travel lightly and sustainably by exploring the quieter corners, spending more time getting to know a place, and ditching the bucket list and instagram pursuits. Reminding readers of the devastating impact of short haul plane travel, Tinsley has organized her call for slow travel using four modes: road tripping, on foot via long-distance trails, by water via boat or even swimming (!!), and by train. Along the way, get to know locals by sharing food, whether chatting up strangers in a coffee shop or enjoying a meal as part of a food-focused tour. You get authentic local flavour (sorry for the pun), human connection, and unforgettable memories. The book is loaded with gorgeous, inspiring, full-colour photos, but for some bizarre reason there is no caption for any of them; instead, you have to flip between page numbers and the photo credits, which include the photographer and location info. Most annoying to someone who enjoys lingering over photos and wanting to know more. The choice for the cover wasn’t the best, in my opinion; this looks like a memoir to me. I did like the packing lists Tinsley adds at the end of each section, suggesting what to bring to make the most of that mode of travel. Appendices include recommended reading and maps, references, trip planning information for inns, restaurants, and routes discussed, as well as information on the author and photographers. The book is available for purchase starting June 25. My thanks to Leaping Hare Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. More discussion and reviews of this book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63251791

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The Slow Traveller encourages the reader to undertake a transformational journey and change their travel- mindset to experience a new type of travel. By travelling at a slower speed, one can better experience a connection with the local culture, landscape, environment, food, and people. By investing yourself more in taking it slow, meaningful relationships and memories can take shape. Ultimately, in the busy and instant-gratification world we live in now, this type of approach could be applied to all areas of one's life for a more healthy and meaningful way to interact with the world around us and get in touch with a balanced self; processing thoughts and practicing reflection.

The book is written with such a calm and empathetic voice, with very intentional, inspirational, and colorful prose. I could almost close my eyes and imagine I was right there with the author as she described these lived experiences. From food, to long distance walking, journeys by water, rail journeys, solitude travel, and reimagining urban travel. The author is extremely observant and reflective, by making connections with the environment and landscape around her, she has the eye and heart of a cultural geographer.

While finances and availability of time may not allow for such extensive slow travel experiences as I’d like, this book certainly inspires me to be more aware and intentional of the travel experiences I do have.

The photos throughout the book are absolutely stunning. The photos compliment the beautiful writing and elevate this book to a five.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This is a book about traveling without a bucket list or sometimes even a destination at all and taking your time while doing it. I have to admit that I had never thought about doing anything other than going to the most touristy places and doing what people normally do there...but when I thought about it, my most memorable times traveling had nothing to do with excitement or rush or anything like that. Be calm, go where your heart takes you...the pictures were amazing and were the best part of the book, if I am being honest. I would consider buying a coffee table book of photos like these.

I enjoyed every minute I spent with The Slow Traveller! The prose is inspirational in a practical way and the photos are both aspirational and realistic. It is a beautiful book which does not try too hard which is a fine line to walk. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

The book reads like a long form magazine and I mean that in the best way possible. The writing is accessible and compelling. The photography looks like you might have taken the pictures yourself, but a bit better. Each chapter explores a different form of slow travel. The packing lists with charming illustrations are a whimsical addition. A great read on its own, would make an exceptional gift paired with a few packing list items and/or an invitation to a slow travel experience.

I enjoyed the book – it was like a meditative experience. I’ve read a lot of travel books and travel memoirs. It’s a genre where it’s hard to stand out. This is a refreshingly different perspective. The author focuses on slowing down, traveling more sustainably and exploring areas and sites that aren’t on everyone’s “must see” list. I may not be fully bought into not seeing it all or the top 10 when I visit a place, but I appreciate the author’s challenge to try it. I like that she included ideas on slow travel close to home. That seems like an easier and less risky way to slow down and potentially not see everything.

Each chapter has a different theme, such as road trips, walking trips, connecting through food and solo travel (as well as others). The photographs in the book were lovely and very calming. I also enjoyed the “what to bring” section at the end of each chapter. The foraging supplies at the end of the Sharing Food chapter seemed a bit disconnected from the topic but were interesting none the less. The end of the book has a nice reading list for further inspiration and research.

The author is based in the United Kingdom and some of the specific recommendations are more relevant to Europe than the U.S. Depending on where you live in the U.S., boat travel and sleeper trains are less accessible and wandering off the beaten path alone is likely less safe. That said, the principles of the book can be applied, and I still enjoyed the chapters that were less relevant to me personally.

I would recommend this book as a way to travel vicariously and inspiration on how to travel more sustainably and off the beaten path.

What a lovely book, and approach to exploring the world. The Slow Traveller encourages us to slow down, explore less-known destinations and really look at and be in the place — the opposite of the typical tourist experience where we try to cram in as much as possible. Ms. Tinsley believes that places matter, but so do people, and suggests interacting with others as much as possible during our travels. Her points are made alongside lovely photos, which add to the beauty of the book and philosophy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A gorgeous road-trip photo book. It calms me down when I open it and stare at the pictures.
The author expands on the benefits of meandering, driving to the end of the road, and connecting with others over coffee, shared meals, or activities. And with the road-trip tips in the book, the author actually tries to teach us how to trip!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

Interesting book, and love the photos. Like the idea of a slower and quieter mode of traveling. Especially after the pandemic it is nice to see alternative ways. Also like the idea of exploring and trying to be more sustainable in doing so. Would recommend.

The Slow Traveller suggests traveling not with a bucket list in hand of sights to see. Instead it challenges the reader slow down, embrace curiosity, explore off the beaten path and make connections with others through experiences. The ideas are simple but the writer expands on the benefits of things like meandering during the day or doing a simple thing like driving to the end of the road. Connecting with others can be done over coffee, shared meals at a B&B, or doing activities with others. This is almost a philosophy and different way to travel.

The photos are the highlight. They add color and beauty to the book. I was disappointed that I had to look to the ending credits to know where the photos were taken, as many aren’t immediately recognizable. Most of the photos show natural beauty and are primarily focused on Europe. I am a mixed traveler. There have been times I’ve march my family through Europe hitting every highlight. But other trips are for relaxing and being together and enjoying the beach or mountains. I enjoyed the book please know it is about away of traveling and not a travel guide to any specific places or locations.

The photography is stunning, recommendations and wording was lovely. My only small critique is that I was each photo had information on it as to location and possibly date it was taken - I know this information is also located in the back of the book but as someone who is drawn to the actual photography it would be more enjoyable if I didn’t have to flip back and forth to see that information for the photos I really wanted to know specifics on. Overall it was enjoyable!