“No travel is completely eco-friendly. You’re going to damage things whatever you do, but I try to do as little damage as I possibly can. My preferred transport is train and bicycle – certainly in Britain you can get almost anywhere on train and bike - as long as you have strong legs. I just find it inherently satisfying. Not only because I’m thinking ‘oh this is good because I’m not destroying the places I’m going to see,’ but also it becomes part of your holiday or trip – the journeying to it. You get a much better sense of the scale of the world, or the scale of the country if you’re going overland and a bit more slowly. You get a much better appreciation of what is there in front of you – the wildlife, the flora and fauna. We live in such a fast paced world it’s just really refreshing to slow down. I think slowness is something we need to instil in our lives.”
The appreciation for those things in life that many people overlook has become a cornerstone of author and journalist Dixe Wills’ work – and lifestyle. His writing focuses on hitherto unloved corners of the country – the tiny campsites many won’t have heard about, and the tiny train stations no-one ever uses. While his books are travel guides, there is a rhythm and depth to his writing that makes them infinitely readable, and opens your mind to the many jewels that exist out there, if only you take the time to look.