Travels
A little further afield.
Different landscapes, unfamiliar wildlife, and the occasional unexpected adventure.
I enjoy exploring places beyond the familiar woodlands and wetlands of Essex. Whether it's wandering through northern forests, discovering remote landscapes or watching wildlife somewhere completely new, travelling gives me a different perspective on the natural world.
Discovering new habitats
Somewhere unfamiliar.
One of my favourite parts of travelling is discovering how different the natural world can be. From the damp forests and wetlands of northern Europe to the dry, sun-baked landscapes of the Mediterranean, every environment has its own character and wildlife.
Sometimes that means encountering an animal I've never seen in the wild before, like a Hermann's tortoise wandering through the sandy scrubland of Mallorca. Other times it's simply noticing how familiar species behave differently somewhere new. Either way, there's usually something worth stopping for.
A Hermann's tortoise at Son Real, Mallorca. The dry, sandy terrain and its beautifully patterned shell were a world away from the wildlife I'm used to finding around Essex. And unlike most birds, this one wasn't in a tremendous hurry.
Wildlife encounters
Different places, different characters.
One of the best parts of travelling is coming across wildlife that feels completely unfamiliar. Sometimes it's a species I've never seen before, other times it's the setting or behaviour that makes the moment memorable.
This water monitor appeared in the lake at my hotel in Ao Nang, Krabi, looking far more prehistoric than anything has a right to look on a casual walk. Encounters like that are part of the fun. You never quite know what might turn up next.
An Asian water monitor cruising through the water in Ao Nang, Krabi. I was expecting a quiet wander around the resort, not a small dragon.
Landscapes & experiences
The journey is part of the story.
Some of my favourite travel experiences have involved getting up far too early, heading somewhere unfamiliar and seeing what I find along the way. Whether it's following a trail through a forest, crossing an open landscape or exploring a coastline, I enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Photography gives me a reason to venture beyond the usual places and spend time exploring environments I might otherwise never experience. I often come away knowing a little more about the landscape, its wildlife and the place itself. And occasionally, I even remember to take some photographs.
A sandy track along the Albanian coast, with pine woodland on one side and water on the other. No particular destination in mind, just another path worth exploring.