A Round Up of My Top Book Recommendations: Nature, Travel & the Environment

As much as I love spending time in the outdoors, sometimes there are days when I would much rather curl up under a blanket and read about other people’s adventures. If you’re feeling a bit deflated or craving a nature kick, then these are the books that should be on your list!

Having just started the daily commute to London, I am really appreciating having a great book handy to dip into, especially for those times when I want a break from my phone. Facebook and Twitter are great, but you still can’t beat a good old book- pure escapism at its best! So when I’m packed on the tube, like a tin of sardines or on the rush hour train home, I’ve found myself reaching for the good old-fashioned, wholesome entertainment that is a book- simple but oh so good.

Here’s my shortlist- *this is a work in progress and as I find more favourites I will add them*

Wherever you’re turning the pages, be it a busy train or snuggled up on the sofa, I hope these books inspire and delight you as much as they did for me- there’s a real mix of outdoors, nature, travel and everything inbetween- happy reading x

Travel- Anna Hart- Departures

A book to get you excited about travel! As a successful travel journalist, Anna Hart has explored lots of different countries and at different times in her life- the book recalls the travel of her youth and later in life, spanning adventure trips, back-packing and city-working. I really love that Anna doesn’t talk about travel as something in isolation to the rest of her life. She explores how travel and living/working abroad has shaped her as a person, her relationships and her goals in life. A fantastic read!

Environment- Philip Lymbery- Where The Wild Things Were

This book was an absolute game-changer for me...I had already pretty much gone vegetarian but this book sealed the deal for me. I devoured it in a few days. The chapters trace the stories of 16 endangered animals ranging from elephants, to water voles to bumblebees. Lymbery highlights how industrial farming is driving our precious animals to the point of extinction and pushing our planet to the point of breaking point. Everyone should read this book. I underlined key points as I went along- there is so much interesting and illuminating information to be squeezed out of this book but it can be a bit overwhelming, so I’d definitely take down some notes as you go.

A stand-out fact for me from the book is that ‘an area of cropland equivalent to the entire land surface of the EU is growing feed crops such as soya for industrially reared animals. The combined yield could feed an extra 4 billion people.’ - food for thought…

Nature- Robert MacFarlane- The Wild Places

If you’re after a gentle read, MacFarlane delivers with his beautiful writing, where he explores Britain in search of wild places, teasing out the soul of these stunning locations. A great book for some nature escapism.

Travel/Outdoors-Phoebe Smith- Wild Nights- Camping Britain’s Extremes

I was lucky enough to hear Phoebe speak at a literary festival and meet her in person to get my book signed. This is a great, easy-read and definitely got me inspired to head out wild camping! Phoebe shows how it is possible to make the most of weekends, and spent time in the outdoors- from Ben Nevis to Snowdon, her re-telling of her nights spent in the wild and the personal journey she undertook on each trip made for a really absorbing read.

Nature-Nan Shepherd- The Living Mountain

This is a nifty little book but full of wonder nonetheless- Nan Shepherd, in her explorations of the Cairngorm mountains ponders the allure of mountains, their beauty and character. This book is more of a meditation on nature, and Shepherd’s fluid style of writing takes you into the depths of the Cairngorm landscape, right to the heart of the mountain.