Roam Alone

This book was partly inspired by Hilary Bradt, founder of Bradt Travel Guides, who describes her solo travels as 'certainly reluctant' . She made her first trip through South America alone when her travel companion dropped out at the last moment; the subsequent journey through the Andes was unfortgettable and set her up for the solo trip of a lifetime, described in this book, of riding a pony a thousand miles through Ireland. The anxiety of planning the journey was offset by the serendipity of being able to take each day as it came and the intensity of the experience. Of travelling alone, Hilary Bradt says 'there's no doubt that it's more fun to plan a trip with a like-minded companion, but I have learnt to confront my fears and indulge my passion for travel, knowing that the solo traveller will be richly rewarded, from meeting the locals to discovering a new inner confidence.'Jennifer Barclay is an editor and writer who has enjoyed travelling alone in many countries. She has written three travel books about travelling alone: Meeting Mr Kim, which details her adventures travelling solo around South Korea, and Falling in Honey and An Octopus in my Ouzo, both of which describe her move - on her own - to a Greek island.

• Foreword Jan LeemingIntroduction Hilary BradtTHE FIRST STEPIndia - Really? On my own? Sandra Reekie USA - Short Notice Helen BrownGabon Confidential Ian PackhamBerlin - The Unexpected Consolations of Getting It All Wrong Kirsty FergussonAustralia - Of Red Earth and Fruit Bats Amanda LumleyBRIEF ENCOUNTERSEight Hours in Fiji Matt Dawson Gibraltar and Tangier - Abroad Janice Booth Australia - The Ghan Debbie ParrottA January Jaunt to Jordan Zoe Efstathiou Russia - Taxi Ride in Vladivostok Nicole TeufelFACE THE FEARDarkness in Laos Ian OliverUnenlightened in Nepal Claire DaviesMorocco - Tea and Oranges Kelly DignanPhilippines - Finding Freedom Hannah Stuart-LeachSAFETY IN NUMBERSThailand - A Coconut with Three Candles Ian DouglasHimalayas - The Start of a Passion Jane Vincent-HavelkaUK - The Social Mobility of Cycling Hazel Pennington Cruise - Not so Solo at Sea Phoebe SmithTRAVEL WITH A PURPOSEFrance - Getting Going Again Elspeth CardyEcuador - Where Everyone Knows Your Name Vicki Brown France - The Wandering Goose Janet RogersAustralia - The Pet Project Jennifer BarclayMallorca - Doing a Shirley Valentine Christine GreenCONNECTINGIndia - First Night Michelle KennedyCuba - A Sack of Beans and a Sun-Bleached Chair Mandy HugginsOslo - Alf Matthew PointonUSA - Guns and Canyons Gillian GainMongolia - When the Ice Melts Suzy PopeIreland - Mollie Hilary BradtWHAT AM I DOING HERE?Cycling Shetland Pat SmithItaly - The Mountain Retreat Martha HalesSolo Ways in Sulawesi Ella PawlikColombia - My Daughter's Laugh Dom Tulett Beijing - A Night in Room 13 Sarah PopeA Thaw in Naples Claire MorsmanA BIG ADVENTUREUSA - What If You Get Lost and Die? Katie Grayson Madagascar - Beginning Anne Axel Mexico - No Way Back Graham MackintoshKashmir - The Road to Srinagar and Beyond Sheelagh ReynoldsAsia - Going it Alone Sally Watts

'A must book.' Burnley Express'This collection of reassuring, entertaining and inspiring tales is a tribute to the healing power of traveling alone.' Longitude Books'Roam Alone: Inspiring Tales by Reluctant Solo Travellers can't fail to inspire even the most trepidatious.' The Simple Things Magazine'The contributors to Roam Alone are everyday likeable people of all ages, whose tales may well embolden others to set aside their doubts and set off to have their senses sharpened and experiences heightened by traveling alone.' Perceptive Travel