Travel Talks
Join our FREE Talking Travel sessions and photography masterclass. Our expert speakers will give you unique insight into their experiences and take you on fascinating and memorable journeys to inspire your next trip.
Spaces are subject to availability on the day and and will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.
saturday
22nd february 2025
10:30 - 11:00
Cruising with a difference
Cruising: exploring the parts of the globe best accessed by water! With ships varying in size, style, and amenities, our experts will talk you through the options. Whether you’re looking for the thrill of an adventure on a mega-ship equipped with the latest in entertainment and leisure or seeking the tranquillity of an intimate vessel with a refined atmosphere, there’s a ship out there for you. Moderated by Mark Cummings.
Andrew Morris - Small Cruise Ship Collection
Max Campos - Aqua Expeditions
Mark Cummings
Mark is a multiple award-winning BBC radio presenter, journalist and writer and has been broadcasting for over 40 years. He’s presented several “West Country” travel series for BBC Points West and writes a monthly column for Cotswold Life which has been running since 2005. Mark presented the BBC Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show for 18 years.
Mark first book, Glorious Gloucestershire, is a love letter to the county he knows so well, full of fascinating gems about Gloucestershire for tourists and locals alike. Mark sold out at The Gloucester History Festival and Stroud Book Festival this year and was moved from the Pillar Room to the Forum at The Cheltenham Literature Festival due to popular demand for tickets.
Mark lives in the South Cotswolds with his wife, Jo. They have two grown up daughters, Kate and Ali. Having travelled extensively as a backpacker, now as an empty nester, Mark’s writing includes travel features reflecting his love of adventure. As a keen walker, cyclist and campervan owner he shares his experiences in his unique style.
In 2023 Mark was the recipient of the “Outstanding Contribution to the Community Across Gloucestershire” Gloucestershire Live Business Award. He is a season ticket holder for Gloucester Rugby Club, an honorary member of The Gloucester Civic Trust and former Mock Mayor of Barton (a fun, non-political role dating back to the English Civil War).
11:05 - 11:35
Train journeys across the world
Explore beautiful and varied landscapes, cultures and experiences by train. From viewing wildlife, exploring national parks, discovering cities, and experiencing new cultures to even combining with a cruise or a self-drive holiday. Natalie will share ideas for incorporating train travel in your next Canadian adventure with VIA Rail Canada. Justin will introduce us to Byway, an innovative platform, to book 100% flight-free holidays. Moderated by Mark Cummings.
Justin Owers - Byway
Justin works at flight-free travel company Byway as part of the Concierge team planning bespoke rail and boat holidays around Europe. His favourite region to sell is France and Switzerland but he’s happy to help with anything. Before Byway Justin managed a Snowsports School in Niseko, Japan and in his spare time he can be found travelling, cycling and trying to take photos.
Natalie Smith - VIA Rail Canada
Natalie has 17 years of experience working in travel with 12 of those working for VIA Rail Canada and other Canadian companies. She has a true passion for the country and enjoys inspiring others to explore the vast options available and suggesting new and exciting itinerary ideas that might not have been considered. When not talking about or travelling to Canada she is an avid cruiser and has a soft spot for both Iceland & Norway.
Mark Cummings
Mark is a multiple award-winning BBC radio presenter, journalist and writer and has been broadcasting for over 40 years. He’s presented several “West Country” travel series for BBC Points West and writes a monthly column for Cotswold Life which has been running since 2005. Mark presented the BBC Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show for 18 years.
Mark first book, Glorious Gloucestershire, is a love letter to the county he knows so well, full of fascinating gems about Gloucestershire for tourists and locals alike. Mark sold out at The Gloucester History Festival and Stroud Book Festival this year and was moved from the Pillar Room to the Forum at The Cheltenham Literature Festival due to popular demand for tickets.
Mark lives in the South Cotswolds with his wife, Jo. They have two grown up daughters, Kate and Ali. Having travelled extensively as a backpacker, now as an empty nester, Mark’s writing includes travel features reflecting his love of adventure. As a keen walker, cyclist and campervan owner he shares his experiences in his unique style.
In 2023 Mark was the recipient of the “Outstanding Contribution to the Community Across Gloucestershire” Gloucestershire Live Business Award. He is a season ticket holder for Gloucester Rugby Club, an honorary member of The Gloucester Civic Trust and former Mock Mayor of Barton (a fun, non-political role dating back to the English Civil War).
11:40 - 12:10
How to discover 'the real France'
Leading France travel and food expert Carolyn Boyd shows that the key to enjoying and truly seeing France’s many landscapes, cities and villages is by understanding its food. From the volcanoes of the Auvergne to the beaches of Corsica, the country offers a huge variety of holiday options that are ideal for independent and curious travellers with a good appetite.
Carolyn Boyd - Author | Travel & Food Writer
Carolyn Boyd is an award-winning British travel and food writer who specialises in France, writing for a wide variety of publications including The Times, The Guardian, National Geographic Traveller, and Delicious Magazine. She is the author Amuse Bouche: How to Eat Your Way Around France, a collection of food stories that help you understand the country’s history, culture and traditions as you devour its best dishes and flavours. Carolyn is also Communications Manager of the Roux Scholarship, the UK's most prestigious chef competition. She has lived in Cheltenham for 18 years, having first moved to the town to take up the role of Editor of France Magazine, which she did from 2006 to 2016.
12:15 - 12:45
milestone trips
It’s a trip like no other, should you relax on a sandy beach, explore a vibrant city or region, traverse an untrodden path, immerse yourself in local cultures, or embark on a boat or rail journey? Or maybe a combination of the above. Sunita from Trotting Soles, pitches ideas for your next BIG trip.
12:50 - 13:20
in conversation with hilary bradt and byron shirto
Sharing memories of 50 years of travel will be the co-founder of Bradt Guides. Hilary’s latest book ‘Taking the Risk: My Adventures in Travel & Publishing’, is a beautifully written memoir, that weaves together insightful reflections, hilarious anecdotes and heart-stopping moments from her serendipitous adventures in travel and publishing.
Byron Shirto, Cheltenham Travel Festival Director, will be speaking to Hilary about her various travels.
Hilary Bradt
Hilary Bradt’s career as an occupational therapist ended when potential employers noticed that the time taken off for travel exceeded the periods of employment. In 1963, she hitch-hiked to and around the Middle East. In 1969, she spent six months travelling from San Francisco to Rio de Janeiro. With her former husband George, she self-published her first guidebook in 1974 during an extended journey throughout South America, thus founding Bradt Travel Guides. Travels in Africa in 1974-77 resulted in a backpacking guide to Africa, followed by four more to South America. By 1980, she was established as a publisher, winning IPG/Sunday Times Small Publisher of the Year that decade. For the first 25 years she combined writing guide books and running the company with leading adventure and natural history tours to South America, Africa and Madagascar. Her contributions to tourism have resulted in an MBE among other major awards.
Byron Shirto
Festival Director
Byron Shirto
Byron worked for leading luxury Tour Operator, Abercrombie & Kent, for over 10 years, before setting up Tailormade Inspiration, a marketing and communications agency, in 2009. Byron served on the board and as Chairman of the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) for over 8 years. He has created and launched three successful large-scale trade B2B events in the last 10 years (LATA Expo, Experience Africa and Brand USA Travel Week). In 2022, he launched Inspire Global, a worldwide community promoting positive impact tourism. In 2023, he launched the Inspire Global Media Awards, celebrating positive impact storytelling, and in the same year, The Travel Festivals, the #1 series of travel festivals in the U.K.
13:25 - 13:55
My family's next adventure
Want to take the family on a trip that they’ll never forget? Jarrod Kyte, Product Director at Steppes Travel, shares his ideas to suit various ages and pockets as well as offering practical advice on what to consider. Africa, India, Kyrgyzstan, Romania and Slovenia all make great family holidays!
Jarrod Kyte - Steppes Travel
14:00 - 14:30
Mark shares some of his favourite travel stories and anecdotes from his travels through Gloucestershire and the rest of the world, to inspire your next trip. Mark will provide insights to hidden gems, that can’t be found in a brochure or even on the internet, including surprising literary links, place name derivations, and folklore. Join Mark on an adventure that will inspire, amuse, educate and give you a few surprising ideas.
Mark Cummings
Mark is a multiple award-winning BBC radio presenter, journalist and writer and has been broadcasting for over 40 years. He’s presented several “West Country” travel series for BBC Points West and writes a monthly column for Cotswold Life which has been running since 2005. Mark presented the BBC Radio Gloucestershire Breakfast Show for 18 years.
Mark first book, Glorious Gloucestershire, is a love letter to the county he knows so well, full of fascinating gems about Gloucestershire for tourists and locals alike. Mark sold out at The Gloucester History Festival and Stroud Book Festival this year and was moved from the Pillar Room to the Forum at The Cheltenham Literature Festival due to popular demand for tickets.
Mark lives in the South Cotswolds with his wife, Jo. They have two grown up daughters, Kate and Ali. Having travelled extensively as a backpacker, now as an empty nester, Mark’s writing includes travel features reflecting his love of adventure. As a keen walker, cyclist and campervan owner he shares his experiences in his unique style.
In 2023 Mark was the recipient of the “Outstanding Contribution to the Community Across Gloucestershire” Gloucestershire Live Business Award. He is a season ticket holder for Gloucester Rugby Club, an honorary member of The Gloucester Civic Trust and former Mock Mayor of Barton (a fun, non-political role dating back to the English Civil War).
14:35 - 15:05
where to holiday in 2025
A shift to the north, relaxed visa regulations, and new routes by planes, trains, boats, bikes and even balloons make 2025 the most exciting for travel in years. Our experts highlight the new trips that should be on your radar for the coming year. Jarrod shares stories from recent trips tracking snow leopards in Ladakh, circumnavigating Issy Kul in Kyrgyzstan and meeting eagle hunters in Mongolia. Alex will share tales from travels along two great rivers: the Mekong and the Amazon. Moderated by Byron Shirto.
Jarrod Kyte - Steppes Travel
Alex Robinson - Author & Photographer
Alex Robinson is a prize-winning photographer, videographer and writer with among other awards a National Magazine Award in the United States, the magazine equivalent of a Grammy. He writes regularly for the leading travel publications, including JRNY, Sunday Times, Independent and Wanderlust, specialising on Latin America, South East Asia and Portugal. He is the author of more than fifteen travel books and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. In 2025 he will lead group trips on the Mekong and Amazon Rivers where participants will have the chance to hone their writing and photography skills as well as learn about the regions.
Byron Shirto
Festival Director
Byron Shirto
Byron worked for leading luxury Tour Operator, Abercrombie & Kent, for over 10 years, before setting up Tailormade Inspiration, a marketing and communications agency, in 2009. Byron served on the board and as Chairman of the Latin American Travel Association (LATA) for over 8 years. He has created and launched three successful large-scale trade B2B events in the last 10 years (LATA Expo, Experience Africa and Brand USA Travel Week). In 2022, he launched Inspire Global, a worldwide community promoting positive impact tourism. In 2023, he launched the Inspire Global Media Awards, celebrating positive impact storytelling, and in the same year, The Travel Festivals, the #1 series of travel festivals in the U.K.
15:10 - 15:40
tropical marine wildlife - travel and photography
Join Charles, from the Whale and Dolphin Company, for a tour of marine wildlife hotspots, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Komodo, Raja Ampat and the Solomon Islands. Charles will share his wide experience of finding and photographing iconic marine species both above and below the surface, from Blue Whales and Manta Rays to turtles and tiny reef creatures.
Dr Charles Anderson - Whale and Dolphin Company
Dr Charles Anderson is a professional marine biologist, who lived and worked in the Maldives for 35 years. He is the author of nine marine wildlife guidebooks, and is also, with his wife Susan, the owner of The Whale and Dolphin Company, specialising in small group marine wildlife cruises in the tropical Indian and west Pacific Oceans.