About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

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One of my best tours in England was walking the famous Cotswold Way.

Tours in England often overlook the fabulous footpaths in the Cotswolds. 

The ancient network of footpaths were created over the centuries as villagers found the quickest way to their place of work, local market or church. Today you can walk across open fields of private land, ancient woodland or  pastures full of sheep or cows and dig into the local culture in a way only to be experienced on foot.

Now enshrined in law as a “right of way,” this network of paths connecting the various villages offers visitors the chance to walk at a relaxed pace, enjoy a pub lunch for an abundance of local ales and produce. There is time to explore the villages once you arrive and soak up the traditions they make.  As an introduction to this type of holiday, the Cotswolds contain easy walks to suit all abilities and the wealth of history and accommodation may set a precedent that is hard to beat but will have you hooked.

AONB Cotswold Wardens Walk at Eastleach Turville1. On Your Own walking. Purchase a walking guidebook (we recommend Goldeneye “Cotswold Classic Walks” or Pathfinder Guides “The Cotswolds – Walks”), buy an Ordnance Survey Explorer map (“OL45 The Cotswolds” covers most of the area) and plan your walking vacation. You can base yourself in a holiday cottage for a week and do day-walks or walk from point to point, staying in B&Bs/hotels or rent a VW camper van.  

2. A little help from a friend. Choose a self-guided walk from Cotswold Walks (www.cotswoldwalks.com). They will help you decide which walking holiday will suit you, book your accommodation, transfer your luggage and provide detailed route notes and maps in advance. Local assistance is always on hand by simply calling the office if you have any questions during your tour or find yourself unsure of the way.

3. Walking in a group. If you opt for a guided walking tour there’s no need to read maps or route notes – instead you can simply walk alongside your guide. They are local experts who bring to life the history and hidden secrets of the area.  Members of walking groups stay in luxury accommodation, enjoy wonderful all -inclusive meals and meet like-minded walkers who want to maximize their time in the Cotswolds.

Travel tipsStanton, Gloucestershire, UK

Heathrow and Gatwick both serve the Cotswolds via London Paddington or bus and train connections through Reading to Moreton-in-Marsh, Cheltenham and Bath;  www.thetrainline.com www.railair.com

For weather and the national pastime; www.metoffice.gov.uk

Good walking boots with ankle support are essential as the ground can be uneven and overgrown.

ATM’s are available in all the main villages so allow for some cash for tipping and gift purchases.

Marybeth Bond