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Hilary Bradt
Hilary Bradt
Hilary Bradt in 2006
Born (1941-07-17) 17 July 1941 (age 84)
Occupation Author and publisher
Language English
Nationality British
Period 1974 to present day
Genre Travel guide books
Subject Madagascar, Peru, Devon
Notable awards MBE for services to the tourist industry and to charity, 2008
British Guild of Travel Writers' Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009

Hilary Bradt is a famous British author and publisher. She is best known for starting Bradt Travel Guides. This company became very popular for publishing unique travel guide books. It started making a big impact in the travel world from the mid-1970s. Hilary Bradt was also awarded an MBE for her work.

How Bradt Travel Guides Began

Hilary Bradt and her husband, George, went on an amazing adventure in 1972. They spent 18 months backpacking across South America. Their journey took them from Colombia all the way to Tierra del Fuego. They also explored Argentina and Brazil.

After this incredible trip, they decided to share their experiences. They started Bradt Travel Guides together. Their very first book was called Backpacking along Ancient Ways in Peru and Bolivia. This book helped other travelers explore less-known paths.

Unique Travel Destinations

Bradt Travel Guides became famous for covering unusual places. They wrote guides for countries like Rwanda and Albania. These were places that other travel publishers often ignored. Bradt guides continued to focus on these special, off-the-beaten-path destinations. They often published the first guidebooks for certain countries.

Over the years, the Bradt books have won many awards. The company's main office is located in Chalfont St Peter, England.

Hilary Bradt's Continued Work

Hilary Bradt managed her company for 35 years. In 2007, she announced that she was retiring from her main role. However, she still remains involved with the company. She is a director and helps guide its future.

Even after retiring, Hilary Bradt continued to write. She wrote a travel guide about Devon, a beautiful area in England. She also wrote articles for national newspapers and magazines. Her stories are often included in collections of travelers' tales.

Expert on Madagascar

Hilary Bradt has also worked a lot as a tour leader. This means she guided groups of people on trips. Her special area of knowledge is Madagascar. This is a large island nation off the coast of Africa. She has written several books specifically about Madagascar.

Hilary Bradt has been a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers for a long time. This is a group for professional travel writers. In November 2009, she received a special Lifetime Achievement Award from them. This award recognized her amazing contributions to travel writing.

Awards and Charity Work

In 2008, Hilary Bradt received a special honor. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was given to her for her great service to the tourist industry. It also recognized her important charity work.

One of the charities Hilary Bradt supports is Money for Madagascar. She is a patron of this British charity. Since 1986, Money for Madagascar has been raising funds. These funds help support various projects in Madagascar.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hilary Bradt para niños

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