The Slow Traveller: An intentional path to mindful adventures

by Jo Tinsley

The Slow Traveller is a stunning call to change the way we travel today.

Full of evocative photographic naturescapes and expertly guided by veteran slow traveller, Jo Tinsley of Ernest magazine, this leisurely guide focuses on how to have a more meaningful, mindful travel experience.

Inviting readers to stroll through the book at their own pace, this must-have book for any eco-adventurer teaches adventurers to trust their instincts, embrace the unexpected, and travel by the power of their own steam.

Exploring different types of destinations and modes of travels––from road trips and epic rail journeys to seeking mountain solitude—this ultimate aspirational travel guide encourages readers to allow themselves to be guided by curiosity and chance encounters, and find new ways to connect with others and with ourselves.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2023

Reviews

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Slow Traveller suggests traveling not with a bucket list in hand of sights to see. Instead it challenges the reader slow down, embrace curiosity, explore off the beaten path and make connections with others through experiences. The ideas are simple but the writer expands on the benefits of things like meandering during the day or doing a simple thing like driving to the end of the road. Connecting with others can be done over coffee, shared meals at a B&B, or doing activities with others. This is almost a philosophy and different way to travel.

The photos are the highlight. They add color and beauty to the book. I was disappointed that I had to look to the ending credits to know where the photos were taken, as many aren’t immediately recognizable. Most of the photos show natural beauty and are primarily focused on Europe. I am a mixed traveler. There have been times I’ve march my family through Europe hitting every highlight. But other trips are for relaxing and being together and enjoying the beach or mountains. I enjoyed the book please know it is about a way of traveling and not a travel guide to any specific places or locations.

[Mai H.]

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Leaping Hare Press

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, gorgeously illustrated with photographs, consists of a series of essays on a different approach to travel, an approach familiar to travelers but not so much to tourists, an approach that is the antithesis of leaping from one postcard panorama to the next, packing a couple weeks' vacation with maximum sights seen.

Most of the chapters / essays look at a specific mode of travel - i.e. the road trip, hiking / pilgrimage, train travel, and water travel. However, a few of the chapters tack from different angles to look at local food-centric travel, sheltering with permanent structures like bothies and teahouses, and urban slow travel.

There are some interesting insights in this book, it has stunning photography, and I even picked up some book recommendations. If you're interested in changing your approach to travel to go deeper / less broad, this book is worth reading.

[Anna K Baskaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the concept, and there were some gems in here. Overall, I wanted it to be more than it was. Felt a bit redundant somehow (and in one place, it literally repeated the paragraph before).

Takeaways:
🧳 spend a longer time in one place (rather than cramming a bunch of cities/sites)
🧳 try a walking trip sometime
🧳 take a train somewhere

[Kasey Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book about how to travel (and arguably live all of life) in a slower, less consumeristic, and thoughtful way.

[Andrew Balyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чудова книга. Для одних вона може бути новим поглядом на подорожі, а для інших — нагадуванням жити сьогоденням.
Окремо хочеться згадати фотографії, які використані в цій книзі. Вони дивовижні і дуже надихаючі. В комбінації з текстом, дозволяються зануритися в описані подорожі.
Ідеальна книга для журнального столика :)

[Jan Lhotský · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo Tinsley´s book is excellent introduction, not just to the slow travelling, but the slow life philosophy in general. In our bustling lifes, where we have barely time to rest and contemplate about meaningufull things, it is very important to slow down. We should especially slow down while we are travelling. This book will help you embrace new techniques and will give helpful insights to the world of slow activities. No matter if you prefere long distance walking, epic train journeys or adventurous car road trips. This book sums everything you need to know for your next meaningful trip.

[Jaded book lover 🤓 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photography is stunning, recommendations and wording was lovely. My only small critique is that I was each photo had information on it as to location and possibly date it was taken - I know this information is also located in the back of the book but as someone who is drawn to the actual photography it would be more enjoyable if I didn’t have to flip back and forth to see that information for the photos I really wanted to know specifics on. Overall it was enjoyable!

[Yiğitcan Sümbelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially loved the conclusion chapter where the author talks about "belonging". A well written, thoughtful book about being mindful while travelling. Loved it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my bedtime reading during a retreat at an ashram and was the perfect thing to fall asleep to. Lovely bites of armchair travel.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm… This glossy, repetitive book wants us to believe that slow travel is attainable for everyone, and indeed should be a considered way to go about our lives, for the amount we can discover, and the depth of experience we can bring back to our humdrum. The author's background seems to have been showy travel journalism, and it shows – these pages are just littered with carefully staged photos of her, random family members and fellow travellers, artfully arrayed in their walking clobber across wondrous hillscapes. These are not selfies – sometimes the photographer seems a hundred yards from the subject. Someone has bought a drone.

What the book wants is to portray the benefits of slow travel, and goes about it in multiple ways. First we see the way the author has had wonderful felicity in finding wonderful things when travelling off-piste, camping with a car as propellant or lugging a whole camper-van around. Fine, if you have the means and the desire to be permanently outdoors. We then see the benefits of connecting with where we're going and who we might meet there over food, which also failed to convince. At one point everyone is going to crack open their doors and have a spread laid out for all of you and all their friends to have a jolly conversational meal. It seemed as true as that old saw about how people will always jump up and invite you, the Johnny Foreigner, to their wedding party. I've tried that, it doesn't work.

After that we're back on the modes of transport, like sleeper trains and long distance walks, whether strict pilgrimages or otherwise, and sailing (even wild swimming) gets a look-in. A separate chapter takes in the virtues of being alone in the wilds – safely, and again you sense the photographer just off-camera with every visual page turn. No, you're not alone in a bothy. Then it's an attempt, more successfully, to get this kind of ethos into city breaks – looking at cemeteries for forest bathing, greenways, and generally getting lost off the beaten track.

I like the idea of a lot of this, but I know how I travel, and I like the way I travel, and the whole aeroplane magazine gloss attached to everything kind of put me off, meaning much of this still had the appearance of merely being unattainable. Doing a Dice Man-styled routine of choosing the way to turn of a morning, seeing the world through local eyes (and those of waterboatmen and river sewage, as in the UK), chillaxing while also on the move and learning about places – all seems sensible, but also fanciful. And I fear a better book would have won me over and encouraged me to think again about it. Two and a half stars.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The Slow Traveller encourages the reader to undertake a transformational journey to experience a new type of travel. By travelling at a slower speed, one can better experience a connection with the local culture, landscape, environment, food, and people. By investing yourself more in taking it slow, meaningful relationships and memories can take shape. Ultimately, in the busy and instant-gratification world we live in now, this type of approach could be applied to all areas of one's life for a more healthy and meaningful way to interact with the world around us and get in touch with a balanced self; processing thoughts and practicing reflection.

The book is written with such a calm and empathetic voice, with very intentional, inspirational, and colorful prose. I could almost close my eyes and imagine I was right there with the author as she described these lived experiences. From food, to long distance walking, journeys by water, rail journeys, solitude travel, and reimagining urban travel. The author is extremely observant and reflective, by making connections with the environment and landscape around her, she has the eye and heart of a cultural geographer.

While finances and availability of time may not allow for such extensive slow travel experiences as I’d like, this book certainly inspires me to be more aware and intentional of the travel experiences I do have.

The photos throughout the book are absolutely stunning. The photos compliment the beautiful writing and elevate this book to a five.

[Courtney Harp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of learning to be a slow traveller. I would definitely recommend but not the Kindle edition. There are many travel photographs and I missed out by choosing Kindle over the Hardcover edition.

Whether it's establishing meaningful rituals and routines, allowing space to pause or discovering new ways to connect and give back within our local community, bringing a slow travel mindset into our daily lives can be genuinely transformative.

Travelling slowly has much to teach us, from the importance of embracing the unexpected and letting our journeys be guided by chance encounters, to opening ourselves up to the kindness of strangers and the pleasure of connecting deeply with a landscape by moving thoughtfully through it.

But I think the most important thing to remember is that each of our journeys is unique and meaningful in its own way. So I invite you to resist the temptation to check destinations off a bucket list, and instead to follow your own whims and intuition. To travel lightly, gently and adventurously, and to explore the world (and your home ground) at your own pace.

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my blog for the full review and consider signing up while you're there!
British-based Tinsley has put together a short (about 150 pages) but thoughtful call to travel lightly and sustainably by exploring the quieter corners, spending more time getting to know a place, and ditching the bucket list and instagram pursuits. Reminding readers of the devastating impact of short haul plane travel, Tinsley has organized her call for slow travel using four modes: road tripping, on foot via long-distance trails (which can also be cycled), by water via boat or even swimming (!!), and by train. As others have mentioned, the lack of captions for the gorgeous photos is an irritation; I did like the packing lists Tinsley adds at the end of each section. Appendices include recommended reading and maps, references, trip planning information, and information on the author and photographers. My thanks to Leaping Hare Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every minute I spent with The Slow Traveller! The prose is inspirational in a practical way and the photos are both aspirational and realistic. It is a beautiful book which does not try too hard which is a fine line to walk. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

The book reads like a long form magazine and I mean that in the best way possible. The writing is accessible and compelling. The photography looks like you might have taken the pictures yourself, but a bit better. Each chapter explores a different form of slow travel. The packing lists with charming illustrations are a whimsical addition. A great read on its own, would make an exceptional gift paired with a few packing list items and/or an invitation to a slow travel experience.

[Kristyna Lhotský · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading about slow travel, and the whole concept deeply fascinated me. I truly resonate with the idea of mindful exploration rather than mindlessly rushing through new places. We often feel depleted after a vacation, which is quite a paradox, but that doesn’t happen when you travel at a slower pace.
I liked the organization of the chapters, and my favorites were "Pilgrimages" and "Slow Travel in Cities"- those two topics were the most relatable to my current life. I loved how Jo Tinsley emphasizes the importance of observing and noticing. I feel that once we incorporate these practices into our travels, the experience becomes significantly different.

Overall, this book is a great source of inspiration and motivation for my future travels!

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This is a book about traveling without a bucket list or sometimes even a destination at all and taking your time while doing it. I have to admit that I had never thought about doing anything other than going to the most touristy places and doing what people normally do there...but when I thought about it, my most memorable times traveling had nothing to do with excitement or rush or anything like that. Be calm, go where your heart takes you...the pictures were amazing and were the best part of the book, if I am being honest. I would consider buying a coffee table book of photos like these.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book, and approach to exploring the world. The Slow Traveller encourages us to slow down, explore less-known destinations and really look at and be in the place — the opposite of the typical tourist experience where we try to cram in as much as possible. Ms. Tinsley believes that places matter, but so do people, and suggests interacting with others as much as possible during our travels. Her points are made alongside lovely photos, which add to the beauty of the book and philosophy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[JournalsTLY]

Beautiful photographs - especially the unique beautiful photos on river long distance swims.

Very useful list of organisations - groups that are guides or societies that promote contextualised tours, walks and accommodation.

While there are many good books about walking in the rural areas, this book gives good tips about walking in urban areas .

Also good tips about packing .

Some trips mentioned eg solo hikes seems to be a tad risky ? Should I get a guide instead ? Or walk in small groups with local guides ?

Pity that there is not much mention about budget and cost .

[Hermes_Fang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous road-trip photo book. It calms me down when I open it and stare at the pictures.
The author expands on the benefits of meandering, driving to the end of the road, and connecting with others over coffee, shared meals, or activities. And with the road-trip tips in the book, the author actually tries to teach us how to trip!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Charissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun book to read to hear about the adventures the narrator went on, but definitely more of a guide for people who wish to travel to see landscapes and people than anywhere that might be on a beaten path. Sad as it might be, tourism is leaving less and less room for spontaneity; this book does not acknowledge that.

[Alan Metchem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring read from the person behind Ernest magazine, an invitation to change how we perceive and interact with new places, whether they’re a hundred or 5000 miles away. Beautifully presented and illustrated.

[James Greening · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that emphasizes the philosophy and true purpose for traveling, but also provides guidelines on how to incorporate slow travel into your life, no matter where you are in the world! I cannot recommend highly enough!

[Scott Kuffel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing pictures. Great story of relaxing and being more mindful.

[Vern Scott]

Informative, good

[Liz Niznik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super repetitive but a good spring board

[Jonatan Lige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamy journey with nice pictures. Helps to take some time off and wonder in different places and ways.

[Nhu Khue · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the first time in my life, finally I can say that I like travelling.

[Jeffrey Leung · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's aight i guess

pretty broad but pretty shallow