I’ve been writing professionally for more than 20 years, working with a broad range of magazines, newspapers and websites.
The outdoors, wildlife, hiking, rail journeys, cycling, sustainable travel, sport, music, history and food are all areas of special interest. My work has taken me to all seven continents.
I work regularly from Oxford, so if you’re in town and fancy discussing potential work over a coffee, do get in touch.
Publications
I’ve written for the following publications, among others.
National newspapers: The Observer, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Evening Standard, i, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, The Australian, The Irish Times, The New Zealand Herald, The Globe & Mail (Canada)
Consumer: National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, Time Out, BBC Countryfile, TGO Magazine, France Magazine, Country Walking, National Geographic Traveller Family, Country Life, Breathe, Hidden Scotland, Conde Nast Traveller, Britain Magazine, Escapism Magazine, Adventure Travel, Australia & New Zealand, Discover Britain, Sidetracked Magazine, Cotswold Life, CNN Traveller, The Nightwatchman (Wisden Cricket Quarterly), FourFourTwo, Rugby World, Champions, Q Magazine, Original Gravity
Trade/customer: The Journey (for YHA England & Wales), Which? Travel, Camping & Caravanning, ABTA Magazine, Selling Travel, Travel Weekly
Websites/online: BBC Travel, Rough Guides, BBC Good Food, Click for Booking.com, TRVL, Wanderlust, National Geographic Traveller, CNN Travel, The Telegraph, countrybycountry.com, Columbus World Travel Guides, Red Bull, Virgin Media, Sidetracked Magazine
Guides/Guidebooks: I’m a contributor to Dorling Kindersley’s Unforgettable Journeys Europe (2023), Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of Europe (2021) and Rough Guides’ Make The Most Of Your Time On Earth (2019 and 2015 editions). I’m also a co-author of the Rough Guide to Australia (2014 edition) and have contributed to Time Out guides to London, Buenos Aires, Scandinavia and Ghana.
Photos: My photos have appeared in newspapers (including The Observer, The Independent, The Times and The Irish Times) and magazines (including National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, TGO Magazine and France Magazine). I’m always happy to supply accompanying shots for a feature.
Awards
Awards: Travel Content Award, Silver Winner, Visit England Awards for Excellence 2023; Travel Feature of the Year, Specialist Media, British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2022; Travel Content Award, Gold Winner, Visit England Awards for Excellence 2022; Specialist Travel Writer of the Year, Travel Media Awards 2021; Best Art & Culture Feature, France Travel Media Awards 2019; Best UK Feature, British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2018; Best European Feature, British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2018; Best Short Destination Feature, British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2016; Best Off-The-Beaten-Track Feature, PSA Journalism Awards 2013; Best UK Feature, British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2012
Shortlists: British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2022 (four categories, including Highly Commended in Travel Writer of the Year category); British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2020; British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2019 (three categories); Travel Media Awards 2019; AITO Travel Writer of the Year 2018; France Travel Media Awards 2018; British Guild of Travel Writers Awards 2017 (two categories); France Travel Media Awards 2017; AITO Travel Writer of the Year 2016
In 2021, I had a feature shortlisted for ‘The Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century’ anthology.
In 2019, 2020 and 2021, I was a judge for the Australian Society of Travel Writers’ Travel Journalism Awards for Excellence.
Email me: benlerwill@gmail.com