A CHIPPENHAM man who had to make a rapid lockdown escape from South Africa earlier this year has published a book to help inspire young people to explore the world, once travel restrictions ease.

Paul Holt, 50, has had countless adventures across the globe and was initially trapped abroad when the pandemic hit.

He was eventually able to get back to Chippenham on a repatriation flight from South Africa and, when he made it home, began to put pen to paper.

His new book captures his memories from India, Nepal, the Far East - and also explores shorter journeys across places such as South Africa, Peru, Mexico and Vietnam. Diaries from his travels are the source for each chapter, along with many of his photos.

While Covid-19 has temporarily halted many a backpacker’s wanderlust ideals, Mr Holt, 50, hopes that those reading the book can still enjoy the locations from their armchairs and, when travel restrictions ease across the globe, can be inspired to visit the same locations as him.

He said: “Once I made it home, I thought I’d take time to pull together some memories from my travels. The book is almost a memoir - I didn’t intend it to be but it has evolved into something far longer than I expected.

“I’ve travelled a lot from my late 20s, and worked on and off to save for the trips.

"Typically I’ll travel in winter to the southern hemisphere or tropics. The pandemic has changed everything, of course.”

“2002 is when I really left and began travelling extensively - my whole mindset changed after that.”

The book covers the first chapter of his journeys, with a second book planned for more recent tales.

He added: “India was my first proper travelling experience and is still the most poignant to me.

“I hope this can inspire young people to think about travelling once all this is over. Travelling opened my eyes to a lot of things, and I saw first hand poverty and the impact of environmental issues. I appreciate things a lot more now than I did before.

“If this book inspires one young person to travel somewhere new,, then it will all be worthwhile.”

Wanderlust: A life driven by the desire for global travel is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wanderlust-driven-desire-global-travel/dp/B08GRKFSNY