10th November - 7:30 pm - The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny

Bookish and Kate invite you to join her at a very special festive celebration of the natural year with the person who knows it best – Lia Leendertz. We’ll be honouring the 2026 edition of Lia’s perennially popular and bestselling Almanac with a night of conversation. Tickets include a copy of the beautiful 2026 Almanac and an exclusive gift bag produced in collaboration with Liz Knight of Forage Fine foods.

About Lia Leendertz

Lia Leendertz is an award-winning garden and food writer based in Bristol. She writes regularly for the Daily Telegraph, The Garden, Simple Things, the Guardian and Gardens Illustrated. Her reinvention of the traditional rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers eager to connect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month.

About The Almanac

The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2026 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.

Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, woodland foraging and beach holidays.

12th November - 6:00 pm - The Actor's Church, Covent Garden, WC2E 9ED

Why do we travel? Does how we travel matter? And is social media ruining the joy of discovery?

This evening, in a beautiful central London venue, brings together two of travel’s most thoughtful voices for stories, insights, and honest reflection — plus a lively Q&A with the audience.

BBC travel presenter and award-winning journalist Rajan Datar unpacks the psychology of travel — from our restless urge to explore to the hidden forces shaping where and how we go.

And In part two, Kate Humble will join Pura Aventura’s Tom Power for a thought-provoking conversation about how travel has changed in the age of Instagram — and what it means to explore the world with depth, curiosity, and care.

Whether you’re an intrepid traveller, a curious dreamer, or simply someone who misses meaningful journeys, this is an evening to reconnect with what travel is really about.

Free entry but numbers are limited.

15th November - 10:30 am - Clifton LitFest, Christ Church. Clifton Down Rd, Bristol BS8 3BN

Join Kate in conversation with local food writer and teacher Jenny Chandler as Kate considers how ideas of home, community and sustainability run through both her writing and her advocacy for wildlife and rural life.

Jenny, who champions independent food businesses and inspires families to cook from scratch, brings a complementary perspective that grounds the discussion in the everyday.

Together, they promise an engaging dialogue about food, nature, and the stories that connect us.

20th November - 7:30 pm - The George, High Street, Newnham on Severn GL14 1BS

Join Kate for a very special evening at The George Community Hub, Newnham on Severn, where she will be talking about her passion for animals, farming and the environmental causes close to her heart.

The George is friendly and welcoming community hub in the Forest of Dean in the thriving Severnside village of Newnham on Severn. Following a fundraising campaign, their historic building was secured by the community in 2021. A team of dedicated volunteers worked together to bring The George back to life for the whole community to enjoy.

28th November - 1:00 pm - Hay Festival Winter Weekend, Castle Marquee, Hay on Wye

One of the UK’s most renowned chefs and hoteliers celebrates the kitchen garden, and how it influences his recipes, the subject of his latest book Simply Raymond Kitchen Garden.

Blanc is the owner of the two Michelin starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, which is famous not just for its food but for its kitchen gardens, the brainchild of the chef. Blanc describes himself as being “still in awe of the magic of the garden and the miracles of the kitchen, and the wondrous connection between them”.

He speaks to Kate about his inspiring story, the connection between his gardens and his food, and why he loves championing seasonal ingredients.

Learn from one of the best in the business against the backdrop of Hay Castle, and pose your questions to Blanc on everything from creating your own kitchen garden to how to bring a little Manoir magic to your home this festive season.

29th November - 5:30 pm - Hay Festival Winter Weekend, St Mary’s Church, Hay on Wye

Join Kate as she talks to James Fox, award-winning broadcaster, art historian and author of Craftland: A Journey Through Britain’s Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades.

Fox’s book Craftland chronicles the traditional crafts of the British Isles, for generations what we made with our hands shaped our identities, built our communities and defined our regions. Craftland chronicles the vanishing skills and traditions such as thatching, hedgelaying and weaving which used to govern every aspect of life.

Kate and James will discuss why skills passed down the generations must not be allowed to disappear, and celebrate the craftspeople who keep them alive.

29th November - 11:30 am - Hay Festival Winter Weekend, Meet outside Hay Castle Coach House, Hay on Wye

Take to the fresh air with Kate, and explore the border between England and Wales, which wraps itself tightly around Hay-on-Wye.

As well as taking in the beautiful countryside, chat to Humble about her mixed livestock farm Humble by Nature, her love of the countryside and work on television, and about why she thinks taking a daily walk is as essential as that first cup of tea to make her feel good for the rest of the day. Mountain guide Sarah Price of Walk Hay will join her in leading the walk.

Please wear appropriate footwear with grips, winter outdoor clothing and come prepared for the weather

30th November - Podcast - Available on Spotify, Apple and other podcast apps.

Kate talks to Vick Hope, award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, about the joy of living in the moment, the glory of nature and the importance of shunning the algorithms. And reveals her five favourite books by female authors.

Every week on Bookshelfie Vick is joined by inspirational guests to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

4th December - 7:00 pm - The Morrell Room, Church Lane, Streatley RG8 9HT

Join Kate and The Friends of Goring Library for an evening of talking about her life and career.

30th December - Podcast - Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Kate constructs her fantasy garden in the award winning Talking Gardens podcast by Gardens Illustrated.

From an origami version of Yellowstone National Park to Dicken from The Secret Garden and Popham’s Arboretum in Sri Lanka, Kate talks about the landscapes, people and gardens that have influenced her. And why she loves baobab trees but will never allow a gazebo in her garden.

31st December - Podcast - Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Kate joins The Knowledge Editor-in-chief, Jon Connell on the Book Talk Podcast to talk about her latest work 'Where the Hearth is: Stories of Home' and the book that inspired her during the writing process.

Available to listen on The Knowledge and on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

24th January to 29th January - The Shetland Islands

An exciting, informative and culturally diverse winter holiday with Kate Humble and local naturalist Jon Dunn, exploring Shetland, its wildlife and unique Viking heritage, including an unforgettable night at Shetland’s world-famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.

The Shetland Islands’ unique blend of isolation, stark beauty and exotic wildlife are justly renowned, especially in summer – but the rewards for a winter visit can be just as plentiful: evocative wildlife, friendly people and a compelling island way of life, rich cultural heritage, and the wild and beautiful winter landscape.

We’ll meet local naturalists, archaeologists, musicians, historians, crofters, and more, each sharing their knowledge, expertise, and perspectives on life and work on the islands.

We’ll also search for some of Shetland’s most iconic winter wildlife, from Mountain Hare on the moorland to Otters on the coast.

And of course, we’ll watch the world-famous Up Helly Aa fire festival, a tradition that originated in the late 1800s and celebrates our Viking heritage. Since then, the festival has evolved into the main event in Shetland’s cultural calendar and the biggest fire festival in Europe.

10th May to 17th May - The Shetland Islands

Join Kate and the Shetland Nature team for a truly unique Shetland experience. The islands are world famous for their wildlife and their cultural heritage – a heritage borne from the unique circumstances of the islands’ position in some of the richest fishing waters in the northern hemisphere, a place where the traditional Scottish crofting life was changed irrevocably both by the turning of the seasons and the call of the sea.

Life in Shetland evolved over the centuries to become something unique, with breeds of livestock on the croft adapted to the sub-Arctic climate. Shetland’s colourful, hardy sheep shaped the landscape and the lives of those who worked the land when they weren’t at sea. That landscape became a place where wildlife thrived on the crofts and the hills, where otters and seabirds abounded on the coastal fringes and, inland, a rich biodiversity of upland waders, wildfowl and flora was to be found.

Throughout the week Kate is joined by resident Shetlander, crofter and nature writer Jon Dunn, who will co-lead the itinerary. During the week they will also be joined for a day by native naturalist and company founder, Brydon Thomason to share an insight into the life of Shetland’s Otters. Adding a uniquely authentic insight you will meet the crofters who care for the land, the designers, knitters and lace-makers who make the finest garments from Shetland wool, and the wildlife that lives alongside them in the islands – and, of course, the Shetland sheep themselves!

We will sample the delicious local food from land and sea, hear stories of traditional life and folklore, and enjoy the company of the very best folk musicians the islands have to offer. This will be a tour unlike any other – a wild and woolly exploration of Shetland’s heart.

2nd June to 9th June - Embarkation: Oban

As the remotest part of the British Isles, St Kilda and the Western Isles form the most important seabird breeding site in northwest Europe. With cliffs, sea stacks and grassy slopes, the Islands are ideally suited to nesting birds.

Get your binoculars at the ready and join Kate Humble and wildlife guide, David Sexton, for an ornithological feast onboard the Hebridean Princess on their St Kilda and the Western Isles wildlife tour.

14th June to 22nd June - Uganda

From the forests of Kibale to the savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park and the steep ridges of Bwindi, this nine-day journey through Uganda is designed around the country’s most remarkable wildlife encounters — and led by two people who know how to bring them to life: broadcaster and writer Kate Humble and wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks.

This very special safari is limited to only six participants. The highlight is time with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. As Kate related on her last visit trip to Uganda ‘only when you’ve trekked up through a forest, with the caution and decorum necessary, are you immersed in their terrain. You suddenly understand their habitat that little bit more. Only when you’re in close proximity – never less than 10 metres away and for never more than an hour – do you suddenly feel that deep sense of kinship, of a deep rooted genetic connection between you and this magnificent primate’.

Alongside the gorillas, there are chimpanzees in Kibale, elephant and hippo along the Kazinga Channel, and a rich variety of birds and smaller primates. Paul’s passion for photography and storytelling adds another dimension, whether you’re looking to sharpen your camera skills or simply learn to see the wild from a different perspective. Evenings are a chance to reflect together, swapping stories and impressions as the forest sounds build around you.

What makes this trip so memorable is not just the encounters, but the way they unfold: with time, with respect, and with the guiding voices of two people who have spent their lives exploring the bond between humans, wildlife, and wilderness.

9th July to 16th July - The Hautes Pyrénées. Tour starts and ends in Toulouse, France

The Hautes Pyrénées includes the highest peaks of the Pyrenean range. It's undoubtedly one of the most dramatic and beautiful mountain environments in Europe with breathtaking scenery and an enviable array of flora and fauna. This tour aims to find the most notable butterflies that call this environment home, with a particular emphasis on five of the Erebia mountain ringlets, hosted by wildlife champion Kate Humble, and Mariposa founders and wildlife experts David Moore and Jon Dunn.

Sorry, this tour is now Sold Out – To find out more about other Mariposa Nature butterfly tours and to receive updates on dates for next year’s tour click on the 'View Event' link below.

20th August to 29th August - Zambia

Beyond the ordinary safari, this journey is shaped by the people who lead it. Join Kate along with award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks and landscape photographer Tom Sullam for an eight-night adventure through Zambia’s South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi.

Beyond the ordinary safari, this journey is shaped by the people who lead it. Join Kate along with award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Joynson-Hicks and landscape photographer Tom Sullam for an eight-night adventure through Zambia’s South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi.

Staying in riverside safari camps, placing you at the heart of the wild, explore on game drives, walking and canoe safaris alongside some of the best guides in Africa.

Begin your journey in South Luangwa, one of Africa's oldest parks. Often called the home of the walking safari, it’s where you’ll step into the landscape tracking elephant, leopard, lion and more on foot. Listen to stories of tracking and conservation, learning the finer details of the wilderness and how to tune into its whispered secrets.

With Zambia’s dry season in full swing, the bush becomes a stage for remarkable encounters. Over three days, explore the parks with your hosts and expert local guides on a mix of walking safaris and game drives.

From the open plains, fly south to the Lower Zambezi, a park that pulses with river life and predator drama. Spend four nights immersed in its rhythm, canoeing along winding channels, drifting silently past elephants and buffalo, and meeting wildlife on eye level. Try your hand at catch-and-release tiger fishing and venture out on a sunset cruise, when the water mirrors the sky and hippos wallow nearby.

Elevating it all is the insight and warmth of your hosts, who will bring humour, artistry and deep knowledge to every encounter.

August is one of the finest months for wildlife, when the dry season conditions draw leopard, lion, elephant and wild dog to the river and lagoon systems. But this journey offers more than sightings. It’s a deeper look at the wild, through the lens of those who know it best.

If you’ve seen Africa before, see it again, but better.