Julia Bradbury: My worst packing disaster ever
The TV presenter on her biggest packing slip-up, her recent voyage to Antarctica, and the destinations on her bucket list.
The TV presenter on her biggest packing slip-up, her recent voyage to Antarctica, and the destinations on her bucket list.
A familiar face on our screens since the 1990s, Julia Bradbury, 55, is probably best known as a presenter of the BBC’s Countryfile, though in recent years her travel shows have taken her further afield to Greece and Australia.
She’s just returned from an epic voyage to the southern hemisphere, cruising to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica, as part of a three-part series for ITV1, Julia Bradbury’s Wonders of the Frozen South, on now and also available on ITVX.
Julia shares highlights of the trip with Saga Magazine and reveals her other favourite destinations and bucket list dreams for the future:
In the first episode of your new series, you visit the Falkland Islands – what surprised you about them?
The Falklands reminded me of the Outer Hebrides – it has that feel and atmosphere to it. And the climate is reminiscent, too – we experienced snow, sheeting rain, hailstones, blue skies and sunshine, all within a five-hour period.
I knew about the penguins and seabird colonies that live there alongside the 3,700 human residents, but I hadn’t realised that 500,000 sheep reside there too, providing more than 1.5 million kilos of premium wool every year!
I had a very memorable encounter with a wonderful couple who are sheep farmers and they have tame sheep running around their garden, who come up to be stroked and patted, just like pet dogs, which was just lovely.
How about South Georgia – what were the standout impressions?
Stepping off the Zodiac boat, that takes you from the cruise ship to the shore, I can only describe what greets you as one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet, at a location called Salisbury Plain.
There are more than 100,000 king penguins crowded onto the beach – which are large birds that come up to your waist. They’re deeply curious and not frightened of humans, so they come up very close to eyeball you. The smell is also indescribable – penguin poo is extremely stinky!
We also saw elephant seals – the largest seals in the world – that look cumbersome on land, but which are surprisingly graceful swimmers, that can hold their breath for up to two hours! And we visited the abandoned whaling station at Grytviken, which at its peak was processing 25 whales a day and brought several species to the brink of extinction. It’s a grim part of history.
Another pinch-me experience was retracing the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton, who landed at South Georgia and then hiked over the mountain range to find help for his ship. My teenage son, Zeph, is a mad Shackleton fan, so I’m suddenly a cool mum.
How about Antarctica – what amazed you most?
When you’re in Antarctica, you want to see whales and, as you’ll see on the documentary, we were not disappointed.
We were so lucky to come across a pod of humpbacks, who were coming up all around the ship, with their beautiful flukes (tails) lifting out of the water as they dived down.
Then suddenly I saw this huge ring of bubbles in the water – which was made by two or three humpbacks blowing in unison under the water. By doing this, they force the krill to the surface and then the whales emerge from underneath with their giant mouths gaping open to eat the krill. Watching that was miraculous and magical.
More than anywhere else in the world, Antarctica gives you such a deep respect for nature.
Join Saga for this 20-day tour which starts in South America where you'll savour the tropical heat of two of South America’s most awesome cities – Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Then you'll join the HX Expeditions ship and head south for Antarctica.
You'll spend five days in one of the remote places on earth surrounded by glaciers, icebergs and breathtaking wildlife.
What has been your favourite holiday as a family – with your partner, son and 10-year-old twin girls?
Undoubtedly The Maldives – it’s a dream destination if you like beaches and being surrounded by turquoise sea. The snorkelling is up there with most people’s scuba diving experiences as the water is teeming with sea life.
We were so lucky to do a two-destination holiday to Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru. Both of them have turtle conservation programmes and both are actively growing coral to regenerate the reefs around them – which is right up my street.
They offer a complete wellness programme as well so you can have an incredible holiday and keep your health in check, too.
What’s your favourite city break destination?
I haven’t been to New York for more than a decade and can’t wait to go back.
It’s one of those places I want to take my girls when they’re a little older and do all those fun New York things – the meat packing district, Central Park, shopping in Soho, a Broadway show.
New York has this great energy and food is amazing because – there are so many great restaurants and brilliant chefs.
When I was filming my series for Channel 5, Warship: Life in the Royal Navy, there was quite a lot of secrecy around the project and we couldn’t tell people where we were going because security was so vital.
It felt like a big, exciting mission and we were based on HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. We got there and I opened my bag to discover that I’d forgotten to pack any knickers – and I really needed underwear to go under the overall uniforms we had to wear.
The poor producer had to lend me knickers to wear during the whole project.
I haven’t been to Fiji, Hawaii or New Zealand and would love to visit all of them. I’m particularly drawn to islands and landscapes that are a contrast to the places I spend a lot of time, like Scotland and the Lake District
I love hiking in those UK landscapes but I also love to spend time on a beautiful beach, where I can do some grounding and bob about gently in the ion and mineral rich sea.
I can’t imagine ever not travelling. I’m passionate about it – I’ve learned so much from the people that I’ve met and from the different cultures I’ve experienced over the years.
Travel has taught me so much about both human beings and nature and the importance of acceptance, community and conservation. I know it’s a huge privilege to travel.
Find green and pleasant pastures, mile-upon-mile of crinkle-cut coastline and dramatic volcanic landscapes.
From gushing geysers around the Waiotapu area on North Island to extra special South Island treats, such as helicopter rides over Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.
Nothing beats a holiday in New Zealand for good old-fashioned adventures.
Julia Bradbury’s Wonders of the Frozen South starts on 15 February on ITV1
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