I was fortunate enough to grow up in Dorset, one of England's most beautiful and unspoilt counties, where I developed a love of rural life, the natural world and outdoor pursuits. It was a magical place for a childhood, with much time spent building camps, riding ponies, picking blackberries and fishing in the River Stour.

During my degree in Modern European Languages at the University of Durham I spent a year on Reunion Island (a French department in the Indian Ocean) teaching English, practising my French, getting to grips with Creole and travelling the region. I fell in love with the island and neighbouring Mauritius.   I've been visiting the Indian Ocean  regularly ever since and have written five editions of the Bradt travel guidebook to Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion.  Luckily for me the book needs to be updated every three years so the regular research trips are set to continue.

In 2004 I undertook a writing/photography assignment, travelling to Australia on a cargo ship via the Suez Canal, and I have divided my time between the UK and Australia ever since. The advantage of having a base at either end of the world is that it gives me the opportunity to explore what lies between the two as I travel back and forth.

In 2012 I was delighted to be asked to write the Bradt travel guidebook Slow Dorset, one of a series of books in line with the Slow Food and Slow Tourism movements. Writing Slow Dorset afforded me a reason to explore more deeply the area where I grew up, to delve into corners of the county I didn't know particularly well, and it gave me a new-found appreciation for Dorset's landscapes, history and culture. The second edition of Slow Dorset was published in April 2015 - I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed  writing it.

A few of my photographs are included on this website. I have a huge collection of images, particularly of Dorset, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Reunion and Australia. Should you have need for a photo of these areas, please contact me via email to discuss your requirements as I may have some in my collection that suit.

You are welcome to contact me at lexrichards@hotmail.com to discuss any projects or travel plans with which you think I can help.