Gemma Hall (gemmahall.co.uk) is a freelance travel, nature and heritage writer from northeast England who began her career in journalism writing for BBC magazines, then as deputy editor for the National Trust. She has written for many national publications on natural history, Britain’s heritage and travel, and has produced tens of walking guides and books to historic properties for the National Trust. Hall is the author of Bradt’s Slow Travel guides to both Northumberland and Durham, and wrote the northeast England section of Alastair Sawday’s food and travel guide, The Extra Mile. Alongside her professional writing and photography work, she spent ten years co-ordinating environmental projects abroad with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and, in northeast England, for the RSPB. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, her hobbies include birdwatching, camping, hiking, cycle touring and spending time outdoors with her young family.