During those locked-down pandemic months Mark, with seriously itchy feet and a hankering to get back to travelling simply, dreamed up the walk that would become Vagabond, his highly acclaimed homage to Spain.

It was an obvious book for him to write, really. Mark lived 16 years in the country and still sometimes dreams in Spanish; he is fascinated by its history, taken by its landscapes and people, and he'll say yes to a glass of Navarran vino tinto in a heartbeat.

Through Mark's 1225km hike, starting at Gibraltar and ending, 35 days later, at Spain's northernmost tip, Vagabond tells the evocative story of rural Spain – her culture, people, history. It's a compelling read, and one that National Geographic listed as one of the top six travel books of 2024.

The photo at the top of the page is us, walking our first Camino together with a proof copy of the book, and the one below is from the afternoon we celebrated the launch of Vagabond, at our home in South Africa.