Wharfer publishes book of his travelling tales

Not Quite Robinson Crusoe, published last week, charts the travels of Tube Lines employee Neil Pepper.

Neil, 44, who works as a night safety supervisor, has travelled the world over the last 25 years to experience such far-flung outposts as Timbuktu, the Falklands and the Arctic. He explained how the book came about.

He said: "The book just grew out of travel accounts I wrote for friends and family over the years. People told me they were good and I should think about turning them into a book, so I finally got round to it this year.

"There's no rhyme or reason to the way the book is laid out. It's not like Michael Palin or Bill Bryson travelling a particular route to see what's there. It's really just a collection of essays, all of them observational rather than about what I was doing. I hope it will give people a flavour of what these amazing places are like."

From sub-Saharan Africa to the frozen Arctic tundra, via the South Atlantic and North America, Neil has made a point of visiting places off the beaten tourist track, fuelling his passion for observing wildlife in their natural habitat. After visiting over 90 countries does he have a favourite?

He said: "It's amazing how much you forget but there are several places that stand out.

"The Falklands are lovely. I'd go back there in a flash because the islands are magnificent, absolutely teeming with wildlife. The Yukon is another favourite, really beautiful.

"Timbuktu (pictured left) was a bit strange. Mainly concrete buildings with a few old mosques but it has such mystique attached to its name I had to go there.

"Then there's Togoland, where the people living in the north don't wear clothes, they just go around naked. The president was going to pass an edict to force them to wear clothes but I'm not sure how he was going to enforce it. It was a pretty special place where people just kept their old traditions going."

Neil, who was awarded an MBE last year for his charity work, has made plenty of friends on his travels, admitting he has to send over 300 cards every Christmas to all points of the globe. He has some tips for anybody inspired to follow in his footsteps.

He said: "You'll need a credit card and plenty of energy. People often have one but not the other.

"And perhaps the most important thing is to respect the places you visit. Many of them are endangered and need protecting. Hopefully my book will help raise awareness of that."

And is there anywhere he still has a burning desire to visit?

He said: "I'd love to go to the Antarctic. I've been to some pretty spectacular places but I think that would top the lot."

Not Quite Robinson Crusoe by Neil Pepper and published by Melrose Books is available from Amazon priced £11.99.