John Hillaby

Who was John Hillaby?

John Hillaby was a British travel writer and explorer.

Hillaby was the son of a Yorkshire printer. He was educated at Woodhouse Grove School, Leeds. He embarked on a career in journalism, interrupted by service in the Second World War. After the war he worked for the Manchester Guardian, the New York Times and the New Scientist.

In 1949, he published his first book, Within the Stream. His real impact on the literary scene came in 1964, when he published Journey to the Jade Sea, an account of his 1,000 mile walk with a camel train through northern Kenya to Lake Turkana. The book set the pattern for his later books, Journey Through Britain, an account of his walk from Land's End to John o' Groats, Journey Through Europe and Journey Through Love.

His earlier journeys were always alone, but after he married Kathleen Burton in 1981 the two travelled together. She featured in his later books, Journey Home, John Hillaby's Yorkshire, John Hillaby's London and Journey to the Gods.