Polly’s latest book is subtitled ‘A practical travel guide’ and Northern Lights - published by Bradt - is everything it says on the cover.

“The idea first came to me in the shower the last morning of the Guild AGM in York, about an hour before I was due to head back to London in a car with Hilary Bradt and Adrian Phillips,’ reveals Polly. “Seeing Hilary munching on her toast in breakfast a few minutes later, I couldn't help but make her day: 'I've had a brilliant idea for a Bradt guide,' I enthused. 'Oh dear,' she replied. 'Well wait till we're in the car to tell me about it. Then at least Adrian will be there and we'll be two against one.'

“Eighteen months later and Northern Lights: A Practical Travel Guide joins the Bradt ranks. Actually, it's not so much a guide as a guide-ette. At just 48 pages long, it covers the science of the aurora in a pacey first chapter, and then goes on to the fun stuff - where to go, when to go, what to wear, how to take photographs of the lights, how to understand the aurora forecast, and so on.

“There's also a section on 'Beyond the northern lights' that covers daytime activities - dogsledding, skiing, snowmobiling, visiting Santa, hopping in the sauna with a bunch of naked Finns - you get the picture - plus a bit on historical characters and aurora-related myths and legends. It's full colour throughout, and aims not only to provide invaluable information to those wishing to travel north in quest of the lights, but to help them to enjoy other easily accessible attractions of the Arctic, too.”

Sounds like it would solve a few Christmas present problems for family and friends!
Purchase from Amazon.