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MA Nature and Travel Writing student wins national Telegraph Travel Writing Competition

Thursday, 16 July, 2026

MA Nature and Travel Writing student Emma de Heveningham has been named the winner of the over-25 category in  Travel Writing Competition 2026, earning national recognition for her evocative storytelling. 

Emma, who is studying for a Master's degree in Nature and Travel Writing at BSU, impressed the judges with her moving account of an encounter with an elderly shepherd in the remote Himalayan village of Korzok, India. 

The annual competition attracted hundreds of entries from across the UK, with stories ranging from adventures in South America to moments of human connection around the world. This year's theme, "an authentic interaction", challenged writers to capture meaningful travel experiences through compelling narrative. 

Emma's winning piece centres on Kunchok, an elderly villager whose unexpected performance of a traditional song becomes a powerful reflection on memory, culture and connection. The judges praised the story for its emotional depth and literary quality.

Travel writer Kate Humble, one of the competition judges, said the piece evoked the "bittersweet taste of nostalgia," while Greg Dickinson, Senior Travel Writer at The Telegraph, praised its opening, saying:  

"The first two sentences don't just invite you in; they demand your attention." 

Emma receives an eight-night luxury holiday to Sri Lanka as part of her win, including stays at five hotels and a series of curated cultural experiences. 

Alongside her studies at BSU, Emma also works in telecommunications project management and is a passionate traveller whose writing explores the relationships between people, landscapes and place. 

Reflecting on winning the award, Emma said: 

"Winning this competition is an incredible honour. The MA at Bath Spa has encouraged me to dig deeper into the stories behind the places I visit, and to focus on the human connections that make travel so meaningful. I'm thrilled that Kunchok's story has resonated with the judges." 

The Telegraph Travel Writing Competition is one of the UK's leading competitions for aspiring travel writers, with winners selected by a panel of established authors and travel journalists. This year's judges noted the exceptionally high standard of entries, celebrating authentic storytelling and memorable encounters from around the world. 

The success highlights the strength of BSU’s MA Nature and Travel Writing programme, which supports emerging writers in developing distinctive voices across travel, nature and environmental storytelling.