Ade Adepitan

The paralympian-turned-TV globetrotter talks to Lyn Hughes about speaking up for himself, climate change and why the travel industry needs to listen more to disabled travellers

Has travel always been an interest?

Yeah, I've always had this wanderlust: a passion to travel, to see the world, to meet people. I guess it began at home, watching TV. I used to watch all the re-runs of Whicker's World, and then later on, Michael Palin's Around the World in 80 Days and Pole to Pole. I remember almost missing many a homework deadline because I would stay up watching those shows, and it just felt to me like I needed to be somewhere else.

I'd also look out of the window at planes flying past our house, imagining where they were going to and feeling really jealous. I think it's just a natural, inquisitive passion that I've always had.

Did you have family holidays?

No, I think that's probably what drove me even more to want to travel. My family didn't really have much money, so holidays weren't a thing. One of the things that I'm quite sad about is that my dad passed away before I started making enough money to be able to take him travelling, because he had never been on a holiday.

What would you say was your first real trip?

When I was eight or nine, we went to a place called Fairplay House with my school. It's an adventure centre, and because I was a city boy going out to the country, seeing wide open spaces, trees and ravines; going out canoeing and being with nature; orienteering and staying in this big, stately house, it was just incredible. Even the coach drive there was eye-opening, as you suddenly went from city urban landscapes to these rural scenes. That was wonderful for me.

I've been to so many incredible places around the world, but I still remember that trip with my school.

As a traveller with disabilities, how did your mobility impact you when you first started seeing the world?