Discover Europe's rich military history with award-winning writer and historian Hugh Dolan

Hugh’s journey into history began far from the battlefields of Europe, on a rural Queensland farm. Like many Australian kids growing up in isolation, books became his gateway to the wider world. He devoured stories of adventure and conflict — from the naval exploits of C.S. Forester’s Hornblower series to T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom. These tales sparked more than imagination; they ignited a deep fascination with the people who shaped history.

“I remember riding a horse with a broomstick in hand, trying to knock pumpkins off a fence” Hugh recalls, recreating scenes inspired by Lawrence of Arabia. Even then, he was trying to step into the stories he read — to experience them, not just observe them.

That instinct was nurtured in unexpected ways. As a teenager, Hugh spent time with elderly residents in a small-town nursing home where his mother worked. Listening to their firsthand accounts, from wartime service to lives lived across distant continents, he became captivated by personal stories that might otherwise have been lost to time.

“I was sitting at their feet, completely transported,” he says. “Their world became my world.”

That curiosity carried him to Oxford University, and later into the British Army’s Intelligence Corps, where he served in Bosnia and Iraq. There, Hugh learned to analyse events deeply and piece together narratives from fragmented evidence, skills that now underpin his work as a historian, award-winning writer and guide.

Today, on Travelmarvel tours, he brings that same depth to every destination.

Rather than simply recounting facts, Hugh invites guests to step directly into history. On the Western Front, this can mean leaving the bus behind and walking out into the quiet fields of northern France and Belgium, landscapes that still hold the echoes of 1916.

In one memorable experience, Hugh leads guests into an unassuming onion field. With original wartime maps in hand, he traces the movements of soldiers who once crossed that ground.

“No one stood upright here,” he explains, lying down to demonstrate the soldiers’ viewpoint. Guests are often invited to do the same, to see the terrain as those young men did, just metres above the earth.

From that vantage point, subtle rises and features suddenly take on new meaning. The “objective” ahead, perhaps only a metre higher than the surrounding land — becomes clear. Concrete pillboxes still stand as silent witnesses. Sometimes, even remnants of the past reveal themselves beneath foot.

It’s a powerful, emotional connection — one that can’t be found in textbooks.

“We walk the line,” Hugh says. “We don’t skim the surface.”

These deeply immersive moments are a hallmark of the Travelmarvel experience — and a key reason Hugh finds his work so rewarding.

“After leaving the military, I was searching for purpose again,” he reflects. “At Travelmarvel, I found it — a team with a shared mission to create something meaningful for our guests.”

For Hugh, it’s not just about the destinations, but the people behind the journeys. He speaks warmly of the team’s dedication and genuine care, sharing stories of going above and beyond to ensure every traveller feels supported.

“It’s the spirit of the people,” he says. “The commitment to delivering something truly memorable.”

And that philosophy extends to every tour. Whether walking the cobbled streets of medieval towns, standing on the beaches of Normandy, or sitting over a quiet lunch reflecting on the morning’s discoveries, Hugh ensures each experience resonates on a deeper level.

For Travelmarvel guests, travelling with Hugh Dolan is more than a guided tour; it’s an invitation to connect with history in a way that is personal, profound and unforgettable.