Last updated: 04.12.25

Please read this page in conjunction with our terms and conditions, cookie policy and our disclaimer and disclosure statement.

1. Who We Are

This website is operated by Near and Far Explorers (“we”, “us”, or “our”).
Website: https://nearandfarexplorers.com
Contact: sarah@nearandfarexplorers.com

For the purposes of UK GDPR, EU GDPR, and other global privacy laws, we are the Data Controller for personal data collected through this website.

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2. Personal Data We Collect

We may collect the following categories of personal data:

Information you voluntarily provide

• Name and email address (e.g., when leaving a comment or contacting us)
• Optional account information if you create an account
• Any content you submit in comments or forms

Automatically collected data

• IP address
• Browser type & version
• Device information
• Pages viewed, time spent, and referring URLs
• Cookies and tracking data

Information from third parties

• Spam detection services (e.g., Akismet)
• Analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Advertising networks or affiliate programs (if applicable)

We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 (or 16 where applicable). If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child, we will delete it promptly.

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3. Legal Bases for Processing (UK/EU GDPR)

We process personal data under the following legal bases:

• Consent: e.g., when you submit comments or cookies (non-essential).
• Legitimate Interests: website security, analytics, improving content.
• Contractual Necessity: responding to your inquiries.
• Legal Obligations: retaining certain records for tax, fraud, or regulatory purposes.

You may withdraw consent at any time.

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4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Enable essential website functionality
• Store preferences (e.g., comment form details)
• Provide analytics (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Improve website performance
• Detect spam and prevent abuse

Some cookies are strictly necessary, while others (such as analytics or advertising cookies) are non-essential and require your consent under UK and EU law.

When required by UK/EU GDPR, we display a cookie banner that allows you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change or withdraw your cookie consent at any time by adjusting your browser settings or cookie preferences.

You may also disable cookies directly in your browser, although some features of the site may not function correctly without them.

If you leave a comment, you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies for your convenience. These cookies last for approximately one year.

Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

Affiliate Partners

Affiliate partners may use cookies or tracking technologies to attribute purchases made through links on this website.

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5. Embedded Content & Third-Party Services

Articles may include embedded content (e.g., YouTube videos, Instagram posts).
Embedded content from other websites behaves as if you visited those websites directly.

These third-party websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

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6. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your information to:

• Publish and manage comments
• Operate and maintain the website
• Improve site features and content
• Respond to inquiries
• Protect security and prevent fraud
• Analyze site usage and performance
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal data.

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7. Sharing Your Data

We share data only with trusted third-party service providers when necessary to operate the website, including:

• Website hosting provider: Bluehost
• Analytics providers: Google Analytics
• Spam detection tools: Akismet
• Email or newsletter services
• Affiliate partners

All third-party processors are required to protect your data.

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8. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary:

• Comments: retained indefinitely so we can manage future comments
• Analytics data: retained according to Google’s retention settings
• Contact form submissions: retained as long as necessary to respond
• Cookie data: retained according to cookie type (generally between 30 days and 2 years)

You may request deletion at any time.

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9. Your Rights

If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Your Rights (UK & EU GDPR)

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion (“right to be forgotten”)
• Restrict processing
• Object to processing
• Withdraw consent
• Request data portability
• Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

To exercise your rights, email: sarah@nearandfarexplorers.com

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Your Rights (United States – CCPA/CPRA & other state laws)

If you are a resident of California or other US states with privacy laws, you may have the following rights:

• Right to know what personal information we collect
• Right to request deletion
• Right to request correction
• Right to opt out of the ‘sale’ or ‘sharing’ of personal information. We do not sell or share personal information as defined under the CCPA/CPRA
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

You may submit a rights request by emailing sarah@nearandfarexplorers.com

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10. International Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred and processed outside the UK/EU (e.g., if our hosting company or analytics tools are based abroad).
We ensure appropriate safeguards such as:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs)

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11. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encryption, limited access, and secure hosting.
However, no system is completely secure, and transmission of data is at your own risk.

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12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last Updated” date will indicate the most recent version.

We encourage visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.