The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog
Much of what we know about hiking in lightning is myth. Here, we share the actual methods that will keep you safe in a storm
There are certain safety rules that we all learn in childhood. Never talk to strangers. Get low in a fire. Stand under a tree in lightning. In adulthood, few of us think to question these rules. In most cases, that’s perfectly fine, but when it comes to hiking in lightning, we’re long overdue for a rethink.
A curated list of the best coffee makers for camping, from an ultralight drip system for backpacking to a fancy coffee press for glamping
Back in the day, I used to go trekking with a sandwich bag of instant coffee in my backpack. Those were dark days. Fortunately, times have changed and I now kickstart mornings on the trail with a proper cup of coffee without having to endure (too much) excess weight in my backpack.
In 2025, Singapore tops the list of the world’s most powerful passports. We take a look at the other winners, losers and non-movers
I was feeling cocky as I queued up for my Chinese visa. I had checked and rechecked the requirements and had all my documents to hand: my passport, a photocopy of my passport, a spare photo just in case, the form that had taken me an hour to fill in online, my flight details, and my tour and hotel confirmation. I had also signed and dated the form – in both places – unlike all the (clearly inferior!) applicants in front of me.
We take a look at the US national parks that require a reservation in 2025 along with when and how to secure your visit
Yellowstone National Park is a slice of quintessential America. A place where wild animals – bison, bears, elk and wolves – roam among wilder beauty and where hot springs and geysers evoke a primeval era. In some ways, Yellowstone is a slice of lost America; a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and spaghetti junctions that populate US cities.
We profile some usual suspects plus one or two surprises in the top 12 most visited countries in the world
Have you dreamed of a romantic kiss atop the Eiffel Tower? Perhaps you’ve thrown a wish into the Trevi Fountain or stopped and stared at the Sistine Chapel. If so, you’re certainly not alone.
Soaring mountains, plunging canyons, giant pandas and just a single time zone – we share the most interesting facts about China
I visited China nearly 20 years ago and found a country on the march. China may be one of the world’s most ancient civilisations with a continuous culture stretching back thousands of years, but today’s relatively modern nation – the People’s Republic of China – was founded in 1949 and is more like several different countries rolled into one.
We take a look at the latest controversy surrounding Denali’s name and why it has inspired so much debate over the years
The high point of my year was (literally) my summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America. It was my fourth mountain of the seven summits – arguably my fifth if you count Kosciuszko – leaving me Vinson in Antarctica and Everest in Asia. I said at the time that whether or not I climb any more of the seven is almost irrelevant. I will always have Denali, my ‘tall one’.
We share the best eSIM for China, tried and tested by us from Beijing to Shanghai
I almost changed my mind about going to China. It had been on my bucket list for a long time, but nothing was easy in the lead-up to my trip. As a Brit, I have one of the most powerful passports in the world and can visit a whopping 190 countries visa-free or with a visa on arrival. Alas, China is not one of them. The visa process was convoluted and involved piles of paperwork and two physical trips to the visa office.
Kia’s solo trip to China fulfilled a long-held dream but also had a deeper significance
In the week before Christmas, I hosted a family gathering at my house. At some point in the afternoon, my 31-year-old nephew arrived with his baby daughter. To everyone’s shock, he had brought her alone without the supervision of his wife.
The most dangerous countries in the world to visit in 2025 have been updated in the latest Travel Risk Map
The most dangerous countries to visit in 2025 are Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen according to the latest Travel Risk Map, an interactive tool produced by security specialists at International SOS.
The safest countries in the world have been updated for 2025. Read our insights from the study and browse the rankings
Iceland is the safest country in the world followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Singapore.
However, the world is not as safe as a year ago as the average level of global peacefulness has deteriorated for the 12th time in 16 years. Ninety-seven countries recorded a decline in peacefulness while 65 registered an improvement according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI).
From Jaipur’s magical pink palace to the summit of North America, we share our top Instagram posts of 2024
It’s been another busy year at Atlas & Boots. In May, I reached the summit of Denali, one of the coldest and harshest peaks on the planet, bringing me a step closer to my dream of climbing the seven summits.
We share our top 10 posts of the year, from the chilly peak of Denali to the frantic streets of the famed Pink City
This year, we celebrated 10 years of Atlas & Boots. When we first started the blog in 2014, it was mainly a way to stay employable so that when we returned to London after our big trip, it wouldn’t be impossible to find new jobs.
The reality is I’ve probably already hit my mountaineering ceiling but climbing Everest will always be the apex of my ambition
It has been a strange year. Usually, press trips, treks and working holidays mean it’s not uncommon for me to spend up to three months away from home. This year, however, I’ve been away just twice. This year, it was all about one thing: Denali.
Our favourite Christmas gifts for campers, handpicked to suit all budgets
It’s no secret that Peter and I have a difference in opinion when it comes to camping. On our trip around the world, he carried around 4kg of camping gear for an entire year in the hopes that I would see the appeal. We camped for a total of 10 days.
‘Tis the season for serious savings on outdoor apparel and gear. Here, we hand-pick 10 great deals from the REI Cyber Week sale
I’m not the sort of person who hankers after luxury items. I’m more likely to shop at Asos than I am at Harrods and I’m just as happy at Nando’s as I am at a Michelin restaurant. One arena in which I do fork out, however, is outdoor apparel and gear. The difference between a high-quality hiking boot and one that’s “good enough” is substantial – something I learnt the hard way on the slopes of Cotopaxi.
From minor mishaps to serious crises, the failure of outdoor gear can ruin your entire trip. Here, we explain how to never break a zipper again
Technical outdoor gear is not cheap. I dread to think what I’ve spent on it over the years. Backpacks, sleeping bags, Gore-Tex jackets, fleeces, waterproof trousers, tents… it all adds up. What do these items all have in common? The humble fastener, AKA the zipper.
We’ve created a mountaineering calendar of the world’s greatest mountains and the optimal time of year at which to climb them, listed month by month
Since I first started climbing, I must have spent hours typing “when is the best time to climb…” into search engines and then crawling through websites to find the key piece of information I needed. Only when I have a date in mind can I start to think about the practicalities of actually trying to climb a mountain (i.e. booking time off work, flights, budget, gear etc).
Our tried-and-tested list of Christmas gifts for travellers, be they hikers, shutterbugs, adrenaline junkies or culture vultures
This year has been unusual in that Peter and I haven’t taken a single trip together for the first time in 14 years. He spent three weeks climbing Denali – one of the coldest places on Earth – and I certainly wasn’t going to join him on that. Later on in the year, he spent six days on the High Scardus Trail in Albania which, given my feelings about camping, I wasn’t going to do either.
From safely washing a sleeping bag to measuring partially used gas canisters, here’s how to look after your hiking gear
Last spring, I spent the best part of three weeks climbing Denali, the highest peak in North America. There were few opportunities to stay clean on the mountain so by the time I got off the slopes, I – along with all my gear – was in a pretty nasty state.
