The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog
We take a look at the best things to do in Bergen, the Nordic city that delivers a perfect blend of nature, culture and urban living
Known for its seven fjords, seven hills and old-world fishing wharf, Bergen in Norway enjoys a spectacular setting. Its walkable city centre and access to nature make it a perfect destination for a weekend getaway or even a day visit as the city is a popular stop for Norwegian fjord cruises and can be easily explored in a day.
In her new book, Rachel Hewitt honours the women written out of outdoor history. Here, she explains why it was important to tell their stories
Rachel Hewitt is a critic, broadcaster and the bestselling author of several books including Map of a Nation: A Biography of the Ordnance Survey and A Revolution of Feeling: The Decade that Forged the Modern Mind. She has written for the Guardian, Telegraph, Financial Times, New Statesman and Times Literary Supplement and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Beyond writing, she has appeared in the BBC’s Coast and Timeshift programmes and regularly participates in BBC Radio Three’s Free Thinking.
The Last Tourist exposes the many flaws of tourism, but these three moments struck us especially hard
The role of the modern tourist is on trial in a new documentary. The Last Tourist combines insight from travel and environmental experts with a series of first-hand accounts to highlight the harmful practices that global tourism supports and encourages.
Our guide on how to visit Jerusalem’s Old City covers everything you need to explore the spiritual home of three major religions
Jerusalem’s Old City has been repeatedly besieged, razed and rebuilt over thousands of years and remains one of the world’s most divisive destinations. Sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and claimed as the capital of both Israel and Palestine, the ancient city is a lightning rod for conflict.
Our guide on how to visit the West Bank in Palestine covers everything you need to explore this storied land
The contentious trace of arid land that makes up the West Bank has been a flashpoint between Israel and Palestine for decades. Packed with holy sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the landlocked territory has always been of great symbolic importance.
Our detailed Arctic Circle Trail packing list includes everything you’ll need on a trek through Greenland’s wild and remote backcountry
Fresh from my adventure trekking the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland, I thought it would be useful to share my complete Arctic Circle Trail packing list as a point of reference for future trekkers.
This comprehensive list includes everything I took with me including camping and trekking gear, clothing, food supplies and cooking equipment, toiletries, medication and electronics. Where possible, I’ve included links to the gear I took with me for reference.
From the South Downs to Hadrian’s Wall, we explore England’s most popular hiking trails
Whether you’re an experienced hiker in need of fresh ideas or a first-timer hoping to get outdoors more, our list of England’s most popular hiking trails offers a wealth of options.
Some unusual passport stamps to collect on your travels, from breakaway republics to the northernmost and southernmost post offices
It may be unfashionable but I’m a bit of a box-ticker when it comes to travel. I’m working my way through the seven summits, the highest mountain on every continent (four down, three to go); I have a list of the countries I’ve visited (94 and counting!); and I keep track of memorable places such as the highest, lowest and driest spots I’ve visited.
Our guide on how to visit Copán covers everything you need to explore the enigmatic Maya ruins and charming Honduran town
At first sight, the Maya ruins of Copán in Honduras aren’t quite as grand as Tikal in Guatemala or Chichén Itzá in Mexico – but they are impressive in their own right. Copán is among the most significant Maya sites in Central America and has been called the ‘Paris of the Mayan World’ due to the sophistication of the artefacts found here.
Denmark tops the ranking of the most sustainable countries in the world according to the latest data from the Environmental Performance Index
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) evaluates and ranks 180 countries on 40 performance indicators across 11 categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality.
In her new book, Miriam Lancewood explores the relationship between humans and nature. Here, she tells us about the travel that changed her
Miriam Lancewood has not lived a conventional life. She and her husband, Peter, spent seven years in the wilderness of New Zealand during which time they survived by hunting wild animals and foraging while sleeping in a tent and cooking on an open fire. Since then, Miriam has walked across Europe and written three books about her experiences in nature.
Helsinki has been named Europe’s most walkable capital city based on metrics including air quality, green space and personal safety
Helsinki in Finland is Europe’s most walkable capital city, according to research by British footwear retailer Schuh. The Nordic capital topped the rankings based on several metrics including air quality, cleanliness, street lighting, green space and noise pollution. The study also considered how safe a city is for walking alone by both day and night.
A comprehensive but concise guide on how to start a travel blog, covering both technical and editorial aspects of creating, maintaining and growing a blog
At Atlas & Boots, we are periodically approached for advice on how to start a travel blog. To help future bloggers, we have put our knowledge into a comprehensive but concise guide below.
Ahead of his next seven summit attempt, Peter shares expert advice on how to train for mountaineering expeditions such as Denali and Everest
I climbed my first high-altitude mountain back in 2010. At 5,895m (19,340ft), Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak and while I had some hillwalking behind me, I had no prior experience of trekking at altitude, wasn’t fit enough and didn’t have the right gear. In hindsight, I was fortunate to make the summit considering I was so underprepared.
After 70 countries and seven continents, Kia shares her tried-and-tested beauty tips for travellers
When I quit my desk job nearly a decade ago and set off on a trip around the world, I was rightly excited but also naive. I thought that life on the road would free me of the so-called ‘beauty tax’ – the price that women pay merely for being women.
From America’s classic Route 66 to Namibia’s mysterious Skeleton Coast, we explore the best road trips in the world
When it comes to road trips, we’ve had our fair share of mishaps. We’ve battled a whiteout in Iceland, got stuck in a ditch in Turkey, broken down in Chile and changed a tyre in lion territory in Namibia.
From California to the Caucasus, we take a look at the new and exciting Highlander Adventure treks on offer
In 2020, I joined my first Highlander Adventure trek in Croatia and was thoroughly won over by the semi-solo style of trekking. Since then, the collection has expanded from five events in Europe to 17 spread across three continents. I have also joined three further Highlanders in Greece, Georgia and the UAE.
Our essential tips for visiting Tikal, the most fantastical Maya ruins in all of Central America
Mexico’s Chichén Itzá may be a world wonder and receive far more visitors, but there are few ancient ruins more atmospheric, romantic and impressive than Tikal in Guatemala.
From sun-blessed tropical islands to an engineering wonder of the world, these are the best day trips from Panama City
Situated on a small peninsula on the Pacific Coast, Panama City is Central America’s most attractive and cosmopolitan capital. The city has an impressive skyline replete with sleek skyscrapers and glitzy shopping malls as well a charming old town in the UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo. Best of all, it’s a superb gateway to Panama’s top attractions.
From accessible trails and pet-friendly campsites to kennel services and wildlife safety, these are America’s most dog-friendly national parks
Many of America’s national parks have strict policies in place for bringing along your dog – and for good reason. Some parks are home to dangerous trails, sensitive ecosystems, extreme weather or wild animals – from porcupines to grizzly bears – that you really don’t want your dog interacting with. Not only that, your dog can be a danger to them.
