Valley of the Yosemite by the 19th-century artist Albert Bierstadt

US national parks were created at a cost to Native Americans

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In America, national parks are more than scenic − they’re sacred. But they were created at a cost to Native Americans

Abraham Lincoln has an almost saintly place in US history: the ‘Great Emancipator’ whose leadership during the Civil War preserved the Union and abolished slavery.

Often overlooked among his achievements is legislation he signed in 1864, during the thick of the war, but only marginally related to the conflict. The Yosemite Valley Grant Act preserved the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove in California as a park “held for public use, resort, and recreation … for all time.”

10 remarkable international borders

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From the heights of Everest to a humble library, we share the most extraordinary international borders from across the globe

My name is unremarkable, most people would agree. It’s so common that if you Googled ‘Peter Watson’, you would find the intellectual historian, the author, and the arts benefactor – all different men – ahead of me. There’s also a producer, a chemist and a podcaster among others.

Summit view looking across the ash cone trekking Mt Meru route

Trekking Mt Meru: the alternative to Kilimanjaro

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For those seeking a quieter, wilder climb in Tanzania, trekking Mt Meru offers a striking, rewarding alternative to Kilimanjaro’s busy trails

While Kilimanjaro steals the spotlight, its lesser-known neighbour quietly offers one of East Africa’s most rewarding trekking experiences. Mt Meru, towering above the savannah of Arusha National Park, is often overlooked – but that’s precisely its charm.

long-distance treks for beginners torres del paine chile

10 best long-distance treks for beginners

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From an iconic ancient pilgrimage to classic Himalayan challenges, we share 10 of the best long-distance treks for beginners

Trekking has been an enormous part of my life for decades. It has taken me through some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes on the planet, and I have met people from all over the world and made lasting friendships on the trail.

Borobudur in Indonesia, the most multilingual country

95 most inspirational travel quotes ever penned

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These inspirational travel quotes have roused us to travel with abandon to over 100 countries. Perhaps they will do the same for you…

For us, there is no such thing as luxury travel; travel is, by default, a luxury. It is a privilege provided by the country of our birth, a privilege that many are not as fortunate to enjoy.

Sometimes, we have to pinch ourselves at just how ridiculous our lives have become: an ex-teacher and jobbing writer travelling the world for a living. It is absurd, it is astonishing, it is luxury.

10 stunning archaeological World Heritage Sites in danger

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We share our favourite man-made marvels currently on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in danger list

If we asked you to name a famous World Heritage Site, there’s a good chance you would say the Great Pyramids of Giza. Other likely contenders are the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu and Petra. These archaeological sites are some of man’s greatest marvels and are accordingly celebrated and protected. 

Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas

Which country has the cleanest air in the world?

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The countries with the cleanest air in the world have been ranked in a new report. We take a look at the results

The Caribbean island nation of the Bahamas has the world’s cleanest air, according to the latest World Air Quality Report from IQAir. The report ranks 138 countries and territories by the level of fine particulate matter present in the air.

Bill Bryson’s best books – ranked

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We rank Bill Bryson’s best books to help new readers discover America’s funniest travel writer

There’s a part in Notes from a Small Island where Bill Bryson describes a painful train journey to Milton Keynes in the UK. He is sat facing a woman and her 10-year-old son, who keeps picking his nose, kicking Bryson’s shins and staring at him with his “piggy eyes”.

Mount Etna looms above the Ionian coast

Discovering Italy’s volcanoes: from active giants to ancient wonders

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From the iconic silhouette of Mount Vesuvius to the explosive Stromboli, Italy’s volcanoes are as diverse as they are awe-inspiring

Italy, a land of timeless beauty, is not only home to some of the world’s most captivating art, cuisine and architecture but also numerous volcanoes, which have played a central role in Italian life for millennia. 

Gunnerside is one of the best hikes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

12 best hikes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park

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The best hikes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park criss-cross one of England’s finest beauty spots

Since we moved to the market town of Richmond in North Yorkshire, we’ve spent much of our free time exploring the national park that sits on our doorstep. Whether discovering the best views, climbing the park’s highest mountains or walking the Coast to Coast (twice), we’ve fallen utterly in love with the landscape of the Dales.

10 climate photographs that changed the way we see the world

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From dust storm to drought, we share the climate photographs that could not be ignored

There are certain photographs that have changed the course of history. Usually, they are political: Tank Man in Tiananmen Square, Iraqi soldier on the Highway of Death, Napalm Girl in Vietnam. These photos are chilling but powerful.

Liathach and reflection of it in Loch Clair on a sunny autumn day

20 most beautiful mountains in the UK

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While Britain may not be tall, it does have majesty. We scoured the home nations to find the most beautiful mountains in the UK

Alpine, Britain is not. In the UK, there are no sky-scraping summits; there are just 141 peaks over 1,000m (3,281ft), let alone the atmosphere-kissing eight-thousanders found in the great ranges of Asia. In fact, with an average mean elevation of just 162m (531ft), the UK is one of the world’s lowest countries.

7 stunning rail journeys – for a modest budget

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From the rice terraces of Vietnam to the iconic views of Japan, we handpick the best rail journeys that will keep your budget on track

Here at Atlas & Boots, we’ve long had differing opinions on the virtues of train travel. Peter believes it’s the best way to see a country: slow, sustainable, ground level. In contrast, I generally find it cramped and stressful. 

A scene from Antarctica

37 best books about Antarctica: updated for 2025

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From harrowing firsthand accounts of survival to page-turning murder mysteries, we list our favourite books about Antarctica

The most inhospitable place on Earth is an engrossing setting for any story, be it fictional or factual. Unsurprisingly, Antarctica’s literary canon is filled with tales of tragedy and/or survival against the odds. It would be easy, then, to fill this list with biographies of Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton alone. But Antarctica deserves attention beyond its tales of tragedy.

Open Water fictionalises a real-life nightmare

10 true-life outdoor survival movies

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Outdoor survival movies evoke a special kind of horror, especially when based on true-life stories. Here, we share the best of the genre

It is said that humans can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. On occasion, however, humans perform extraordinary feats of survival that far surpass these limits. Usually, they are athletes used to courting danger, but sometimes they are laymen caught in a nightmare they couldn’t predict. Below, we share 10 extraordinary outdoor survival movies based on true-life stories. 

Ama Dablam is a thing of beauty

30 most beautiful mountains in the world

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The most beautiful mountains in the world have captivated climbers for centuries. Here, we examine their lethal appeal

“You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you,” said John Muir, the renowned naturalist, author and environmental philosopher.

If our resident seven-summit hopeful is anything to go by, Muir makes a valid point. Those who spend time in the mountains seem to be driven by a deeper force.

A woman walks through a leafy park

How just 15 minutes in nature can boost your well-being

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Just 15 minutes in nature a day can boost your well-being by increasing your mood, concentration and physical health

The average UK person spends just 7% of their time (or 86 minutes) outdoors during the work week. This is shocking to hear, but with our busy schedules, it’s no wonder many of us can only find a few minutes each day to get outside.

Animal Cruelty Index: which country ranks the worst?

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As the world wakes up to the realities of industrial farming, one animal cruelty index calls out the worst offenders

The journalist and podcaster Ezra Klein once described going vegan as like waking up from the Matrix. Once you are attuned to animal cruelty, you see it everywhere and cannot fathom how humans not just tolerate but endorse a system that subjugates so many. 

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