Atlas & Boots, Author at Atlas & Boots

Llyn Fan y Fach is a 20,000 year-old glacial lake

National parks in Wales: which one is right for you?

20th April 202221st July 2021 by Atlas & Boots

When it comes to Britain’s breathing spaces, the national parks in Wales compete with the best of them. Here, we explain why

Surrounded by sea on three sides, Wales is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts. While not as rugged as Scotland, or romantically perceived like Ireland, deepest Wales is just as beguiling.

Lonely corners abound on dramatic mountain passes, deep river valleys and weather-lashed cliffs. Scattered seamlessly across the natural landscape are Iron Age hill forts, Roman ruins and over 600 castles – more per capita, it’s said, than any other country in the world.

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Gateway of India in Mumbai, India

The travel that changed me: Vaseem Khan

13th January 20237th July 2021 by Atlas & Boots

Award-winning writer Vaseem Khan tells us how India’s ‘city of dreams’ turned him into an author

There’s no denying it: Vaseem Khan is an overachiever. Born and raised in Newham (one of the UK’s most deprived areas), Vaseem went on to study at the London School of Economics, one of the best universities in the world.

How to choose a sleeping bag: a buying guide

2nd June 20212nd June 2021 by Atlas & Boots

Our comprehensive guide on how to choose a sleeping bag will ensure a cosy night’s sleep whatever the temperature

Whether you’re a weekend warrior making a dash for the hills or preparing for a multi-day trek through the Himalayas, choosing the right sleeping bag can make or break a camping trip.

How to choose a down jacket

13th December 20217th April 2021 by Atlas & Boots

A beginner’s guide on how to choose a down jacket that will keep you warm and toasty in the great outdoors

A high-quality down jacket is no longer the preserve of the outdoorsy. Politicians, pop stars and even princesses have been pictured in a ‘puffa’. Of course, a down jacket truly comes into its own when used and tested in the great outdoors.

Uluru in the red centre of Australia is worth the trip

Uluru Rock Tour: that time we camped in the outback

21st September 202227th March 2021 by Atlas & Boots

A 1,500km detour and two nights’ camping with spiders, snakes and dingoes – would the Uluru Rock Tour prove worth the pain?

Uluru, that iconic behemoth, that clay-red monolith, that sun-scorched sentry… that epic pain in the backside.

Yes, it’s big and, yes, it’s special, but bloody hell it’s far away. Almost right in the middle of Australia, Uluru is a major endeavour. Nearly every other sight in the country is scattered along the coast, which means planning a trip to Uluru involves a hefty detour from the rest of your route.

Best trees in Britain: The Survivor Tree in the Southern Uplands of Scotland

Mapped: 20 best trees in Britain

27th October 202210th February 2021 by Atlas & Boots

Take a vicarious breath of fresh air by touring the best trees in Britain

Over the course of the last year, many of us have remembered just how much we depend on nature for quiet, everyday relief. Although some of us joke that when the pandemic is over, we’re “never going for a walk in the park again”, it’s undeniable that these walks have kept us sane.

As an ode to nature, we share below the 20 best trees in Britain.

Adventure travel books 2021: our top 10 picks

16th June 202227th January 2021 by Atlas & Boots

We share the best adventure travel books 2021 and explain why each should be on your reading list

From a cross-country road trip in a hostile America to boundless sand dunes in remote China, our crop of adventure travel books 2021 have one thing in common: their journeys are more than just physical.

17 megadiverse countries of the world

7th November 20225th September 2020 by Atlas & Boots

We profile the world’s megadiverse countries, from obvious contenders like Ecuador and Brazil to one or two surprise entries

It should be comforting to know that a mere 17 countries hold more than 70% of the world’s species. It should be easy to rally this small group of ‘megadiverse countries’ to protect the planet’s extraordinary biodiversity. Alas, some of these countries are also the world’s biggest consumers and polluters.

Iceland is one of our Hikes in the cleanest air in the world

10 hikes through the cleanest air in the world

27th October 202211th July 2020 by Atlas & Boots

From Canada’s wild backcountry to the jungles of Brunei, we share some fantastic hikes through the cleanest air in the world

A few months after we moved to the country, some friends from London came up to visit. Stepping from the car, one commented that ‘it feels like mountain air up here’. I laughed and said, ‘it’s not that cold.’ He shook his head and said, ‘I don’t mean the temperature. I mean the quality.’

International borders Mexico-USA on Pacific Coast

International borders: 10 remarkable frontiers

6th March 20219th May 2020 by Atlas & Boots

From mountains to libraries, we take a look at some of the most extraordinary international borders to be found across the globe

Over the last few years, we’ve seen an impressive collection of new websites, blogs and social media accounts dedicated to ‘travel porn’. They’re filled with big, sweeping images of fairytale lands and precarious precipices.

Star struck: exploring the world’s Dark Sky Reserves

15th February 20212nd May 2020 by Atlas & Boots

International Dark Sky Reserves are protected areas that offer exceptionally starry nights. We review the 16 places that hold this hallowed status

They sound like something out of Star Trek, these ‘Dark Sky Reserves’ – like they may have been conjured one evening in a lively LA writers room. Unlike the ‘Delta Quadrant’ or ‘Delphic Expanse’, however, International Dark Sky Reserves actually exist.

10 books to transport you to the world’s most visited countries

26th March 202211th April 2020 by Atlas & Boots

Sample the world’s most popular destinations without leaving your home

On a normal spring day, you can expect the Champ de Mars in Paris to be teeming with tourists. This vibrant swatch of green offers iconic views of the Eiffel Tower and hosts droves of visitors every year – possibly as many as 80 million. France is after all the most visited country in the world.

Step by step: ‘climb’ the world’s highest mountains without leaving your home

31st October 202228th March 2020 by Atlas & Boots

With climbing and mountaineering on hold for the foreseeable future, we find an alternative way to scale the most coveted peaks on the planet

Continuing my search for inside-outdoor activities, I discovered a new way to simultaneously keep myself occupied and fit during these exceptional times: climbing the mountains of the world… using our staircase.

5 best day trips from Split, Croatia

5th January 202415th February 2020 by Atlas & Boots

Croatia’s second city is a great base for exploring Dalmatia and beyond. Here’s what not to miss when planning day trips from Split

If Dubrovnik is a picture-perfect slice of old-world charm, then Split is its slightly wearier cousin in the north. Built around the ancient Diocletian’s Palace, Split is a bustling maze of houses, churches and chapels but with all the conveniences of a modern tourist town.

princess cays is one of the best beaches we've seen

17 interesting facts about The Bahamas

2nd June 20218th February 2020 by Atlas & Boots

From record-breaking free diving to mysterious swimming pigs, we share the most interesting facts about The Bahamas gathered on our short but sweet visit

We didn’t spend nearly enough time in The Bahamas, but with 700 islands to explore, it’s probably fair to say that no one does.

We spent our short time on Eleuthera island swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing – with a Bahama Mama or two thrown in for good measure.

Grunt fish duel for mates at one of the best dive sites in Aruba

5 best dive sites in Aruba according to divemasters

28th December 202229th January 2020 by Atlas & Boots

From a ship scuttled in World War II to a fiercely guarded secret spot, we share the best dive sites in Aruba as chosen by local divemasters

When it comes to choosing dive sites, we are yet to find a perfect solution. Official rating apps are often skewed towards popular spots, meaning that a mediocre dive site with lots of visitors will trump a less-visited but better site based on the weighting system.

Calm amid the chaos in Colombo Sri Lanka evening stroll

Things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka

7th April 202225th January 2020 by Atlas & Boots

We take a look at the best things to do in Colombo, the gateway city to Sri Lanka – the pearl of the Indian Ocean

Let’s be frank: Colombo isn’t what you would call a ‘world city’. Not many companies boast about offices in ‘London, New York, Colombo’. The city has never been an international player nor does it have a world-class attraction.

Driving in the Faroe Islands is a pleasure

Driving in the Faroe Islands: 10 tips to get you going

12th April 202024th July 2019 by Atlas & Boots

A one-glance guide to driving in the Faroe Islands, from navigating single-lane tunnels to dodging flocks of sheep

With spectral sub-sea tunnels, dramatic drops and 70,000 sheep to dodge, it’s no wonder that driving in the Faroe Islands puts some people off.

There are few places, however, more suited to a road trip. These wild, sea-salted isles offer stunning vistas around every bend and driving is a pleasure.

Anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years

22 interesting facts about South Africa

2nd June 20214th May 2019 by Atlas & Boots

We share the most interesting facts about South Africa gathered on our two-week trip to this fascinating country

South Africa, if nothing else, is a land of contradiction. This ‘rainbow nation’ ostensibly celebrates multiculturalism, but has a long and dark history of racial segregation. It forms part of the largest conservation area in the world yet remains a hotbed of poaching. It has a high rate of homicide, but is the only country in the world to voluntarily dismantle its nuclear weapons.

Hiking Table Mountain: 10 tips to get you to the top

13th April 202017th April 2019 by Atlas & Boots

Hiking Table Mountain isn’t a walk in the park like one might hope. We share our tips for getting to the top

Hiking Table Mountain is a rite of passage for visitors to Cape Town. The iconic behemoth defines the ‘Mother City’ in the same way Rio has a harbour, New York has a statue and San Francisco has a bridge.

This mountain is said to be one of the oldest in the world. Its formation began circa 280 million years ago and some of its rocks date back 600 million years (long before the Himalayas).