Peter Watson

Peter Watson is a writer, photographer and adventurer. He has been to 100 countries and climbed the highest mountains in Africa, Europe, South America and North America – four of the Seven Summits. peterjohnwatson.com
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.

phone charging off a power bank in front of a tent

The best power banks for camping and hiking

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A curated list of the best power banks for camping, from small devices for day hikes to multi-plug charging stations for large groups

Let’s face it: even if you’re a hardcore survivalist, a compass and map simply don’t cut it anymore. Whether it’s tracking your route with a hiking app, triangulating your position using a GPS device or reading by headtorch while waiting out a downpour, adventurers these days rarely leave home without at least one electronic device.

15 best hiking apps to download in 2025

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We share the best hiking apps to download this year, from navigation and route planning to first aid and stargazing

Occasionally, when Kia and I are driving somewhere remote – the Kalahari in Namibia, say, or the Australian Outback – she will remark on the fact that travellers used to do this with only paper maps. Unlike me, Kia grew up in inner city London and had little opportunity to venture into the outdoors. As such, she never learnt how to use a compass and map or how to build a campfire, or any number of the skills a frequent hiker should have.

How much does it cost to climb the seven summits?

How much does it cost to climb the seven summits? (Updated for 2025)

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Our resident mountaineer and would-be seven summiteer crunches the numbers on how much it will cost to climb the seven summits

How much does it cost to climb the seven summits? About $210,000 give or take $10k.

Climbers could significantly reduce costs by foregoing luxuries, cutting corners and taking (even more) risks to get that figure below $100,000, but I do not recommend this and certainly won’t be taking such unnecessary risks.

a man pours coffee into an enamel mug held by a woman

The best coffee makers for camping

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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.

A statue outside the forbidden city in Beijing, China

28 interesting facts about China

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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.

Caribou on a slope in front of Denali

10,000 years a mountain: why Denali should keep its name

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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’.

A brown bear with soft focus green background

Atlas & Boots’ top Instagram posts of 2024

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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. 

The summit of Everest with a dark blue sky

In defence of climbing Everest

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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.

never break a zipper again as a man zips his red down jacket closed

How to never break a zipper again

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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.

The iconic Matterhorn is one of the most beautiful mountains in the world

Mountaineering calendar: when to climb the world’s great peaks

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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).

a hand placing hiking gear in a washing machine

How to look after your hiking gear: 12 kit checks

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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. 

Britain's last remaining wild places featured img

Britain’s last remaining wild places

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From desolate moorlands to windswept Atlantic islands, we take a look at Britain’s last remaining wild places

In Britain, wilderness has largely been abolished. The abolition began millennia ago. Between 7,000 and 5,000 years ago, around 75% of the UK was covered in forest. Then large-scale forest clearance started around 3100 BC when Neolithic agriculture was introduced. Now, the UK has around 13% forest cover, making it one of Europe’s least densely forested countries.

A lone house surrounded by rolling hills on the High Scardus Trail

High Scardus Trail in Albania: everything you need to know

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The High Scardus Trail in Albania is a wild alternative to the well-trodden Peaks of the Balkans Trail. Here’s all you need to know

“Welcome to Hotel Radomirë Korab,” Agron greets me with an enormous smile as I arrive at my lodgings. It’s the end of my second day on the High Scardus Trail and I am in dire need of a drink. “Can I get you a beer?” he adds, clearly reading my mind.

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.

expedition backpack

Aconcagua gear list: all you need for summit success

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Our complete Aconcagua gear list includes everything you’ll need to summit the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres

Aconcagua in Argentina, at 6,961m (22,837ft), is South America’s highest mountain and one of the seven summits (the seven peaks that make up the highest point on every continent). 

I recently returned from climbing Aconcagua with Acomara Aconcagua Expeditions. A good trekking company will issue you with a detailed kit list, but I always like to see what other people have used.

Hikers traverse a cliff hiking trail in Malaga

5 thrilling hiking trails in Málaga, Spain

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From dizzying walkways to epic ascents, these hiking trails in Málaga are a superb way to tread beyond the touristy coastal resorts

For many, Málaga is simply a gateway to the crowded seaside resorts of the Costa del Sol. Relatively few will venture far from the beach. If they do, chances are they’ll head into the city which, after decades of being ignored by the masses, has undergone something of a reinvention. 

Hikers on Matanuska Glacier – one of the best day trips from Anchorage

11 best day trips from Anchorage, Alaska

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From kayaking alongside colossal glaciers to a bizarre Cold War-era town, these are the best day trips from Anchorage

The word ‘epic’ does not do Alaska justice. The state is home to North America’s largest mammals, national parks the size of countries and glaciers bigger than some US states. It is the least densely populated state in the US and is home to 17 of North America’s highest mountains, 100 volcanoes, 3,000 rivers and over three million lakes.

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