Peter Watson, Author at Atlas & Boots

Hiking the Watzmann Traverse looking towards Südspitze

Hiking the Watzmann Traverse – a Bavarian classic

28th December 202215th August 2020 by Peter Watson

Hiking the Watzmann Traverse offers a breathtaking scramble across one of Germany’s classic Alpine ridges. Here’s how to complete the Bavarian thriller

One of my oldest and best friends lives in the Netherlands and over the course of nearly 20 years of friendship we have managed to meet up fairly regularly – usually at least once a year either in the UK or the Netherlands. Over the last few years, however, as our schedules became increasingly crowded with work, family and mortgages, we’ve struggled to find the time.

Roseberry Topping is one of the most beautiful mountains in the UK

12 best hikes in the North York Moors National Park

29th November 20201st August 2020 by Peter Watson

The best hikes in the North York Moors National Park are a wonderful way to explore the region’s rich and vibrant landscapes

The North York Moors might be England’s most diverse national park. Home to striking stretches of unspoilt coast and the largest area of heather moorland in England and Wales, the North York Moors is one of the country’s foremost hiking destinations.

Highlander Adventure: my first post-lockdown trip

21st November 202022nd July 2020 by Peter Watson

As restrictions begin to ease around the world, Peter prepares to head out on his first post-lockdown trip: the Highlander Adventure

After 100 days in lockdown, I am itching to return to the trail. As someone who is most content outdoors, I have found the restrictions particularly claustrophobic, despite devising some rather creative ways to pass the time.

climbing quotes lead image featuring a mountain and lake

Greatest climbing quotes ever uttered

12th February 202127th June 2020 by Peter Watson

From climbing legends to authors with a penchant for snowy summits, we take a look at the greatest climbing quotes ever uttered

Whether it’s the eight-thousanders of the Himalayas, the big wall climbs of California or the more modest highlands of Scotland, mountains have inspired men and women to put pen to paper and wax lyrical for centuries past.

The biggest buildings in the world

18th February 20259th May 2020 by Peter Watson

We take a look at the biggest buildings in the world, from airplane factories to royal palaces

Modern architecture has made relentless and remarkable progress over the past century, and with the construction of the world’s tallest and first 1km-high building beginning this week in Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t look to be slowing any time soon.

Map projections of the world: which one is the best?

27th April 202020th April 2020 by Peter Watson

We explore the most common map projections of the world, how they work and which one is the best

Kia is usually described as the geek in our relationship. She’s the one with a computer science degree, she’s the one with the editor’s eye and she’s the Star Trek fan who describes herself as Seven of Nine… which is cool apparently? A friend of hers recently described her as “the one who puts the apostrophe in rock ‘n’ roll”.

ways nature is flourishing under lockdown fox

7 ways nature is flourishing under lockdown

16th April 202015th April 2020 by Peter Watson

The current pandemic has had a devastating effect worldwide but there are some glimmers of light

Human impact on wildlife is almost certainly to blame for the spread of Covid-19, say scientists. The virus is thought to have originated in bats with other wild animals such as pangolins also likely playing a role in its transmission to people.

Climbing the seven summits: a route to the top

22nd July 20231st April 2020 by Peter Watson

Climbing the seven summits – the highest mountain on every continent – is an improbable dream of mine… but that’s the beauty of dreams

I have always loved trekking and climbing. I usually spend several weeks of any given year on the grades of the Scottish Highlands or Welsh Snowdonia or ideally further afield such as the Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland or the K2 base camp trek in Pakistan.

Cerro Torre – A Snowball’s Chance in Hell

100 outdoor films to watch online for free

13th January 202325th March 2020 by Peter Watson

A list of 100 outdoor films to watch online for free from the archives of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the world’s premier adventure film festival

We’re living through extraordinary times and, like most, we’re currently not hiking or travelling anywhere. As such, we’re on the hunt for as much inside-outdoor entertainment as we can find.

interesting facts about Aconcagua lead image

24 interesting facts about Aconcagua

13th July 202418th March 2020 by Peter Watson

We share the most interesting facts about Aconcagua – from the world’s highest art gallery to mysterious mummified remains

I recently climbed Aconcagua in Argentina, the third step of my journey to climb the seven summits.

Cerro Aconcagua may not be one of the most beautiful mountains in the world and the ascent is certainly short on charm, but this enormous lump of Andean rock and ice is one of the most coveted mountains on the planet.

25 sailing movies for when you’re knot shore what to watch

3rd June 202114th March 2020 by Peter Watson

We share some of our favourite best sailing movies, from Hollywood blockbusters and indie films to illuminating documentaries

I still hang on to the rather fanciful notion of sailing in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Until I pluck up the courage (and the funds), I’ve been busying myself with more realistic nautical escapades.

El Chaltén is one of the best hiking destinations in Argentina

Argentina’s best hiking destinations

24th May 202011th March 2020 by Peter Watson

We explore Argentina’s best hiking destinations, from the highest snowbound peak in South America to the final scrape of civilisation at the end of the world

Argentina is one of the world’s best countries for hiking thanks to the 5,000km-long Andes that curve like a spine along the nation’s back. This vast landscape boasts the Patagonian steppe, hulking glaciers and the world’s highest trekking peak.

How to climb Aconcagua: all your questions answered

28th December 20224th March 2020 by Peter Watson

Our Q&A-style tips on how to climb Aconcagua, assembled from the many questions asked by our followers

I didn’t announce I was climbing Aconcagua on social media until the day I left for Argentina. It was part superstition (I didn’t want to jinx the climb), but more importantly, I knew that I was about to embark on the hardest and highest climb of my life.

Peter on the summit of Aconcagua in an orange down jacket

Climbing Aconcagua: my third seven summit

3rd November 202419th February 2020 by Peter Watson

Climbing Aconcagua was the culmination of a 10-year journey and the next step towards realising my ultimate dream: climbing the seven summits

At around 2pm local time on 19th January 2020, I stretched out my hand and tapped the top of the simple aluminium crucifix that marks the summit of Aconcagua at 6,961m (22,837ft).

Looking at the winter climbs taking place at the time in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges of Asia, and given that our summit time corresponded to around 11pm in Nepal and Pakistan, it is safe to assume that for a few brief moments on that Sunday afternoon, I was the highest person stood on Earth.

Things to do in Bonaire: our top 12 picks

28th December 20225th February 2020 by Peter Watson

We explore the best things to do in Bonaire, from pink lakes to secluded beaches and first-rate diving and snorkelling

Bonaire, a Dutch municipality in the Leeward Antilles of the Caribbean Sea, is known for its rich marine life, exceptional dive sites and desert landscape interior.

Bonaire is surrounded by a fine coral reef that lies meters from the shoreline, making it a snorkeller’s dream. The reef is a designated national marine park and is easily accessed via numerous entry points clearly marked on shore.

Calm amid the chaos in Colombo Sri Lanka meditation

How to find calm amid the chaos in Colombo, Sri Lanka

7th April 20221st February 2020 by Peter Watson

Colombo isn’t as frenetic as other Asian capitals, but it’s still a busy working city. Here are five ways to find calm amid the chaos at any time of day

Home to nearly six million people, Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. There is no metro or tram system so there’s no escape from the rumbling buses, tooting tuk-tuks and tinted cars that clog the wide boulevards.

Scuba diving movies: 23 of the best underwater flicks

28th November 202125th January 2020 by Peter Watson

We list the best scuba diving movies of all time, from thrilling underwater epics to Hollywood blockbusters featuring incredible subaquatic scenes

With the dark depths of the ocean as a backdrop, the threat of a turbulent sea and an ever-dwindling air supply, scuba diving should be ripe for spectacularly tense movie plots.

Diving the Sonesta plane wrecks in Aruba

28th December 202222nd January 2020 by Peter Watson

Diving the Sonesta plane wrecks in Aruba was eerie and surreal, but ultimately thrilling

I’m hopeless at fish identification. My memory is awful and I don’t like diving with a fish ID slate – it just becomes a piece of clutter to add to the essentials (pressure gauge, regulators, dive computer and my camera). As such, unless it’s a lionfish, grouper, clownfish, whale, dolphin or shark, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to identify it.

Things to do in Oman: our top 12 picks

9th April 20201st January 2020 by Peter Watson

We explore the best things to do in Oman, from modern Islamic architecture to the jagged peaks of its wild interior

Oman is an intriguing blend of the modern world and old Arabia. Unlike some of its neighbours, overdevelopment is yet to saturate the country. Lying on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is the oldest independent state in the Arab world, sharing borders with the UAE, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Cappadocia was one of our top-instagram-shots-2019

Our top Instagram shots of 2019

16th January 202328th December 2019 by Peter Watson

Our final blog post of the decade takes a look at our top Instagram shots of 2019

Kia has already ruminated on how 2019 has been a strange one for us. She’s spent so much time focused on her book that I have travelled without her to Nepal, Greenland and Pakistan. These were all multi-week trips meaning we spent more time apart in 2019 than ever before.