The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Finland is the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. We take a look at the latest World Happiness Report
Happiness is a nebulous thing; hard to grasp and harder to hold onto. Scientists, economists and philosophers have defined it through the ages as a combination of different things, among them health, wealth, companionship and security.
From avoiding stomach bugs to securing your valuables, these essentials for safe travel will stop you running into trouble
Having five sisters as I do is lovely. On your travels, you get lots of messages checking on your whereabouts and well-being. And then you get some more messages. And then you get some more.
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.
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.
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 guide to hiking Ella Rock by yourself, including detailed directions, a downloadable route map, a video and the latest essential tips
Ella in Sri Lanka is beautiful, they said. ‘The closest thing to an English country village’ and the perfect place to slow down, we’d read.
From Alaska to Florida and further beyond, we share the US national parks you can visit for free
Some countries are better than others when it comes to access to the outdoors. Iceland, New Zealand and Finland have some of the cleanest air in the world while Chile, Norway and Nepal offer excellent hiking. Britain, meanwhile, is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
If your boots start to rub or slip, here are three alternative ways to lace hiking boots to relieve discomfort
Back in 2014, during our first major trip, we set out on a day hike up Mount Matavanu Crater in Samoa. Kia was in a new pair of hiking boots which she hadn’t had time to properly break in. Predictably, during the descent, her boots began to rub and cause her pain.
Much of what we know about hiking in lightning is myth. Here, we share the actual methods that will keep you safe in a storm
There are certain safety rules that we all learn in childhood. Never talk to strangers. Get low in a fire. Stand under a tree in lightning. In adulthood, few of us think to question these rules. In most cases, that’s perfectly fine, but when it comes to hiking in lightning, we’re long overdue for a rethink.
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.
In 2025, Singapore tops the list of the world’s most powerful passports. We take a look at the other winners, losers and non-movers
I was feeling cocky as I queued up for my Chinese visa. I had checked and rechecked the requirements and had all my documents to hand: my passport, a photocopy of my passport, a spare photo just in case, the form that had taken me an hour to fill in online, my flight details, and my tour and hotel confirmation. I had also signed and dated the form – in both places – unlike all the (clearly inferior!) applicants in front of me.
We take a look at the US national parks that require a reservation in 2025 along with when and how to secure your visit
Yellowstone National Park is a slice of quintessential America. A place where wild animals – bison, bears, elk and wolves – roam among wilder beauty and where hot springs and geysers evoke a primeval era. In some ways, Yellowstone is a slice of lost America; a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and spaghetti junctions that populate US cities.
We profile some usual suspects plus one or two surprises in the top 12 most visited countries in the world
Have you dreamed of a romantic kiss atop the Eiffel Tower? Perhaps you’ve thrown a wish into the Trevi Fountain or stopped and stared at the Sistine Chapel. If so, you’re certainly not alone.
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.
