heritage & ruins
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. The post Britain’s last remaining wild places appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
High Scardus Trail in Albania: everything you need to know | Atlas & Boots
"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. The post High Scardus Trail in Albania: everything you need to know appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Best views in Cornwall: 12 Instagrammable spots | Atlas & Boots
It’s easy to see why Cornwall is one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations. The historic county has over 300 miles of jaw-dropping coastline boasting rugged cliffs and golden beaches, quaint fishing villages and bustling ports while inland, dramatic moors and ancient forests are waiting to be roamed. The post Best views in Cornwall: 12 Instagrammable spots appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Best things to do in Yucatán State: a 4-day itinerary | Atlas & Boots
We began our month-long trip through Central America with a brief jaunt to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It was my first visit to this part of the world and I was keen to visit to see the ancient Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá – my seventh world wonder – and dive into the region's famed aquamarine cenotes (freshwater sinkholes). The post Best things to do in Yucatán State: a 4-day itinerary appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
10 best hikes in Dartmoor National Park | Atlas & Boots
Our selection of the best hikes in Dartmoor National Park showcase the finest of England’s wildest landscape. I’ve always had a fondness for Dartmoor. I first visited as a child on a family holiday and I’ve been returning regularly ever since. Famous for its wild, open moorland and craggy granite tors (free-standing rocky outcrops that rises abruptly from their surroundings), it is one of the few genuinely wild places left in England. Tucked away in England’s southwest, with 368 wild square miles to explore, Dartmoor National Park is home to some of the finest hiking in England. With an excellent array of trails criss-crossing the wide expansive vistas there are a number of different routes available to suit all ages and abilities. The post 10 best hikes in Dartmoor National Park appeared...
Essential India: the highs and lows of our two-week tour | Atlas & Boots
India is not a holiday; it’s an experience," says our guide in what sounds like a promise but might also be a warning. India, she’s trying to say, is unpredictable – not easily tamed and packaged for the average tourist. I can sense the nervousness in our motley crew of 14 who have gathered in a Delhi hotel this mild December evening. Most of us are well-travelled, but are wary of India’s challenges – the noise, the traffic, the pollution – and have opted for a guided trip with small-group specialists G Adventures. The post Essential India: the highs and lows of our two-week tour appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Star Wars film locations: how to find the Force in Tunisia
With over 1,000km of golden sandy beaches, non-stop sunshine and the glittering Mediterranean Sea, tourists have flocked to Tunisia for decades. Beyond the beach resorts, there are superbly preserved Roman ruins, ancient towns with bustling medinas and dusty courtyards and of course, the abandoned film sets and settings of four of the six iconic Star Wars movies. The post Star Wars film locations: how to find the Force in Tunisia appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
7 best things to do in Bergen, Norway | Atlas & Boots
Seven fjords, seven hills and an old-world fishing wharf help make Bergen in Norway the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. We take a look at the best things to do in Bergen. The city may be one of the rainiest in Europe but it is also a vibrant cultural center with superb access to the western fjords. Bergen is an excellent blend of nature, culture and exciting city living and – despite the damp – we loved it. We visited Bergen for a long weekend city break, here’s what we suggest. The post 7 best things to do in Bergen, Norway appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
The oldest cities in the world | Atlas & Boots
There's a certain aesthetic attached to the oldest cities in the world: bustling souks beneath a bright blue sky, flowing garments made of whispery white cotton, stone masonry painted yellow by the sun. In reality, however, the oldest cities in the world have faced deep unrest to get to where they are today. Tragically, some are still uninhabitable. The Syrian town of Aleppo, for example, is likely the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world but rages with civil war today. Damascus too is categorically off limits. The post The oldest cities in the world appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
How to visit Jerusalem’s Old City | Atlas & Boots
Our guide on how to visit Jerusalem’s Old City covers everything you need to explore the spiritual home of three major religions Jerusalem’s Old City has been repeatedly besieged, razed and rebuilt over thousands of years and remains one of the world’s most divisive destinations. Sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and claimed as the capital of both The post How to visit Jerusalem’s Old City appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
How to visit the West Bank in Palestine | Atlas & Boots
Our guide on how to visit the West Bank in Palestine covers everything you need to explore this storied land The contentious trace of arid land that makes up the West Bank has been a flashpoint between Israel and Palestine for decades. Packed with holy sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the landlocked territory has always been of The post How to visit the West Bank in Palestine appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
How to visit Copán in Honduras: a quick guide | Atlas & Boots
At first sight, the Maya ruins of Copán in Honduras may not seem as impressive as Tikal in Guatemala or Chichén Itzá in Mexico, but they are magnificent in their own right. Copán is among the most significant Maya sites in Central America and has been called the 'Paris of the Mayan World' due to the sophistication of the artefacts found here. The post How to visit Copán in Honduras: a quick guide appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
