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A complete travel photography gear guide
We’re often asked about the gear we take on our travels. In response, we have written a detailed and complete travel photography gear guide I have been involved in film or photography throughout the course of my career: initially as a camera operator, video editor and AV engineer, later as a teacher in digital media, and now as a travel writer. I’ve published photography in a range of magazines, newspapers, books and websites including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet, The Telegraph and The Independent among others. I even provided the photography for a recipe book once. I’ve also sold stock images for several years on Shutterstock and iStock by Getty Images, and my photography plays a prominent role throughout our travel blog and social channels, particularly Instagram. ...
When nature calls: why going to the toilet in the outdoors may be about to change
Burying your waste may no longer be the most sustainable way to go to the toilet in the outdoors, according to new research The number of people using public lands in the US has been steadily increasing for years. The pandemic accelerated the trend as lockdown-weary Americans flocked to outdoor spaces in record numbers. The increase in visitors saw several parks and landmarks introduce reservation systems to counteract the unsustainable rise in visitor numbers. From 2019 to 2021, a study found that there was an increase of 8.1 million hikers and 7.9 million campers in the US. In 2021, the National Park System (NPS) announced that 44 US national parks had set new records for recreational visits that year. Numbers across the NPS are forecast to rise even further in 2022 as international...
Best mountaineering movies: 28 must-see cliffhangers
Our carefully curated list of the best mountaineering movies ever made Recently, I re-watched one of my favourite mountaineering movies: Everest. Historically, even the best mountaineering films have struggled to bridge the gap between climbing documentary and Hollywood blockbuster. However, Everest – released in 2015 and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin – managed to please both thrill-seeking moviegoers and mountaineers alike (unless you’re Jon Krakauer of course). I would rate the film right up there with the wince-inducing 127 Hours (2010) and North Face (2008), a chilling German film about a failed attempt on the Eiger. It made me want to re-watch the very best mountaineering movies, in particular, Meru (2015) and Touching the Void (2003), the latter of which also hap...
How to choose hiking boots: a beginners guide
Our simple guide on how to choose hiking boots will ensure you enjoy every step of the trail. Here’s how to pick the perfect pair Footwear is a hiker’s most critical piece of gear. Inappropriate or poorly fitted boots or shoes can spoil a day on the trail and have you gritting your teeth with every step. But with a dizzying array of choices, from lightweight trail running shoes to double-layered plastic mountaineering boots and everything in between, knowing where to start can be bewildering. how to choose hiking boots To make the decision easier, we’ve put together a beginners guide on how to choose hiking boots. Know your requirements Before you consider the following points, first give some thought to when and where you’re going to be hiking and what the conditions and terrain will be l...
Baanx approved by UK regulator to operate crypto assets
The global infrastructure provider recently announced the launch of the Crypto Life (CL) debit card in collaboration with Ledger Cryptocurrency technology provider Baanx has now joined the list of the first few entities in the UK to receive approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The firm can now legally operate as a crypto asset business as required by The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. “In order to obtain this registration, we have worked closely with the FCA following the highest possible standards, to ensure that our top tier clients’ users will have the assurance needed for the compliance of their assets,” Mark Evans, the Chief Compliance Officer at Baanx, explained. Thanks to the FCA licence, Baanx...
Our top Instagram shots of 2021
From the Throne of Zeus to the largest glacier in the Alps, we share our top Instagram shots of 2021 Unsurprisingly, travel in 2021 turned out to be more, uhm, domestic than we had planned. After the disappointments of 2020, we had high hopes for 2021. Alas, it turns out that pandemics are unpredictable. We did manage to squeeze in a couple of international trips, but they were definitely more short than long haul. As such, our top Instagram shots of 2021 reflect this. Most are shots from around the UK, with one or two from Europe, but anything from further afield was a throwback post to a time when we took travel for granted. We’ve got big plans for 2022, but – just like last year – they will all depend on circumstances that are largely beyond our control. So, for now, I’ll bid you all a ...
20 most beautiful mountains in the US
The most beautiful mountains in the US are a contentious subject, for this is a land that brims with beauty. We scoured the states and whittled them down to a list of 20 Legendary climber Reinhold Messner said that there are three rules of mountaineering: “It’s always further than it looks. It’s always taller than it looks. And it’s always harder than it looks.” Messner was the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousander mountains and has undoubtedly seen the ugly side of the world’s most beautiful mountains. Thankfully, those of us less alpine inclined can observe these peaks from afar. Most of us might content ourselves with the most beautiful mountains in the US instead. To help get you started, we’ve whittled our favourites to a list of 20. Most beautiful mountains in t...
Ranked: best countries for adventure travel
The best countries for adventure travel have been ranked by a panel of experts. We review the results below The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has named Iceland the best country for adventure travel for the third year in a row. The small Nordic island nation, famed for its geysers, volcanoes, geothermal lagoons and cinematic landscapes, remains an attractive destination for adventure seekers, particularly those concerned with sustainability. Established in 1990, the ATTA is the largest global network of adventure travel leaders. With the help of its 30,000-strong community of people involved in adventure tourism, the ATTA produces the Adventure Tourism Development Index (ATDI), a global ranking of adventure travel around the globe. Oliver Foerstner/Shutterstock Tourists completi...
Which countries produce the most plastic waste?
The US and UK produce the most plastic waste per person than any other major country, according to new research Plastic waste is polluting the entire planet. It has been found in the Mariana Trench (the deepest point in the ocean), falling from the sky in Arctic snow, embedded in Antarctic ice and secreted in the Alpine soils of Switzerland. The UN Environment Programme has said that if current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050. It is widely recognised that plastic harms wildlife, but concern is also growing about the volume of microplastics humans consume in their food and water. One study found that the average person eats at least 50,000 particles of microplastic a year. Plastic fibres have even been found in 83% of tap water around the world. Pari...
Winter hiking: 6 tips to get you started
Winter hiking without experience is taxing at best and lethal at worst. We share some tips to help you prepare properly Winter hiking is a polarising sport: some love it, others hate it. Too often, people have bad experiences not because they’re inherently resistant to cold, but because they’re under-prepared. They make not just basic mistakes like packing the wrong gear but also arrive mentally unprepared. It’s important to understand that winter hiking can be unnervingly different to its summertime equivalent: simple movement suddenly becomes difficult and skills you thought you’d mastered prove unreliable. Using your body efficiently needs more practice than you might suspect. Winter navigation can also be wildly different. When you can see nothing but the ground in front of you, i...
Drone etiquette: 10 dos and don’ts
Our guide to drone etiquette will help you secure your shot without endangering yourself or others Drone operators get a bad rep, arguably with good reason. Pre-pandemic, near-misses with planes more than tripled in two years while irresponsible operators risked lives, closed airports and stressed wildlife – all in pursuit of a video clip. We certainly understand the appeal. We’ve marvelled at sweeping shots of dazzling landscapes, but we’ve also seen the less palatable side of this lofty pursuit. We’ve seen operators get too close to people and animals and act inconsiderately in quiet places. Our guide to drone etiquette will help you secure your shot without endangering yourself or others. 1. Know your drone When you first receive your drone, it can be tempting to unbox it and head...
Virgin peaks: the world’s unclimbed mountains
The world’s unclimbed mountains are the last great challenges in mountaineering. We look at the most coveted of these unconquered summits In early 2021, Nimsdai Purja and his team of Nepali climbers became the first to reach the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, in winter. K2 was the final 8,000m peak awaiting a winter ascent after Nanga Parbat – Pakistan’s “Killer Mountain” – was scaled in 2016. Some have claimed that overcoming K2 in winter was one of the last great challenges in mountaineering. Although this overlooks the world’s unclimbed mountains – peaks that have yet to be overcome at all, at any time of the year. As such, we look at the most coveted of these unconquered summits. Nimdai Purja Nimdai Purja climbed K2 in winter for the first time Where are the unclimb...
