My rookie era: In my 40s I attempted my first multi-day hike – and became a walking cliche

Adult beginners are charming when the stakes are low. Learning the piano at 50 is cute – but nobody ever needed to be airlifted out of a piano recital

From mountain photography to ice-climbing – try it all at this summer festival in the French Alps

Improve your mountain skills by day and party by night at the Arc’teryx Alpine Academy in Chamonix

The best barefoot shoes in the UK – tried and tested for comfort and support

They’re the divisive footwear that many swear by, but which barefoot shoes are comfy enough for running and hiking? Our writer spent three months finding out

The unlikely appeal of barefoot hiking: ‘It makes you feel quite primal’

From clay trails in Seoul to remote Australian coastlines, a small but growing number of hikers are hitting the trail unshod. But what happens when you feel the ground beneath your feet?

Scrambling, walking and swimming in splendid isolation: 75 years of the UK’s national parks

Our writer first hiked in the Lake District, Eryri and Dartmoor in the 1970s. Their beauty remains unrivalled, but they are more popular than ever. So, here’s how to avoid the crowds

‘Children see magic in the smallest adventures’: exploring Scotland with my four-year-old

On a tight budget, we stayed in a bothy, climbed a mountain, looked for Nessie and – best of all – made memories that money can’t buy

The best walking pads to turn your workday into a workout, tested

Sedentary lifestyles are bad for us, but which under-desk treadmills and walking pads are worth the cost? Our expert stepped up to find out

In the decade since my sons left home, walking has brought us together

The exodus of grown children mostly happens without fanfare. For Lisa Walker, hiking the Camino turned into both a goodbye and a glimpse at the future

The best men’s walking boots in the UK for every type of hiking adventure, tested

Whether you’re heading on a multi-day trek or need waterproof shoes for countryside walks, these are the best hiking boots for the job – tried and tested by our writer

The best women’s walking boots in the UK, tested by our expert hiker

Whether you want waterproof or leather, we put women’s walking boots to the test to find the best for every adventure