Latest from National Geographic
National Geographic
8 hours ago
- National Geographic
A practical guide to long-distance walking in the UK
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Long-distance rambling in Britain is part of a correspondingly long tradition. In fact, few nationalities enjoy it quite as much as the British: from the South West Coast Path at Land's End in Cornwall, to the Cape Wrath Trail in the Scottish Highlands, you'll always find a Brit in an anorak. In 1965, the Pennine Way became the first of the UK's National Trails, and now — 60 years later — there are 16 to choose from. So, before you lace up your boots and set off, here is some practical advice to help you make the most of the wonderful scenery. What's the right path for me? The good news is that Britain has long-distance paths to suit all abilities. Some of the flattest are the South Downs Way (100 miles) and the Norfolk Coast Path (84 miles) — doable for anyone of reasonable fitness. The Thames Path (185 miles) is also very easy, and has a number of mainline stations along the route, making it very possible to dip in and out of the trail. Be aware that some paths that don't reach giddy elevations can still be unexpectedly challenging — the Cotswold Way (102 miles) and the South West Coast Path (630 miles) have a great many undulations. Undoubtedly the hardest trail is the unofficial Cape Wrath Trail (230 miles), a Highland expedition involving wild camps and river crossings in the remote north of Scotland. How should I plan my trek? You will find certain paths are better set up for tourism than others: the 16 National Trails generally all have good infrastructure and are easily navigated. Be sure to book accommodation many months ahead if you're tackling popular paths like the Pennine Way or West Highland Way in the high season. On other long-distance trails that don't have the same accreditation you may need to make complicated public transport connections to reach trailheads, hunt down accommodation and navigate more extensively as, unlike National Trails or Scotland's Great Trails, not all are signposted. Of course, you don't need to walk the entire length of any long-distance walk, tackling it in chunks instead. Above all, your daily mileage will likely be determined by the accommodation and transport options en route as well as your fitness. What gear do I need? Strong walking boots and a rainproof shell are essentials year-round. It's always worth packing drinking water, emergency snacks, a torch, batteries, warm layers and a whistle to attract attention. Hiking poles can also be useful to spare your knees, particularly on descents. Even on busy trails, come prepared with a map (such as Ordnance Survey), waterproof map case, compass and the ability to use them — and always check the weather in advance. The MWIS forecast has the best reports for the UK's mountains. Always notify a friend or family member where you are headed in advance, and be sure to arrange a check-in time for your return. Do I need to carry all my own kit? On many of the more popular trails (including Hadrian's Wall, Anglesey Coastal Path and the West Highland Way) you can find operators who will shuttle your bags between hotels, B&Bs and bunkhouses; often this service is organised as part of a broader package including transport and accommodation. Are there good options for people with mobility issues? Some long-distance paths are suited to wheelchair users, in particular those that once served as railway lines. The Tarka Trail network (180 miles) is one example, travelling the North Devon coast. Derbyshire also has a number of accessible trails, such as the Tissington Trail and Monsal Trail, the latter of which swoops across the Victorian Headstone Viaduct. When is the best time to go? Long-distance walking can be done year-round in Britain, with most routes at their busiest from April to September. Be aware that winter walking in upland areas of North Wales, the Lake District and above all the Scottish Highlands may require specialist equipment such as ice axes and crampons, and the ability to use them. Swarms of midges can sometimes make Scottish walks a misery from around July to August. Find midge forecasts at Getting there and around All 16 National Trails can be accessed by rail travel at at least one point along the route. If you're hiking a point-to-point path (as opposed to a circular one), travel by public transport is preferable as you won't need to return to the start to collect your vehicle. More info To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
a day ago
- National Geographic
This hidden Italian town is perfect for a summer escape
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Imagine if the Amalfi Coast was all but unknown — that's the charm of Maratea. Bordered by Campania to the north and Calabria to the south, the municipality occupies the only portion of the Tyrrhenian coast in the whole of Basilicata. It's a near 20-mile stretch home to striking black-sand beaches, boat-fresh seafood and panoramic vistas overlooking the glittering Gulf of Policastro. But despite possessing all the hallmarks of the quintessential Italian seaside getaway, the Maratea area is yet to draw the crowds associated with its better-known coastal counterparts. It's also more accessible than ever thanks to recently launched British Airways flights from London to Salerno — located just an hour and 45 minutes by car or an hour and 15 minutes by train. Take time to explore Maratea's Centro Storico, or historic centre, and enjoy a coffee at one of the many outdoor cafes. Maratea is not one single town, but a collection of mountain and seaside hamlets dotted around an old urban core. This Centro Storico, or historic centre, is a maze of cobblestone streets, colourful medieval homes and narrow alleyways twisting toward the main square, Piazza Buraglia. Take some time to enjoy a coffee or aperitif at one of Caffe E Dolcezze Di Laprea's outdoor tables. And be sure to visit Pasticceria Panza, a bakery known for its traditional bocconotto (shortcrust pastry filled with cream and black cherry or chocolate). Shop for Lucanian (the term used to describe people or things from Basilicata) specialities at Divino Maratea, including wines making use of Basilicata's famous Aglianico grapes, as well as local spirits, including Amaro Naturale, which is made from the aromatic herbs that grow throughout Maratea. From the old town, take the winding, white-knuckle drive to the top of Monte San Biagio, where the marble-faced Cristo Redentore, an imposing Christ the Redeemer statue, stands with its arms stretched out towards the green Lucanian Apennines. Make a loop around the platform at the foot of the 69ft sculpture for incredible views of the rocky coastline and bright-blue sea below. The imposing Christ the Redeemer statue is one of the area's most recognisable attractions. Nearby, you'll find the Chiesa di San Biagio — one of 44 churches in the Maratea area, which is home to just over 5,000 people. The simple white basilica has housed the relics of San Biagio, the patron saint of Maratea, since the year 732 BCE. Up here, visitors can also wander around the crumbling ruins of the area's original settlement, known as Maratea Superiore, which also dates back to the seventh century. It was slowly abandoned during the 16th and 17th centuries as inhabitants moved further down the mountainside to establish the old town — also reachable via the myrtle-lined footpath just off the main road. A short distance away, the Port of Maratea was once a landing place for local fishermen. It now hosts luxury yachts and sailboats — and provides the departure point for boat tours. Dea Maris Boat Tour Maratea takes visitors along Maratea's dramatic coastline, which was featured in the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die. Keep an eye out for the Saracen Towers, cliffside forts built in the Middle Ages to defend the region from pirate attacks. You'll also get a good view of the two islands that hover off the coast of Maratea: Santo Janni and the even smaller La Matrella. In the waters surrounding the former, hundreds of Roman anchors and amphorae have been found on the seabed. To learn more about the area's ancient artefacts, head to Palazzo de Lieto museum, where exhibits occupy an imposing 18th-century palace originally built to house the old town's first hospital. From the water, you may also spy Maratea's famous black-sand beach, Cala Jannita, located just a 10-minute drive from the centre. To explore the fascinating caves around Cala Jannita — such as the Grotta della Sciabella — consider a kayaking tour with Fly Maratea. The port is also home to some of Maratea's best restaurants, including Lanterna Rossa. Situated in an old fisherman's house overlooking the marina, this elegant fine-dining spot sees young Lucani chef Dario Amaro serve classic dishes, such as sea urchin linguine and cuttlefish risotto, with modern flair. Toward the hamlet of Fiumicello, meanwhile, you'll find the cosy, family-run La Cambusa, which has been serving fresh local seafood since the 1950s. Hotel Santavenere's comfortable rooms and fragranced gardens offer a peaceful escape in the mountains. Nearby is Maratea's only five-star accommodation, Hotel Santavenere. Home to sprawling gardens and a secluded beach, the property was once a family villa owned by Count Stefano Rivetti — a wool industrialist from Piedmont who made a new life in Maratea, opening the hotel to the public in 1953. Every Tuesday between May and October, one of its three restaurants, Le Lanterne, hosts a buffet-style meal featuring ingredients and wines from Basilicata, performances from local singers and demonstrations from libbani artists, who weave baskets and other objects from grass blades. Visitors can try this historic local craft for themselves at a workshop with New Mediterranean Libbaneria. It would be easy to whittle away time in Maratea on a sun lounger, but the region's upped its adventure cred in recent years — particularly with the opening of a via ferrata climbing route in 2021, which stretches from the historic centre to the top of Monte San Biagio. Ivy Tour Basilicata offers guided tours and equipment rental. Alternatively, set off on a day-hike to Monte Crivo. Starting just outside the village of Brefaro (about five miles from Maratea's old town), the trail takes travellers to an altitude of 3,783ft — offering sweeping views of Basilicata's mountainous countryside and the glimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. British Airways offers direct flights from London to Salerno. From here, Maratea is easily reachable by car or train. The 34-room Hotel Santavenere, with its colourful Vietri tiles, antique furniture and sweeping sea views, is a convenient base for exploring the area. From €440 (£347), B&B. This story was created with the support of Hotel Santavenere. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
National Geographic Masthead
Nathan Lump, SVP & Editor in Chief, National Geographic Geoffrey Gagnon, VP, Executive Editor Paul Martinez, VP, Creative Director Alex Pollack, Director of Photography Sadie Quarrier, Editorial Director for Integrated Storytelling Alissa Swango, VP, Head of Digital & Video Oussama Zahr, Director of Editorial Operations Features Ben Paynter, Editorial Features Director Amy Briggs, Senior Editorial Manager, History Alexa McMahon, Senior Editorial Manager, Features & Special Projects Matt Skenazy, Senior Editorial Manager, Features Brian Kevin, Editorial Manager, Features Eve Conant, Jennifer Leman, Nick Martin, Rose Minutaglio, Senior Editors Alicia Russo, Creative Producer, Integrated Storytelling Digital Editorial Katie Baker, Digital Editorial Director Amy McKeever, Senior Digital Editorial Manager Brian Resnick, Digital Editorial Manager Stassa Edwards, Senior Digital Editor, Features Sarah Gibbens, Senior Digital Editor, Science & Environment Hannah Cheney, Kwin Mosby, Senior Digital Editors, Travel Anne Kim-Dannibale, Senior Digital Editor, Special Projects Helen Thompson, Senior Digital Editor, Science Yasmine Maggio, Nicholas St. Fleur, Starlight Williams, Digital Editors Domonique Tolliver, Digital SEO Editor Janey Adams, Director of Digital Engagement Francis Rivera, Manager, Digital Engagement Setota Hailemariam, Emily Martin, Digital Producers Jennifer Murphy, Senior Video Manager Cosima Amelang, Video Manager Rebekah Barlas, Zach Baumgartner, Halley Brown, Tiffany D'Emidio, Rubén Rodríguez Pérez, Veda Shastri, Senior Video Producers Nick Garbaty, Video Producer William O'Connor, Manager, Editorial Newsletters Photography Breann Birkenbuel, Photography Manager, Research & Operations Samantha Clark, Photography Manager, Digital & Short Form Anne Farrar, Alexa Keefe, James Wellford, Photography Managers Julie Hau, Allyson Torrisi, Senior Photo Editors Rebecca Fudala, Crystal Henry, Allison Hess, Ian Morton, Cameron Peters, Photo Editors Elena Sheveiko, Assistant Photo Specialist Claire Caple, Madison Tessler, Photo Coordinators Mark Thiessen, Manager of Photo Engineering & Studio Tom O'Brien, Senior Photo Engineer Rebecca Hale, Staff Photographer Eric Flynn, Assistant Photo Engineer Special Interest Titles Bridget E. Hamilton, Editorial Director of Special Interest Titles Cheryl Grant-Albano, Senior Editorial Manager, Special Interest Titles Kay Boatner, Allyson Shaw, Senior Editors, Kids & Family Alexandra Hartnett, Senior Production Editor, Special Interest Titles Natalie Konopinski, Senior Editor, Newsstand Special Issues Tiara Beatty, Editor, History Magazine Creative Andrea Nasca, Director of Design Linda Makarov, Hannah Tak, Managing Designers Brandon Ferrill, Senior Designer Megan McCrink, Sandi Owatverot-Nuzzo, Designers Madison Tran, Assistant Designer John Tomanio, Director of Graphics Fernando Gomez Baptista, Alberto Lucas López, Senior Artists Diana Marques, Graphics Production Manager Monica Serrano, Jason Treat, Senior Graphics Editors Lucas Petrin, Elizabeth Sisk, Associate Graphics Editors Matt Chwastyk, Senior Cartography Manager Rosemary Wardley, Digital Cartography Manager Christine Fellenz, Senior Cartography Editor Scott Zillmer, Senior Cartographic Quality Control Editor Soren Walljasper, Cartography Editor Patricia Healy, Map & Graphic Research Editor Claire Manibog, Director of Interactive Storytelling Ryan Morris, Senior Interactive Storytelling Editor Eduardo Vélez, Senior Developer, Interactive Storytelling Courtney Beesch, Projects Editor, Interactive Storytelling JoElla Carman, Visual Editor, Interactive Storytelling Ben Scott, Graphics Editor, Interactive Storytelling Michael G. Lappin, Production Manager John Chow, Imaging Manager Rebekah A. Cain, Manufacturing Manager Rahsaan J. Jackson, Wendy K. Smith, Imaging Specialists Editorial Operations Amy Kolczak, Senior Editorial Manager of Copy & International Cindy Leitner, Senior Copy Editor Caroline Braun, Emily Shenk Flory, Jennifer Vilaga, Copy Editors Sylvia Espinoza, Senior Editorial Manager of Research Michael Fry, Robin A. Palmer, Taryn L. Salinas, Heidi Schultz, Research Editors Leigh Mitnick, International Editions Editor Ariana Pettis, Production Editor Elena Giardina, Editorial Coordinator
National Geographic
2 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
The Genographic Project® Geno 2.0 Next Generation Helix Product Privacy Policy
This policy has been updated to reflect new contact information. Please note that National Geographic stopped selling Geno kits on May 31, 2019 and is no longer processing results. Please see the FAQ page for more information. Effective November 21st, 2016 The Genographic Project began in 2005 and is a research project carried out by the National Geographic Society's scientific team to reveal patterns of human migration. The project is carried out in partnership with National Geographic Partners, LLC, whose activities include managing the sale of the Geno 2.0 Next Gen Helix Product and operation of the website. National Geographic Partners, LLC is a joint venture of the National Geographic Society and 21st Century Fox. Throughout this document, the terms 'National Geographic,' 'we' or 'our' or 'us' refer to National Geographic Society and National Geographic Partners, LLC collectively. 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National Geographic
2 days ago
- General
- National Geographic
What do you do with thousands of dead Everglades pythons? Wear them.
Most Burmese python hunters dispose of their snakes after euthanizing them, but South Florida designer Elle Barbeito upcycles hers into accessories to help spread awareness about an ecological epidemic eating away at the Everglades. Photographs by Danielle Levitt Just after midnight, Elle Barbeito drove her Dodge pickup deep into the shadows of the Florida Everglades. After hours navigating narrow marsh roads, past towering bald cypresses and raucous shoots of bromeliads, she suddenly pulled onto the shoulder and aimed a flashlight at a writhing patch of prehistoric-looking ferns. 'Python!' Barbeito shouted, pointing to a metallic sheen of scales glistening like silken chain mail in the moonlight. The next part would require her gun. No one can say for certain how Burmese pythons arrived in the Everglades in the first place or how many there are today, though conservative estimates put their population in the tens of thousands. What we do know is that the voracious snakes are destroying one of the country's most important ecosystems by reproducing rapidly and feasting on just about anything they can fit their jaws around, from endangered wood rats to threatened wood storks. The snakes have few regional predators except alligators, so the only way to stop them is by culling them. Over the past 25 years, more than 23,500 pythons have been removed from southern Florida's wetlands through organized annual hunts, eradication agents hired by the state, and volunteers like Barbeito who help capture and kill them. While most snake hunters dump them or leave the carcasses to rot, Barbeito does things differently. After euthanizing the python, she carefully loaded its serpentine body into the back of her truck and took it home. Snake hunters like Barbeito slowly drive around the Everglades after dark, when nocturnal pythons are more active, sweeping roadside marshlands in the hope of spotting one. She often tags along with her dad, Mark Yon, who captures and euthanizes snakes as part of Florida's python elimination program. The 29-year-old, who comes from the world of New York fashion, hunts these enormous creatures and then repurposes their remains, transforming each one into a highly sought-after python-skin accessory. 'I get to have this connection with my material that most artists don't,' Barbeito says. She's developed a cult following for her limited-edition line of carefully sourced products, including bags and belts, which appeal to clients who want to wear reptile skin without some of the ethical complications. For years animal welfare advocates have encouraged shoppers to steer clear of animal-based leathers, prompting fashion companies to explore synthetic or vegan alternatives derived from things like mushrooms and apples. Now an increasing number of designers are recognizing how useful the leather of Burmese python skin from the Everglades can be. As brands race to scale their ambition, Barbeito plays a unique role as someone involved in every step of the sourcing and sales process. 'Here is a beautiful material that's sustainable, and nobody was really doing anything with it,' she says. 'It became this solution to a problem.' For as long as she can remember, Barbeito wanted to make clothes. At age 18 she moved to New York City for fashion school, enrolling in classes like patternmaking and interning for big-time designers. She also helped stitch pieces for a collection shown at Paris Fashion Week, but each experience only made her more aware of the industry's environmental trade-offs, like pollution from industrial manufacturing and textile waste. 'This is what I wanted to do with my life,' she remembers thinking. 'How [can] I pursue it without becoming part of the problem?' During a trip home to Florida eight years ago, Barbeito joined her father, Mark Yon, a python-removal agent for the state, on a job in the Everglades. Recognizing how beautiful the intricate tan and brown puzzle-piece skin patterns were, she was shocked to see other hunters tossing their snakes into the garbage. 'Such a waste to have to remove these invasive species and then just throw them in the trash,' she says. 'The material felt like an answer to the question I had been asking myself.' Fashion school hadn't exactly prepared her to hunt pythons. So Barbeito moved back home and studied tracking and capturing techniques alongside her father. Since releasing her first collection on Instagram in 2019, she has continued to join him on countless midnight hunts while developing a deep appreciation for their urgent conservation work. 'This isn't something he does because he loves hunting and killing snakes,' she says. 'He just loves the Everglades.' If you have to destroy something harming the land, she reasons, why not find a way to recycle it and create something useful? 'It's a way to honor them,' she explains. 'And I see that as a privilege.' (Can CSI tactics stop a $23 billion poaching industry?) Barbeito repeats that mantra to herself in the backyard of her family's house in Cutler Bay, a half-hour drive south of Miami, where the 'second life' of these animals begins. There she soaks the hides in six-gallon glass jars of water, glycerin, and alcohol for two weeks to preserve them, before stretching them out on plywood boards to dry and tan. She then hand-sews each accessory from her own customized patterns. Barbeito removes the skin from this bulbous python using a razor blade, a tedious process done in the backyard of her dad's house outside of Miami. She preserves the hide in a mixture of glycerin and alcohol before drying it out on a wood plank for two weeks. The resulting leather is a delicate material that requires hand-stitching and occasional binding for added durability. Prices range from $425 for cowboy boot straps to upwards of $1,200 for mini-handbags, and items often sell out within 24 hours of being listed on social media. While Barbeito will schedule more hunts for custom orders, she isn't interested in creating a backlog. 'I'm not Amazon Prime,' she says. 'There's a reason why I don't have an inventory of stuff. I try hard to not be wasteful and [to be] as intentional as possible with every single thing I'm making.' Requests now come in from all over the country, and for customers in places like New York or Los Angeles, Barbeito says her designs sometimes double as conversation starters about Everglades wildlife conservation. 'When I first started, I just saw it as this material I was able to utilize,' she says. 'But it's also a form of being able to educate people.' A recent small-batch release was inspired by a visit to Florida's largest working cattle ranch, also located in the Everglades, and includes python spur straps and a headstall for horses. (The untold story of Florida's largest ever python) As more people seek her out, she is weighing how to scale up production and whether to collaborate with celebrities. 'I would love to see Doechii in my pieces,' she muses about the stylish singer. For a lot of fashion designers, that kind of high-profile exposure is carefully orchestrated and primarily about building brand awareness. In Barbeito's case, she argues the ecological impact is poised to 'blend the lines of what fashion and art can be.' "The python accessories coming out of Barbeito's showroom, from belts to bustiers, are part of a larger shift in fashion toward more regenerative materials." Barbeito isn't the only one who has noticed how sourcing python skin from the Everglades skirts many of the major dilemmas around using animal-based products in clothing. Since late 2020, a Miami-based start-up called Inversa has operated as a broker between independent Florida hunters—or 'invasive-removal specialists,' as Inversa CEO Aarav Chavda calls them—and high-end designers interested in using materials made of species like Burmese pythons or lionfish, a similarly damaging animal threatening native fish populations and coral reefs along Florida's coasts. While Barbeito runs a small, often bespoke operation, Inversa has a more industrial outlook. 'If we're going to tackle something as big as invasive species, we have to be thinking in terms of scale,' Chavda says. 'We have to be removing tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, eventually, millions, in order to really make a difference.' So far, there's more than enough supply to satisfy the growing demand. Inversa recently partnered with acclaimed sustainable fashion designer Gabriela Hearst on a line inspired by the snake goddess of Neolithic Europe, which included Burmese python pumps and bags. Like Barbeito, Hearst had never seen a textile that could have such an immediate impact on conservation. 'I was never a big subscriber to the mushroom leather, because I knew that it wasn't going to have the impact that this leather could,' Hearst says. 'It was exciting to work with something that is beautiful [and] also helping restore the environment.' "One of luxury designer Johanna Ortiz's recent collections included a belt made with invasive carp scales, and last year Gabriela Hearst showed a moto jacket and pumps made from the skin of Everglades pythons at Paris Fashion Week." Gabriela Hearst (shoe and jacket), Johanna Ortiz (belt) Catherine Holstein, founder and creative director of the New York–based brand Khaite, has also worked with Inversa on a collection of made-to-order python-skin handbags. In the meantime, Chavda's company has expanded to offer other materials made from environmentally devastating species: Beachwear designer Johanna Ortiz recently debuted belts made with the scales of Asian carp, a ravenous fish threatening to destroy the delicate ecosystem of the Great Lakes after being introduced to help control algae blooms in aquaculture facilities. And Chavda hints that several major fashion houses may be poised to debut lines that include Inversa's materials at upcoming fashion weeks in Paris, London, and Milan. Back in Florida, Barbeito still finds satisfaction in staying connected to every part of production, even as her mission reaches larger brands that increase awareness of the problem she initially set out to solve. 'I don't want people to look at it as only clothes,' she says. 'One of the most important things to me is making something with purpose.' (Luxury fashion brands had thousands of exotic leather goods seized.) A version of this story appears in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic magazine.
