Sporting & Country Pursuits

Bealach na Bà, on the Applecross peninsula: Travelling the steepest road in Britain

Bealach na Bà is as unforgettable and beautiful as it is nerve wracking.

Fiona Reynolds: 'The day wears to a close, satisfied by a long walk and new discoveries close to home'

Fiona Reynolds recounts a pre-lockdown tale of a walk along the banks of the River Frome to where it meets the Severn.

Three magnificent properties for sale close to the finest golf courses in the world

For golfers the dream of living close to one of the world's great clubs can be realised, albeit at a price.

Best wellington boots: The finest wellies you can buy

There's nothing quite so vital to life in the countryside as a decent pair of wellies. Country Life's luxury editor Hetty Chidwick makes her pick of the best you can buy.

How golf and property are stepping up together, with money-no-object courses and private jets for prospective buyers

A stunning new golf course at Les Bordes in France and some striking new houses at the iconic Spanish settlement in Sotogrande show how times are changing in the golf and property markets.

Christmas gifts for nature and garden lovers

The High Weald AONB: Rolling hills, endless forest and steam railways puffing through a very English landscape

The High Weald AONB's rolling landscape is the archetypal image many of us have of rural England. Octavia Pollock takes a look.

Packwood House to Baddesley Clinton, a snatched last walk of this lovely, if strange summer

Fiona Reynolds visits two National Trust properties on a glorious Indian summer’s day.

The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: The smartwatch equivalent of a 110-blade penknife, time-travelling teddy bears and a sewing kit that's cross-stitch meets clock-stitch

Is it right that we fight off the ennui of 21st century life by buying things we don't really need, but want anyway? Probably not, but that's the world we're in, and Toby Keel and Victoria Marston are here to help you navigate your way through it.

Jason Goodwin: My son built a boat, and now we'll live like millionaires

Jason Goodwin experiences a high point of paternal pride thanks to a master craftsman, his son's tenacity and a loop of electrical flex.

Where I work: Ed Chamberlin, sports broadcaster

Back on the river at last: 'I start to rediscover muscles in my back I had forgotten existed'

Jamie Blackett takes a welcome break from his soggy farm in Dumfriesshire to head up to the Highlands for a first post-lockdown fishing outing.

Scottie Dogs: Everything you need to know about the wise, brave and sporting Scottish Terrier

Wise, brave and sporting, Scottie dogs were once one of Britain's most popular breeds — and they're now making a comeback. Kate Green tells more.

Four summits, 12 miles, 5,000ft of climbing — and one unforgettable day in Snowdonia

Fiona Reynolds heads to Snowdonia for a day's walking. Twelve miles, four summits and 5,000ft of ascent later, the water’s cool and the air is clear... but she's very glad her husband is there to give her a lift back to the cottage.

Dandie Dinmont terriers: The adorable dogs with the soulful eyes who are bright, sparky and can't help but make you smile

The numbers of Dandie Dinmont terriers has recovered since a worrying dip a few years ago, and an anniversary year in 2020 could see the popularity of these irresistibly friendly dogs grow further.

Crossbreed dogs: 15 of the best non-pedigree chums, from schnoodle to whoodle

The crossbreed is no longer considered an accident and dog owners are going crazy for these new versions. Emma Hughes sorts the schnoodle from the whoodle.

Rosie and Jim: The seven rules of cycling that no cyclist will ever tell you

Rosie Paterson and James Fisher share the truth about cycling, and wonder how it is that March was simultaneously 28 years and yet only two months ago.

Curious Questions: How, and why, do people eat stinging nettles?

Every summer, people from around the world gather at a pub in Devon for the World Nettle Eating Championship. But why? And how? Ian Morton takes a look, and delves into the strange history of this viciously-stinging yet ubiquitous plant.

Cirencester Park, still full of 'the amiable simplicity of unadorned nature' 200 years after its creation

Fiona Reynolds strolls through Cirencester Park and beyond into the Gloucestershire countryside.

How to enjoy a touch of Royal Ascot this week, even if you're only watching from home