Out & About

A walk of wonder: The enduring beauty of the Kingston Lacy beech avenue

Fiona Reynolds takes a stroll around ancient Badbury Rings leads to Kingston Lacy, where an 188-year-old avenue of trees stands proud

King Charles Spaniels: 'They’re like little people in fur coats'

Once a favourite of the nobility, the distinguished King Charles spaniel is a loving and loyal little lap dog that can also hold its own outdoors, says Katy Birchall.

How to stop your dog barking constantly, by leading trainer Ben Randall

A dog who can't stop barking can drive you, your friends and your neighbours crazy. Luckily our resident canine agony uncle, Ben Randall, has several tips for encouraging any noisy four-legged chatterboxes to zip it.

Britain's best folk festivals, from the weird and wonderful to the downright dangerous

Burning barrels, hare-pie scrambles, bottle kicking and horn dances: no one does eccentric quite like the English. Harry Pearson explores our weird, wonderful and sometimes distinctly dangerous folk festivals.

Norfolk terriers: ‘Stubborn little bearers of total joy’

How to train your dog not to wake you up even if you've nowhere to close them off at night

Training a dog into a night-time routine is a lot easier if you have a space for them to call their own — but what happens if you don't? Ben Randall explains more.

The penny-farthing rider who made a 400-mile trek across war-torn Ukraine

Is it still possible to use a penny-farthing today? The answer is an emphatic yes, at least if you're former Special Forces officer and adventurer Neil Laughton. He rode his Victorian high wheeler for 400 miles across war-torn Ukraine, doing everything from making pizza for local children to raising money for charity. Here he tells his tale.

How to deal with a dog who's always looking for food, by leading trainer Ben Randall

Got a dog who is always hungry, just can't get enough of food, and doesn't have any qualms about playing up to get it? Ben Randall knows how to stop any gluttonous behaviour in its tracks.

Are these the seven best independent bookshops in Britain? A writer makes her case

Indices to Country Life articles

The Country Life Index of articles is all articles published by Country Life, since 1897, in one place.

How to stop your new puppy barking at the door by top trainer Ben Randall

Trying to prevent or discourage a fully grown dog from barking manically at the door every time the postman calls is one thing, but what about if you have a lovely, new young pup that you want to stop getting into this frenzied and annoying habit? As usual, Ben Randall knows exactly what to do.

Jonathan Self: The simple key to a life full of joy and happiness and free of care

An encounter with a 21st century goatherd makes Jonathan Self wonder if things might one day again be simpler.

What to do if your dogs wind each other up and cause trouble, by expert trainer Ben Randall

Having a pair of dogs can be great fun — but it can also cause problems if they prompt bad behaviour in each other. Ben Randall explains how to handle this situation.

How to train a dog who isn't interested in food, by expert trainer Ben Randall

The prospect of a hearty meal is enough to motivate almost any dog — but there are some who appear to resist. Ben Randall takes a look at why.

How to win at conkers

Few games rival conkers for sheer excitement. Simon Lester ponders the merits of round-topped nuts versus flat-sided cheesers and exposes the nefarious tricks some use to win at all costs.

What price culture? £380 to see Taylor Swift — or £12 for a night at the Royal Opera

Country Life's cultural crusader Athena takes a look at the thorny issue of live music ticket prices  — and how the habits of concert-goers today show that the struggles of classical music and opera to find an audience run far deeper than mere cost.

'Owning a boat is like standing in a cold shower, ripping up tenners — but it's everything I dreamed it would be'

Joe Gibbs ignored the warnings and bought himself a boat. One year one, are the joys greater than the regrets?

How to look after a dog who's scared of you, by expert trainer Ben Randall

Looking after other people’s dogs can be a lovely thing to do — but what happens when the dog is unaccountably terrified of you? Ben Randall explains.

Jonathan Self: The lost art of hitch-hiking

A first encounter in decades with somebody hitching a ride prompts our columnist to look back on the days when hitch-hiking was entirely normal — and an incomparable way to get from A to Wherever.

How to stop your dog pulling on the lead, by A-list trainer Ben Randall

Top trainer Ben Randall talks through one of the most common problems dog owners face: a pooch who pulls on the lead as if they're trying to haul a locomotive.