Sporting & Country Pursuits

The idyllic Costwolds home of the thriller writer Felix Francis is up for sale

The dreamily beautiful Manor House in Hornton has been home to Felix Francis, the best-selling writer and son of Dick Francis, for 16 years, but now they are moving on.

Hadrian's Wall in an English summer: Wind, rain, and unforgettable beauty

Solitary daily pacing of Hadrian’s Wall, in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, brings back family memories for Fiona Reynolds.

In the swim: Britain's best private swimming pools

As Britain goes through a blazing hot tail-end of summer, Christopher Woodward dives into the history of the swimming pool and relishes some lengths in the best private pools in the country. Photographs by Simon Buck and Millie Pilkington.

The Ship Inn Cricket Club: The tale of the world's only cricket club to play its matches on the beach

A game of beach cricket with captains and kings leaves Steve King with hazy memories, but the all-encompassing glow of a perfect game (despite losing by three wickets).

Jason Goodwin: The day our little corner of England changed forever

An archaeological discovery near Jason Goodwin's idyllic spot has sparked excitement far and wide — but not a little dismay nearer to home.

A walk from Adder’s Copse to Gallows Down, Berkshire: 'I've rarely done a circular walk as perfect as this one'

Fiona Reynolds takes a stroll on a quiet part of the North Wessex Downs that is redolent with history and wildlife.

The remarkable tale of the bathing machine

When the British fell in love with the seaside, they invented a mobile building to convey them to the water. Kathryn Ferry tells the remarkable tale of the bathing machine.

Britain's elite fossil hunters on their finds of a lifetime

From a kamikaze ichthyosaur to a gigantic shell with sinister tentacles, Britain teems with fascinating fossils. Simon de Bruxelles meets the collectors following in Mary Anning’s footsteps. Photos by Millie Pilkington for Country Life.

The Utterly Inessential Wimbledon Shopping List

We've rounded up all the utterly inessential products — posh tennis gear, in other words — that you absolutely do not need to enjoy Wimbledon, but would probably fancy having anyway.

Patrick Galbraith: 'And so I found myself totally naked, walking 12 miles with a bunch of IT consultants, retired teachers and a Frenchman in a little red hat'

Can you truly understand the countryside if you've not walked through it in the nude? Well, probably, but our columnist wasn't taking any chances as he strips off to find out for certain.

How a British team of mountaineers conquered Everest, the 'goddess of the sky'

Seventy years ago, on the eve of the Queen’s coronation, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Everest. Octavia Pollock considers the legacy of their achievement and what it meant for British mountaineering.

The 15-mile route through Sheffield that's as invigorating as any walk in the country

The A to Z of the Cheltenham Festival, from Arkle to Zarkander

Here is all you need to know about the 2023 Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, one of the greatest sporting occasions on the calendar.

How to build the perfect snowman

If we get lucky and the weather delivers a big fall of snow, Katy Birchall has the best recipe for building a splendid snowman that will be the envy of your village.

"Hippocrates's advice — 'if you're in a bad mood, go for a walk' — would have me constantly perambulating"

Jonathan Self on the End of the World, ancient battlegrounds and friendly pigs.

The breathtaking Welsh quarries which are 'a treasure trove of mystery, human endeavour and struggle'

Silenced Welsh quarries evoke a vanishing world for Fiona Reynolds, as she goes walking through Snowdonia.

The Queen's Corgis: All about Her Majesty's most loyal subjects

As we mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we take a look at her corgis, the dogs that were such a part of her life.

A walk from Glastonbury Tor to Wells Cathedral

Glastonbury Tor and Wells Cathedral have long gazed at each other across the historic Somerset Levels.

The Royal Company of Archers: The tale of the The Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland

Sir Walter Scott’s legacy lives on as The Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland, The Royal Company of Archers, celebrates its bicentenary on a joyful royal occasion. Jamie Blackett brushes off his uniform.

Country house eventing: Where houses meet horses

Some of Britain’s greatest country houses become equine sporting amphitheatres once a year. Kate Green reports on how cultures collide with spectacular results. Photographs by Mark Williamson and Christopher Doyle.