Sporting & Country Pursuits

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

50 greatest horses of all time

In praise of brilliant horses.

Cocker spaniel versus springer spaniel: What owners need to know

Which is the more popular spaniel, the springer or the cocker? Shooting Times's David Tomlinson weighs up the pros and cons for these much-loved breeds.

Curious Questions: Why do we call picture puzzles 'jigsaws'?

Jigsaws have been around since the 18th century and have gone through all sorts of iterations. Martin Fone traces their curious history.

Curious Questions: When did we first start playing cards?

Played with friends, family or in solitude, there are few things as familiar as a pack of cards. Yasha Beresiner takes a look at how we came to enjoy this form of entertainment — and how it's been spun out into everything from art to propaganda tool.

The 18th century canal tunnel that was a miracle of engineering, now reclaimed by Nature

The coronavirus put an end to Fiona Reynolds’ big walking adventures, but a local round along a Cotswold canal proved a restorative.

Rosie and Jim: On binge-watching Normal People, and discovering that 'running is pain'

This week, Rosie Paterson fails to tear herself off the sofa just as James Fisher finally stirs from his.

10 things you didn’t know about French bulldogs – including how they’re actually British

Elizabeth Whitney reveals some fun facts about the endearingly bat-eared French bulldog.