Dixe Wills
Dixe Wills is the author of a shelf-wearying host of books about Britain including The Z-Z of Great Britain, Tiny Islands and Tiny Churches. His volumes on the natural world include At Night, The Armchair Naturalist and The Wisdom of Nature. You’ll find more of his words in The Guardian’s Travel section where he muses on the joys of eco-friendly, outdoorsy, non-flying holidays. On account of his long-standing allergy to tuxedos, he's careful to ensure his output isn’t quite good enough to be nominated for awards, so do manage your expectations accordingly.
Recent articles by Dixe Wills
Huge Napoleonic prisoner of war camp buried under Cambridgeshire field to open to public
Norman Cross Depot housed around 7,000 French prisoners during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars – soon the public will be able visit the little-known historic site following its successful acquisition for the nation.
From Britain’s first smart home to the dark history of the ‘Drowning Pond’: These are the best country parks and estates in the UK
The UK's best country parks, great estates and green spaces for gatherings with friends and family
How an English castle, a hymn-writing diplomat and a Chinese encounter gave birth to Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle
‘Deliberately flooded’ village emerges from reservoir after drought reveals its eerie outlines – including dry stone walls and roads
The driest spring in England for over a century has revealed a 'drowned' Cumbrian village
This Roman massacre is a myth, say scientists. Here's what actually happened
New research has debunked a legendary Roman massacre at Maiden Castle in Dorset. So, who were the true killers?
Roman gladiator skeleton dug up in York reveals first evidence of human vs big cat combat
Three-dimensional scans show the tooth-marks of a "large cat such as a lion" on the skeleton.
Once home to Nazi prisoners: The grim reality of life inside one of Britain's former WW2 prisoner of war camps.
During the Second World War, British camps across the country housed as many as 400,000 captured foreign soldiers. Dixe Wills visits Eden Camp in North Yorkshire, a restored camp that recreates the wartime experience of enemy prisoners
11 toughest long-distance walking trails in the UK: Challenge yourself with one of these bucket-list routes
Planning a major hike this year? We reveal the UK’s toughest long-distance paths to explore.
How the countryside helped ease the tormented minds of 6 of our most tragic poets – providing them with peace and solace
From the windswept moors to the rolling hills, Britain's landscapes have long inspired poets – but for some, they were more than just a muse
The most infamous archaeological hoaxes exposed – from fake figurines to the Lost City of Z
The world of archaeology isn't exempt from tricksters and forgers – as these notorious hoaxes prove.
Colossal Iron Age hoard found by detectorist changes what we know about life in ancient Britain
Chariots, cauldrons and ceremonial spears – over 800 items unearthed near the village of Melsonby in North Yorkshire "one of the most important and exciting" Iron Age hoards ever found in the UK, say experts.
The UK’s most remote destinations: Visit these wild places for an awe-inspiring trip
There’s something magical about a place that’s remained untamed. Dixe Wills picks his favourite wild sites.
Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy: The gruesome and bizarre crisis that changed Britain’s lighthouses forever
In the nineteenth century, a macabre incident occurred on a remote lighthouse off the Welsh coast. It would change the way these beacons were managed to ensure it never happened again.
What is the highest pub in the UK? And no, there isn't one on top of Ben Nevis...
There are a few contenders for the highest pub in the UK (some more dubious than others) – we take a look at which one claims the title.
Best mazes in the UK: Try not to get lost in these winding outdoor puzzles
From the Castlewell Peace Maze in County Down to a farm estate in Cornwall, the whole family will love the adventure of a maze. Here's our pick of some of the best mazes in the UK.
What is a trig point? Discover the secrets behind these odd pillars that dot the UK countryside
There are thousands of trig points all over the UK – but who built them, and for what purpose?
‘I’d have gone plummeting down the mountain without it’ – a hiking expert on the one thing to pack on your next trek
While wrongly regarded as being for 'old people', a pair of walking poles are an essential bit of kit for your next hiking trip
10 reasons why you shouldn't date a farmer
Farmers seem eminently eligible – they love the outdoors, are good with their hands and skilled with a quad bike – but what about those 4am starts?
This walking route might be better than the South West Coast Path – discover Devon and Cornwall’s best kept secret
Skirting the Devon and Cornwall border, the pretty Tamara Coast to Coast Way offers a peaceful alternative to the busier South West Coast Path. Dixe Wills satisfies his adventurous spirit on an 87-mile walk beside the River Tamar
Was Stonehenge built to unite early farming communities and defend their way of life against impending change? One expert thinks so
Why do sprouts make you fart?
The science behind the sprout's special talent for making people fart
Bitter, smelly, odd-looking and invited for Christmas – but here’s how Brussels sprouts could save your life
Humdrum, bitter and smelly? Wait – there’s more to Brussels Sprouts than you might think. Cast aside your preconceptions, urges our Brussels correspondent, Dixe Wills
Full moon names 2025: your month by month guide
The lunar calendar includes 12, or sometimes 13, full moons per year. Each moon has a different name - find out what they are called and where their names come from with our guide to full moons.
Discover Britain’s best seaside towns: 8 coastal gems you need to visit
We take a look at some of the UK's best seaside towns across the length and breadth of the country
