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
It has its own king and a population of 3. Discover England’s weirdest island
Dixe Wills ventures to England’s most unusual tiny isle: Piel Island
There's a 2km-wide ring of 'big mysterious holes' near Stonehenge. Experts finally know what made them
Researchers believe it could be the largest known prehistoric structure in Britain.
Colossal volcanic eruptions may have triggered the Black Death in medieval Europe
14th-century eruptions may have set off a chain of reactions that led to the devastating pandemic, say researchers.
Built nearly 1000 years ago by William the Conqueror, this castle's romantic ruins are an iconic and evocative survivor of the brutal English Civil War
It's 96 miles long and has 4,000m of ascents: Walk one of Scotland's most epic trails that's filled with dramatic scenery
From the serene shores of Loch Lomond to the soaring peaks of Glen Coe, Scotland’s most-loved long-distance trail will take your breath away.
A 672-tonne timber church, London Bridge and ancient temples: 7 mind-boggling and expensive relocations around the world
It takes more than willpower alone to move a building – as these truly incredible relocation projects around the world prove
This ancient cow tooth discovery could help unlock Stonehenge mystery, say scientists
The tooth was discovered at Stonehenge in 1924. Now, a new study reveals remarkable details about the cow’s life – and how it may have played a role in the construction of the famous ancient monument.
Bloodied bodies, decapitated women, murdered landladies, ghostly carriages: Discover Britain's most haunted pubs and their violent, murderous past
Enjoy a local ale and a ghost story with our guide to the most haunted pubs and inns in Britain which looks at the history and haunted tales that lurk within.
How the Moon affects wildlife
Discover the many surprising ways the Moon affects the behaviour of animals and the way plants grow.
Don't be that idiot: 10 unbelievably stupid and reckless acts committed by wildlife tourists that will make your blood boil
if you’re thinking of going on holiday to see some wildlife, here are 10 cautionary tales of what not to do...
"Rare and remarkable": 5,000-year-old monument in Yorkshire Dales granted protected status
Dudderhouse Hill Long Cairn has been given Scheduled Monument status – the highest level of heritage protection available in England.
This ‘Scottish Pompeii’ was built before the Egyptian pyramids – discover Britain’s best archaeological finds
From Scotland's Pompeii to Henry VII's favourite warship, Britain has plenty of fascinating archaeological finds
45kg of wool, 35 dogs and 1 omen of doom – amazing Bayeux Tapestry facts you (probably) didn't know
As the Bayeux Tapestry returns to Britain for the first time in 900 years, we reveal some of the most surprising facts about the 11th-century masterpiece.
"I had a feeling I would find something special": 2,000-year-old settlement discovered in Gloucestershire field
In 2023, metal detectorist Glenn Manning unearthed two Roman swords in a field near the village of Willersey – a find that led to the discovery of something even more astounding.
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.