Issue 158: Classic country Christmas
Discover the best festive days out and country houses this Christmas

Dorset at Christmas
Snow-sprinkled hills, frozen coasts, wintry wildlife, twinkling towns and seasonal cheer – what more you could you desire at this time of year?
Mystical mistletoe
Druids cut it carefully with a golden sickle; we kiss under its white berries. Learn more about this pretty and powerful parasitic plant.
The winter river
A meditation on our mysterious and moody waterways in the cooler months.
On your cover this month
A snow-shrouded Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset, as depicted by illustrator Chris Fothergill.
Pup Love
Norfolk’s grey seals are a winter wildlife wonder – but how can we enjoy the scene without disrupting the colony?
Country gifts
Abundant ideas to appeal to rural adventurers, from wellies and wool knits to hampers and hand-carved bowls.
Get outdoors this season
Shrug off the stuffed stupor with these fresh ways to enjoy the natural world during Yuletide.
Boxing day picnics
Delicious recipes for a packed-lunch feast made from festive leftovers.
Plastic-free decorations
Make beautiful and biodegradeable wreaths, garlands and fabric wrap to festoon your home this Christmas.
Plus
- Great Days Out - Christmas at country houses
- Columns from the Countryfile presenters
- Behind the Headlines
Issue 158 on sale 13th November 2019
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