summer
Summer solstice 2025: Everything you need to know about the longest day of the year
The longest day of the year, known as the summer solstice, is celebrated throughout the UK every year. Our guide explains when and why the summer solstice occurs.
As temperatures soar, here are 9 top tips for how to beat the heat and stay cool during a heatwave
Warm summer weather can be enjoyable, however intense heatwaves can be dangerous. Here is our guide on how to keep cool and stay safe as the thermometer rises.
Hay fever season has begun – here are 6 simple ways to beat it
Find out when hay fever season is, what causes hay fever, and simple tips to help tackle it.
Elderflower guide: how to identify, where to find it and elderflower recipes
Creamy white elderflowers can be found across the UK's trees and hedgerows in late spring and transformed into homemade elderflower cordial that's better than any shop-bought version. Our expert guide to picking elderflowers reveals all you need to know.
A beginner's guide to native British wildflowers
Britain's native wildflowers bring splashes of colour in the spring and summer months, while also providing an important food source for pollinators. Our species guide looks at common native British wildflower species, explaining how to identify and the best places to see them.
British summer holiday ideas
Enjoy fresh air and nature with our guide on the best summer family-friendly holiday activities and days out across the UK.
Best summer recipe ideas
Enjoy fresh and delicious seasonal meals with our pick of the best summer recipes, including tasty light bites, summer salads, sweet treats and refreshing drinks.
Summer wildlife guide: how to identify and where to see
High summer is when many of us have a bit more free time to explore. And although the birdsong is much quieter than in spring as most species come to the end of their breeding seasons, there is much to be seen and enjoyed. In our summer wildlife guide, learn how to identify common species and where to see in the UK.
Best of the British countryside in July
A selection of the month's best photos from the UK countryside.
Britain's most epic walking challenges
With spring in the air and light in the evenings it’s natural to feel the pull of great and memorable adventures. Here are some of the best one or two-day walking challenges to stretch even the hardiest walker.
Key insect pollinators of summer in the UK
Most of our native flowers rely on nectar-hungry insects in exchange for pollen redistribution. Honeybees and bumblebees often get the credit, but there are many more creatures doing this necessary work. Here is our expert guide on the key insect pollinators of summer in the UK.
Day out: Iford Manor, Wiltshire
Iford’s Italianate gardens in Wiltshire unite the natural and the managed, creating a charming blend of time-worn sculptures, creeping lilac wisteria and formal, flower-hemmed walkways
Day out: Herterton House Gardens, Northumberland
Early summer is the perfect time to experience the intimate artistry of this small but much-acclaimed rural Northumbrian garden, designed from scratch around a derelict 16th-century farmyard.
A girl’s guide to the outdoors: 10 easy summer adventures
Change your life with 10 easy adventures this summer, urges author of the Girl Outdoors Sian Lewis.
Guide to Britain's best outdoor, music, craft and food festivals
From the Hebrides to the Channel Islands, celebrate summer with live music, traditional crafts, local food and drink, wild swimming, hiking and more with our pick of some of Britain's best festivals for 2018
Walk: Teignmouth and Shaldon, Devon
Seaside destinations don't come much more classic than the coastal town of Teignmouth – head out on this four-mile circular walk for the perfect summer's day by the sea
Celebrating the great British music festival
In fields across the country this summer, music fans will gather to enjoy performances in the open air – come rain or shine. Julie Brominicks celebrates the great British music festival
Britain's best outdoor festivals
From the Outer Hebrides to Somerset, here is a selection of the best outdoor music festivals taking place this summer
Guide to walking the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall
Enjoy a perfect late-summer seaside break by walking the shores of Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula. Our walking guide shares tips on the best crowd-free places to visit as you walk along Britain's most southerly point
10 nature hotspots to encounter wildlife this summer
From the Cornish coastline to the far-flung reaches of the Shetland Islands, Britain is brimming with stunning wildlife spectacles. Here's some of the best wildlife experiences to see this summer.
What a hoot: video interview with Bill Bailey
A barn-storming interview with comedian and Countryfile Calendar judge Bill Bailey, who talks to BBC Countryfile Magazine about yarrow, cider, moonlit paddles and the books of Robert MacFarlane. With a smattering of houseboats, puffins and voles.
The National Trust's best outdoor cinema locations
Celebrate summer and enjoy alfresco screenings of your favourite films at these inspiring National Trust locations.
Swifts leaving the UK early
Swifts are flying back to Africa early, seeking the warmer climate.
