UK Travel
Ambleside guide: This charming Lake District market town is the gateway to England's largest natural lake
Caroline Butterwick on where to eat, sleep and visit near Ambleside
“Cumbria wants to be the UK’s first carbon-neutral county.” How one writer skipped the gridlock on a car-free escape to the glorious Lake District
Caroline Butterwick embraces the joy of leaving the car at home on a peaceful trip to the idyllic Lakeland landscapes of Ambleside
These are the best nudist beaches in the UK
Fancy dropping your kecks and feeling the sea breeze all over? From golden sands to hidden coves, these are the UK’s best naturist beaches
“Unbelievable”: huge animal longer than bus seen leaping from Irish waters
No one knows exactly why these enormous sea creatures breach.
Ditch the car – walk instead! These 7 UK car-free islands are perfect for a peaceful escape
Ditch the traffic and explore these UK islands where cars are banned and adventure comes on foot, bike or tractor
What's new?
What actually IS a national park – and why does the UK do them differently?
Unlike the vast wildernesses of the US or Africa, the UK’s national parks are lived-in landscapes shaped by people as much as nature. Here’s how they work
Magnificent waterfalls and crashing cascades: these are the best waterfalls in the UK
Discover enchanting falls, cascades and plunge pools on a walk or day out with our round-up of Britain's most spectacular waterfalls.
Ditch the WiFi, chuck the commute and head out on foot – these are the most remote hostels in the UK
From car-free islands to mountain bothies only reachable by foot, these are the UK’s most remote hostels — ideal for wild adventurers, digital detoxers and anyone craving solitude in nature
Stay the night in a medieval castle, Tudor manor or Gothic mansion – these are the best UK hostels for history lovers
Ever fancied staying in a castle, a traditional thatched cottage or a Gothic manor house? Here is our guide on the best UK youth hostels for history lovers, which offer beautiful and unique surroundings to suit all budgets.
Perched on a rocky outcrop, does this Norman fortress ruin have the best views of the Peak District?
Step back 1,000 years and climb up to the ancient battlements of Peveril Castle, where sweeping Peak District panoramas await
Cotswolds
Is this the prettiest long distance walking trail in the UK? Spot up to 16 counties from one stunning viewpoint
As it's surprisingly hilly, there are plenty of scenic spots along the Cotswold Way.
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Walks in the Cotswolds: 14 charming trails in the quaint south-central hills of England
The rollings hills, high meadows and honey-stoned villages of the Cotswolds make it a marvellous place to explore in all seasons. Discover some of the AONB's most spectacular landscapes with our guide to the best walks in the Cotswolds.
Holiday Ideas
The ultimate off-grid adventure? These are the best bothies in Britain – for a night you'll never forget
Whether you're on a hiking trip, a walking holiday or just craving off-grid adventure, these wild shelters offer a unique way to experience the UK’s most remote landscapes — for free
No electricity, no booking, no problem: Why a night in a bothy beats any hotel – and what you need to know before you stay in one
On Britain’s remotest hills and valleys, bothies provide safe refuge for walkers. Our beginner's guide explores the history of the bothy, what you need to bring with you and the bothy code.
Beginner's guide to wild camping in the UK – is it legal and what rules do you have to follow?
Fancy getting off the beaten track? One of the joys of wild camping is the chance to sleep under the stars in beautiful rural locations.
North West
The Wrekin walk, Shropshire
Stride out on a spectacular hilltop walk and marvel at the bucolic views from an ancient fortress, which crowns some of the world’s oldest rocks.
Podcast: In conversation with actress Jenny Agutter
Star of The Railway Children and Call the MIdwife Jenny Agutter joins episode 6, season 14, of the Countryfile Plodcast
Walk: Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire
Experience the raucous row of a heronry in this Norman hunting forest on the edge of the Peak District
Northumberland Coast
What looks like a crumbling ruin was once the nerve centre of England’s bloodiest war: How Warkworth Castle and its hidden hermitage shaped a nation’s history
Explore a mighty hill-top castle that Shakespeare once wrote into a play, and then follow a gentle riverside path that holds enchantments of its own: a mystical hermitage
Explore Seahouses and the Farne Islands, Northumberland
Explore the pretty fishing village of Seahouses, then take a boat trip to islands thronging with puffins with our complete guide to visiting the Farne Islands in Northumberland.
Lindisfarne Priory
Julia Bradbury explores a beautiful ruin, once raided by Vikings, now providing enchantment for peaceful visitors
Peak District
This iconic stately home is holding a Regency festival to celebrate its literary connection – including a summer ball
Discover the history behind the Grade I-listed Chatsworth House and what it's famous for – as well as its Jane Austen connection
The Roaches and Lud's Church circular walk, Staffordshire
Look out for wallabies while enjoying folklore and oatcakes amid striking Staffordshire gritstone outcrops with this six-mile walk along The Roaches to the mysterious gorge of Lud's Church in the Peak District National Park
Chee Dale, Miller's Dale and Wye Dale walk, Peak District
This four-mile loop walk along the River Wye in the Peak District includes an exhilarating stretch along the Chee Dale's magical stepping stones.
Scotland
Want to own your own island like Richard Branson? This uninhabited remote Scottish isle is now for sale
If you thought an island off the coast of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland was remote, there's an island OFF this island currently up for sale
A quest for one of Britain's rarest birds in the Cairngorm mountains
Join naturalist and author James MacDonald Lockhart walking and camping deep in the Cairngorm Mountains in search of the dotterel, a bird that breeds on remote peaks – in episode 14, season 16 of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast
Guide to Assynt in north-west Scotland: where to stay, places to visit and great walks
Whether you like wild walking, wildlife watching or simply wandering on empty beaches, Assynt offers a taste of Scottish wilderness says Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins
South Downs
Podcast: A sensational evening of singing with nightingales – with folk singer Sam Lee
Enjoy a truly magical experience deep in a Sussex woodland – singer Sam Lee and violinist Anna Phoebe accompany nightingales at midnight in episode 3, season 12 of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast
Discovering history and mystery in Kingley Vale in the South Downs
Explore the yew forests, wildflower meadows and hidden history of Kingley Vale, West Sussex. Poet Hugh Dunkerley hosts episode 6 of season 10 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast
Walk: Wilmington to Alfriston, Sussex
A short walk to the Long Man of Wilmington, the mysterious chalk figure on the South Downs. But how exactly did he get there?
South West
What is Dartmoor famous for? And can you wild camp there? Everything you need to know about the National Park
Everything you need to know about Dartmoor National Park – including its history and whether you can wild camp
Holidayers targeted as Cornwall introduces 100% council tax premium on second homes
Cornwall and a raft of other councils around the UK will introduce a 100% council tax premium on second homes and holiday lets, in response to the damaging impact second homes have had on local communities and economies.
Sea shanties sail on: The relentless appeal of sea shanties and how one tiny Cornish village is bringing global acts to its festival audiences – in a fish and chip shop
As the Mevagissey Shanty Festival draws in the crowds, the resurgence of this seafaring folk-song tradition shows no signs of waning. James Witts seeks the ‘drunken sailor’ in Cornwall
Wye Valley and Forest of Dean
Forestry England is hiring for one of the UK's weirdest jobs – and it pays £42k a year
One of the Forest of Dean's most ancient jobs is now welcoming new applicants
Podcast: The joy of riding an electric bicycle in the Forest of Dean
Explore the Forest of Dean and its wildlife on an eBike in the company of Tom Marvin from BikeRadar – in episode 8, season 11 of the Countryfile Magazine podcast
Podcast: Getting lost among hillforts and ravens in the lowlands of Monmouthshire
A winter's walk between hillforts becomes a battle with blocked or vanished footpaths in the farmland of Monmouthshire. In episode 4, season 11 of the Countryfile Plodcast, we explore problems with accessing the countryside