Feather report: the eider

These birds have given their name to eiderdowns — and that is because they have given their down to them, too

Coaster: step back in time in an idyllic Cornish cove

Cottages, cliffs — and relics of the Industrial Revolution

Feather report: jackdaws

These birds can now be seen doing acrobatics in flocks, and they seem to enjoy their games in windy weather

How to... sing like an angel

Out there: pick of the carol services

How to dress the Christmas tree with children

Christmas trees not only have a season, they also have trends

The Coaster: the hierarchy of surfing

From the big-wave elite to “kooks” and “spongers” and goat-boaters, riders of the ocean waves come in all shapes and forms

Pitch and pint: top 10 pubs near campsites

Taking to a tent this winter? Camping website Pitchup.com suggests the top ten pubs to warm up in over a pint

Feather report: glimpse of the velvet runner

Water rails are usually only heard rather than seen ... but I could hardly have had a more splendid view

Feather report: wintering brent geese

The Crouch estuary in Essex is home to these birds, which fly from Russia for the winter

The Coaster: literature and the sea

From Moby-Dick to Remembrance of Things Past, the ocean has loomed large in writers’ imaginations

The return of the beaver to Britain

Despite teething troubles, a scheme to return these mammals to our forests is on course

A rutting nuisance...

Stags are being put off rituals by army of nature lovers

The Coaster: Surfers Against Sewage

Feather report: sparrowhawks and their prey

The Coaster: on the Scillonian island of Bryher

Hell Bay Hotel is a vision of beauty

My eight acres of woodland manage very well without me

The trees may be getting bare, the birds may have gone, but there is plenty to enjoy in my little patch of Essex forest, says Mackenzie Crook

Feather report: Siskins

Many Siskins have been seen by those early-rising birdwatchers who go to the high hilltops and watch migrating birds fly past at dawn

Coaster: Surf’s up, despite the chill

At this time of year, when Atlantic lows bombard Britain’s western seaboard, surf contests come thick and fast

Hunting mushrooms with Antonio Carluccio

It’s all good clean fungi in some Kent woodland with the great Italian chef

Mountain trekking at the top of the world

Put on your hiking boots and enjoy amazing views when exploring some the world's most spectacular peaks and summits

The top horse riding destinations

From galloping in Wyoming to safari in Botswana, saddle up and enjoy the thrilling adventure of horseback riding

Extreme and peaceful adventures on two wheels

Take a leisurely ride across the south of England or dare to cycle the ‘the most dangerous highway in the world’

Wrap up warm for these icy adventures

Trips to the world's coldest climates can provide great experiences and a range of unforgettable activities

Time out: Sir Ranulph Fiennes on why he’s an explorer

The veteran adventurer talks about fatherhood, why skirts made him fail his A levels, how 80 Arab tribesmen cured his fear of spiders - and how he'd...