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...

Westonbirt, a great English garden

The private gardens of Westonbirt House are now open to the public

Feather report: Strange tail of the snipe

Going across a stretch of marshland the other day, I flushed a couple of snipe from the bottom of a muddy dyke

Feather report: the spotted crake

A bird that breeds mainly in distant European marshes has the strange cachet of rarity that makes it a wonder

Sail the Cornish coast on a Victorian fishing boat

Alex Wade boards a 40ft ship built in 1881 and enter a world of luggers, smugglers and high-seas adventure

Dog owners protest at curbs on walkies

Scores of councils have introduced bans in parks and beaches, with fines of up to £1,000, often without owners being aware

The UK's 30 best places for autumn colour

As leaves begin to fall, here’s a list of the best places to see the vibrancy of the changing season

The Coaster: stand-up paddleboarding

Tynemouth beach proves an ideal location for the fastest-growing sport in the world

Feather report: wild ducks take to bread

Goosanders have turned their attention to the bread thrown for other waterfowl — the long-term effects remain to be seen

Into the wild: return of the otter

Here’s a good-news story — the steady increase of the otter population continues, the result of a cleaner environment

Elly Deacon, 13, is way ahead of the field

Teenager puts experienced farmers in their place by winning a ploughing contest with just four hours of practice

A scrumping break in Herefordshire

Picking apples for no pay may not sound like the ideal holiday, but when it’s on a cider farm...

Catching a wave can improve your mental health

Riding waves can help people to rebuild their lives — it’s about being in the moment, you can’t think about anything else other...

Simon Barnes: the unsung glory of the fly

If you can bring yourself to look at the small and the disgusting, you will find things of beauty and wonder

Adventures in the wild heart of Britain

Tree houses and high-tech night safaris are part of a grand plan to draw families back into the woods

Feather report: birdwatching in Venice

Wonderful yellow-legged gulls lead you into this sublime city on their wooden posts like a grand heraldic reception