This may have been a year of rules, more rules and a whole lot of undesirable travel restrictions — but that does not mean you can’t have an enjoyable autumn break. The ‘rule of six’, although limiting big multi-generational gatherings, makes smaller family get-togethers quite possible at one of many hundreds of rental cottages at … Read more
Forget the deluge of the past few days – because the colours of autumn that lie ahead are expected to be even more glorious than usual this year. The high levels of sunshine through the summer and into September are likely to create an intense and vibrant range of hues, say experts at the National … Read more
Britain is basking in glorious 80F temperatures today with Indian Summer conditions sending the mercury soaring – before it all comes to an end on Tuesday. Forecasters are predicting possible amber weather warnings in place by early next week and what could be the first named storm of the season. Most parts of the UK … Read more
Pilgrim city’s progress: Exploring a mesmerising £40m centre dedicated to Plymouth’s glorious seafaring past This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower, the ship that transported pilgrims from Plymouth A show-stopping exhibition, The Mayflower 400: Legend And Legacy, opens at the city’s new cultural hub The Box, a £40 million complex, is the largest museum, … Read more
An hour’s drive north, past the painted storefronts of Norfolk’s boutique towns, lie the undulating wheat fields of Lincolnshire. The county, butted by the North Sea, has long been overshadowed by its cooler neighbour. While it may not have as much allure as Wells-next-the-Sea or the regal attraction of Holkham, this quiet corner of England … Read more
Scorching summer is upon us here on the French Riviera. It has grown too hot to venture into the greenhouse after eight in the morning. Our land chores are achieved before breakfast, which we sup in the shade of our Magnolia grandiflora. This massive tree is flowering now and exuding one of the headiest perfumes … Read more
For the past month my cottage garden has been filled with flowers from more than 50 different varieties of shrub roses. These are of every hue from the pure white of ‘Madame Hardy’ to the almost purple ‘Cardinal de Richelieu’, though the dominant colour is pink in every shade. But I have one border with … Read more
Vroom, vroom! Motor racing has witnessed some breath-taking comebacks, none more extraordinary than when the late, great Niki Lauda roared off the grid at the Italian Grand Prix just six weeks after he’d been given the last rites following a catastrophic crash at the Nurburgring. This time, I can disclose, it’s the turn of the … Read more
Blue swoon! Delphiniums radiate a glorious shade that so rarely pops up in nature – and they’re at their best now, says MONTY DON Blue is the rarest colour in nature and if you look closely a ‘true’ blue is very rare Most so-called ‘blue’ flowers have a lot of red in, so they’re shades … Read more
The Chelsea Flower Show may not be going ahead this year, but we’ve hand-picked some attractive properties for sale with outdoor space that could easily be described as best in show. The five-day Royal Horticultural Society show has been cancelled for the first time since the Second World War and will instead be held as … Read more