Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book this week.
Country Life
Country Life 16 January 2019
Country Life 16 January 2019 celebrates the joy of gardens in winter, delights in a breathtaking clifftop mansion in Devon and serves up some succulent sausages.
Tahiti: Lush mountains, glorious beaches and paddling with sharks in the paradise that entranced Captain Cook
Edwin Smith visits Tahiti and finds that away from the resorts, the surfing and the boutique hotels, the islands are as unspoilt as when Captain Cook first landed there 250…
Stamp duty: What it is, why we have it and why you might be due a refund
What do wig powder and newspapers have in common? They’ve all been subject to Stamp Duty. Roderick Easdale recounts the history of our least favourite tax.
My Favourite Painting: Hilary McGrady
Hilary McGrady, director-general of the National Trust, chooses a painting she first encountered in childhood.
A superbly luxurious Berkshire haven for sale, as seen in Country Life
This beautiful home in one of the stockbroker belt's most sought-after locations has every imaginable luxury.
The trials of collecting snowdrops: ‘Is there no love for a Heffalump or a Grumpy?’
A galanthophile’s work is never done, says Michael Heseltine, as he tells us about his family's floral hobby; collecting snowdrops.
Traditionally trendy: The stunning bathroom of a completely refurbished Grade II-listed Georgian rectory
The bathroom in a Georgian rectory owes its handsome good looks to traditional joinery, parquet floor and fittings. Rachel Leedham paid a visit.
A pilgrimage to the garden at Villa Lante, an incomparable flower of the Italian Renaissance
After 40 years, George Plumptre finally realises his dream and sees for himself Vignola’s masterpiece: the garden at Villa Lante.
10 glorious vineyards for sale across the world
Leaving the job behind and taking on a vineyard needn't just be a pipe dream – there are vineyards for sale across Europe, many at very reasonable prices and with beautiful…
My Favourite Painting: Johnnie Boden
Catalogue clothing entrepreneur Johnnie Boden chooses a fascinating still life.
Why you should grow your own potatoes and the 8 varieties you need to try when you do
With each year, I grow fewer and fewer potatoes. It’s not that I’ve gone off them – quite the reverse – but there are so many other delights I want…
18 stunning Scottish castles and estates for sale
As little as £495,000 can buy you a wonderful home that is beyond belief.
Curious Questions: Has the tea cosy gone forever?
Is it all over for the once ubiquitous tea cosy? Debora Robertson investigates.
11 cookbooks to inspire you to try something new in 2019
Publishers and authors, it seems, have got weary of the old cookery-book formula of lots of recipes and pretty pictures. Leslie Geddes-Brown selects some different offerings.
The abandoned dairy building that has become a stunning four-bedroom country home
Kate Priestley's father transformed this outbuilding into calving pens in the 1990s. It is now home to a rather different sort of family – a human one. Anna Tyzack reports.
The ‘magical’ sheep shed that was lovingly turned into the perfect anniversary present: A weekend hideaway
Christopher Howe urged his client not to overpay for the dank sheep shed he saw in pictures. When he visited it in person, he declared it to be magical and…
The ten best dogs in literature
Man’s best friend has taken a starring role in stories since we first put pen to paper, playing nanny to the children, helping to solve mysteries and trotting down the…
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
We take a look at the finest country houses, castles and estates for sale in Scotland
Five magnificent winter walks in Britain, from the Brecons to the Broads
A brisk winter walk is the perfect way to shake off the blues of the cold, dark months – here are five superb spots to inspire you to get out