Steaming in
Yesterday I looked up how much it'd cost for a family of four to take a return rail trip from Sussex to South Wales in a few weeks' time. The result: almost £300, roughly six times what it'd cost in petrol. Realising I can't justify the extra expense was a sad moment, because despite enduring weekly commuter rail travel in to London, I still love the romance and leisurely pace of long-distance train journeys.
I'm not alone. 2025 has been dubbed the year of the 'Rail Renaissance'; and both long-distance rail and heritage steam journeys are as popular as ever — among passengers and spectators alike. A few years ago I took a return trip from Guildford to Dartmouth, and all the way there people stopped, stared, waved and grinned as the Dartmouth Express chugged past. (Well, all except one lad near Paignton, who greeted us with a hilariously solemn middle-finger salute. Teenagers, eh?)
So I wasn't a little surprised to see Lonely Planet put a rail trip on their list of top things to do in 2025: they picked out the Bentham Line from from Leeds to Morecambe, which makes its way across some of the most beautiful places in the Yorkshire Dales. Glorious — and passable both by steam train and normal, 21st century equivalent. You can see Lonely Planet's full list of 2025 things to do here.
Quiz of the Day
- 1) In which county would you find Nunney Castle?
- 2) On which body part would you wear a sabot?
- 3) Cricket bats are traditionally made with which type of wood?
- 4) In which year were MOT tests introduced in the UK?
- 5) Which poet wrote The Divine Comedy?
Nice ice
Richard Bloom is one of our favourite garden photographers. Now he can be one of yours too.
'I saw the demonstrations; I went out and spoke to farmers'
At the Oxford Farming Conference last week, Defra Secretary Steve Reed spoke of his shock at ‘the size of the black hole we were left to fill,' writes Annunciata Elwes in this week's Country Life print edition. 'I’m sorry if some of the action we took shocked you… But stable finances are the foundation of the economic growth needed’ after ‘a decade of chaos’.
Without once using the phrase ‘inheritance tax’ in his address — words no doubt already dreaded in Westminster — he alluded to the furore over family farms in the Q&A afterwards, when he explained his belief that farmers aren’t angry about the new tax alone, but a whole slew of issues in a long-struggling industry.
‘I saw the demonstrations; I went out and spoke to farmers,’ he said. ‘The thing that struck me was how many people were saying “this is the final straw”. It was on the placards.
'It wasn’t just about one issue, although I recognise people are angry. This is a sector crying out to be recognised and respected and heard. This Government can use its power to work with the sector to tackle some of those deep problems.
‘In the short term,’ he added, the measures taken will be ‘difficult, but in the long term, they benefit everyone — people, businesses and the economy. I know things are tough, but we’ve all got to get through this period as we have a brighter future.’
Mr Reed promised that the UK’s ‘farming roadmap will be the most forward-looking plan for farming in our country’s history; the blueprint that will make farming and food production sustainable and profitable for the decades to come’. You can read Annunciata's full piece in the January 15 issue of Country Life.
Italian Spring
At a loose end in April? Country Life is running a Spring tour of the Italian Riviera with contributors Charles Quest-Ritson, author of the RHS Encyclopedia of Roses, and writer and lecturer Kirsty Fergusson. 'As spring awakens, the villages and coastal resorts of this beautiful part of Italy begin to emerge from their winter slumber, embracing the soft warmth of the new season,' writes Tiffany Daneff.
If that alone doesn't convince you, bear in mind that the wisteria, irises and roses will be looking at their finest, that you'll get a private visit to La Mortola and a special visit to Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, dubbed ‘Italy’s most beautiful landscaped park’. The tour runs from April 7–11 and costs £4,995 each including flights (£4,845 without flights); single supplement is £700. Places can be secured with a £900 deposit. To book, telephone 01280 430175 or visit www.fineandcultural.com
Nature 1 GPS 0
Laura Parker's piece on how animals find their way back home is utterly fascinating. Read it here.
That's it - we're back tomorrow
Quiz answers
- 1) Somerset
- 2) Foot (it’s a clog)
- 3) Willow
- 4) 1960
- 5) Dante
-
From one Earl and his dog to the resurrection of one of Scotland's great buildings: The remarkable tale of Glamis CastleJohn Goodall explores the development of the medieval Glamis Castle in Angus — seat of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne — and its spectacular transformation into one of the landmark buildings of Scottish architecture. Photography by Paul Highnam.
-
Athena: In the eyes of Government, will the Arts always be last?After a year of Labour rule, life doesn't seem to be getting any better for Britain's cultural institutions.
-
‘The closest that screenwriting has ever got to Shakespearean’: In an era of television slop, what should you be watching?Members of the Country Life team reveal what they’re watching — and rewatching — this autumn.
-
The Glovebox: Phantom in a pool, Porsches in the snow and a new world record for PolestarRolls-Royce celebrates one of Rock and Roll's greatest myths, and Polestar drives for almost 23 hours on a single charge.
-
Audi RS3: The devil in a green dressAudi's iconic hot hatch has had a 2025 facelift. It might be the best one they've ever made.
-
The watch maketh the man: What your watch says about youWe hate to stereotype, but it has become apparent that certain timepieces ally with certain traits. Nick Foulkes delves into what else ‘turns the dial’ for each of these watch-loving gents.
-
Sophia Money-Coutts: Can my dog sit with me at the table when I’m eating out?'Admittedly, I did once offer Dennis a small piece of truffled arancini in a Mayfair restaurant, but I felt it was important that he try his first truffle.'
-
Jeep Avenger 4xe North Face Edition: You've got the clothes. Now get the carJeep's collaboration with North Face has yielded more than a branding exercise. It's a compact off-roader with real capability and a sprinkling of adrenaline-fuelled joy.
-
Ford Ranger PHEV: The eco-pickup for campers, builders and post-apocalyptic survivalistsThe Ranger PHEV might deviate from first principles, but it remains convincingly fit for purpose — and therefore highly desirable
-
From Queen bees to Queen Camilla, how one woman built a multi-million pound beauty empire out of bee venomDeborah Mitchell's skincare range has generated quite a buzz among celebrities including HRH and Victoria Beckham.
