Out & About

Matthew Parris on his llamas: 'They’re interested in everything humans are doing'

Matthew Parris, the MP-turned-journalist/political commentator, keeps pet llamas at his home in Derbyshire. He spoke to Octavia Pollock.

Walking Derby and the Derwent Valley, on a morning with 'dappled light on the river reflecting the monumental 18th-century mills'

Fiona Reynolds walks the Derwent Valley Heritage Way in Derbyshire, and is struck by the contrast between Man and Nature.

A golden eagle has been spotted high above Deeside with its leg caught in a trap

Scottish police and conservation bodies are trying to find a young golden eagle that was photographed flying near Crathie, in Scotland, with a trap attached to its leg.

The Glorious 12th: 12 facts about the first day of the grouse shooting season

The start of the shooting season - the Glorious 12th August - is nearly here. Charlotte Peters of Shooting UK explains everything you need to know.

The rise of primitive sheep: Why our own Scottish sheep win top marks for milk, meat and conservation grazing

The hardy, multi-talented sheep from the Scottish isles, whose wool once kept royal legs warm, are coming into their own again as their conservation credentials and flavoursome, lean meat are being rediscovered. Kate Green reports.

Country Life's guide to what makes a British pub great

More than 70 years after George Orwell penned the famous essay on his favourite pub, The Moon Under Water, its key attributes still hold true, finds Flora Watkins. Photographs by Mark Williamson.

In praise of nightingales: 'I’ve listened to Gregorian chants in Gothic cathedrals — but the greatest musical performance I ever heard was outside my bedroom one night'

It’s 200 years since Keats penned ‘Ode to a Nightningale’, but this otherwise drab bird’s rich, sorrowful song is worth listening out for says John Lewis-Stempel.

Curious Questions: What dog should Boris Johnson get as the new pet for No. 10 Downing Street?

We're searching for Britain's naughtiest dog — could it be yours?

It's four years since Country Life last sought out Britain’s Naughtiest Dog — and we're doing so again. Does yours fit the bill?

Michael Vaughan on the Ashes: 'You end careers in Ashes cricket'

Cricket, whether at Lord's or on the village green, is the essence of the English summer — but it needs our help

The World Cup has passed in glory and now the Ashes between England and Australia takes centre stage, but all is not well in the world of cricket.

Jousting gallops into the 21st century with cutting-edge VAR technology

The ancient sport of jousting is being brought into the 21st century this summer as VAR technology is being used to score competitions at English Heritage venues

Lyme Disease: What it is, how you catch it and everything else you need to know

The fine weather of spring and summer brings with it ticks – and with them, fears about Lyme disease. Charlotte Peters explains what you need to know.

Jason Goodwin: Is courtly communication the way to go when dealing with rodent pests?

Jason Goodwin discusses our long-standing tradition of courtesy with animals, and why he politely chose to ignore it when dealing with pests in his own garden.

A 'brand new' Anglo Saxon palace is being built with authentic 1,000-year-old trees in Oxfordshire

The dog who ate a stuffed crocodile, and other incredible stories from last time we tried to find Britain's naughtiest dog

Naughty dogs come in all shapes and sizes — as do their crimes and misdemeanours.

A walk through the Forest of Bowland: 'I feel the immensity of the history of this place and am deeply moved by it'

A solitary dawn walk through the Forest of Bowland is a magical experience, says Fiona Reynolds.

The Utterly Inessential Polo Shopping List: Everything you'll need for The Hurlingham Polo International Day and beyond

Looking ahead to this Saturday, Alexandra Fraser rounds up all of the Utterly Inessential items you may desire to attend the polo this Saturday in style, from comfy (yet stylish) shoes to the ever-present fedora.

Peregrine falcons: The 240mph predators living peacefully alongside us in our church spires

The rhino who reads Country Life

Yes - really. Monty the rhino enjoyed his Country Life fame so much that he had to have a look at his feature himself.