Sporting & Country Pursuits

Is it better to save our nation's footpaths or let them return to nature?

Ramblers are encouraging Brits to map any overgrown path they can find, but the CLA believe we should focus on maintaining those we have and let the rest fall back to nature.

Bedlington terriers: The looks of a lamb with the temperament of a terrier

Bedlingtons may be mild-mannered and sensitive, but keep an eye on them when they're off the lead...

Dandie Dinmont terriers: The adorable dogs with the soulful eyes who are bright, sparky and can't help but make you smile

The numbers of Dandie Dinmont terriers has recovered since a worrying dip a few years ago, and an anniversary year in 2020 could see the popularity of these irresistibly friendly dogs grow further.

Six Nations 2020: England's chance to bounce back in style from World Cup disappointment — but they're very far from unstoppable

Sealyham terriers: The dogs that are small, friendly, full of character and great for families

We meet the courageous and cheerful Sealyham terrier, one of our rarest native breeds of dog.

The Cotswold Water Park: A break for nature lovers and thrill seekers alike, with the rest of the Cotswolds on the doorstep

The Cotswold Water Park might not be what springs to mind when thinking of the archetypal Cotswolds escape, but it makes a delighful spot for a weekend away, as Toby Keel found out.

Why the Penny Farthing is once more a frequent sight on the streets of London

The dinosaur of the bicycle world is back in the spotlight with the help of the Penny Farthing Club and its intrepid members.

A countryside dweller's guide to the 2019 General Election: Who will do what, and where, and when?

With the general election fast-approaching, discover what each of the main parties plans for the countryside, farming and the environment.

David Profumo's Fantasy League of angling fishing guests

David Profumo imagines who might attend his own dream angling dinner party.

Country Life Top 10: Wellies - The best boots you can buy

Walking St Cuthbert's Way in late summer: Heather in late-summer emperor’s purple, lit up by the last burst of warmth

The Cheviots and St Cuthbert’s Way are the right setting for reflection and remembrance, as Fiona Reynolds finds on her latest walk.

An absolute beginner's guide to clay pigeon shooting, part 3: New techniques, old friends and how to buy your own gun

If you're looking to get into shooting, a series of lessons is the place to start —as Octavia Pollock has been finding out at the Cowdray Estate's Hownhall shooting school.

An absolute beginner's guide to clay pigeon shooting, part two: Relax, breathe, trust... and avoid the temptation to squeak in triumph

Absolute beginner Octavia Pollock is learning clay pigeon shooting at Hownhall, part of the Cowdray Estate — in part one she was distracted by dogs and coffee before getting the hang of things; this is what happened when she went back for lesson two.

Love in the Countryside's rocky road to rural romance: Sheep-herding tests, awkward cider farm dates and being dumped by a Shetland pony

Forget Tinder, BBC Two's Love in the Countryside is the farmer's answer to cupid. Rachael Turner reports.

An absolute beginner's guide to clay pigeon shooting: 'Coffee drunk and dogs cuddled, it was time to begin'

Octavia Pollock had never so much as held a gun before she decided to try clay pigeon shooting — she headed down to the Cowdray Estate's Hownhall Shooting School to give it a go.

What's the perfect time to teach your children how to fish?

Walking the 79-mile Dales Way: 'The Wharfe is full and raging; we’re getting worried messages as people hear about the mayhem'

Torrential rain swells the River Wharfe as Fiona Reynolds embarks on a 79-mile walk along the Dales Way, just one step ahead of the floods.

'You’re alive, make the most of it': The 77-year-old British woman who has just become the oldest person to sail around the world

Jeanne Socrates was met by a flotilla of 30 boats when she completed her circumnavigation at the port of Victoria in British Columbia.

How a pony in the Highlands always beats a quad bike: 'Unlike a vehicle, ponies will avoid bogs that swallow the unwary'

On estates such as Balmoral, The Queen’s home in Aberdeenshire, tough and shaggy Highland ponies are vital members of the stalking team when it comes to bringing deer off the hill. Octavia Pollock found out more.

The A–Z of Burghley: All you need to know for this weekend's Horse Trials

Kate Green charts all you need to know about this weekend’s Burghley Horse Trials, from Princess Anne to Zara Tindall.