Right to Roam finds areas of outstanding natural beauty have on average poorer footpath access than rest of England

England’s most stunning “national landscapes” are largely out of bounds, and 22 of the 34 have less than 10% of their area open to the public, research has found.

The government last year renamed areas of outstanding natural beauty to national landscapes, and said part of their aim was to widen access to nature. Ministers said at the time the new name reflected a recognition that they are not just beautiful but important for many reasons including improving wellbeing.

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The Herefordshire-Gloucestershire border is famous for its spring flower displays, and a new community-run bus service is the perfect way to explore

When Clare Stone’s local bus service was abruptly axed in 2022, she “got quite cross” and co-founded protest group Buses4Us . In the early 20th century, daytrippers used to come by train to see the displays of wild daffodils that carpet the forests and meadows of the so-called “golden triangle” on the Gloucestershire–Herefordshire border. The railway (now long gone) became known as the Daffodil Line. Clare’s group channelled the spirit of the early Victorian investors who had raised the funds to build the railway: “They wanted the railway so they decided to get on and do it themselves,” she tells me. Buses4Us raised money from councils, businesses and individuals and in April 2023 launched a bus called the Daffodil Line (AKA bus 232 or simply “the Daff”).

The original railway also transported harvested wild daffodils to cities such as Birmingham. Now visitors can use the bus to see the flowers still growing along its rural route, which winds between the Herefordshire towns of Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye. Each spring, local villages organise walks, teas and celebratory daffodil weekends.

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Research suggests every extra step up to 10,000 reduces risk even if rest of the day is sedentary

Walking up to 10,000 steps a day lowers the risk of heart disease and early death, even when spending the rest of the day sedentary, research suggests.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , found that every extra step above 2,200 steps a day – up to about 10,000 – reduces these risks, regardless of how much of the remaining time is spent sitting.

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Research suggests every extra step up to 10,000 reduces risk even if rest of the day is sedentary

Walking up to 10,000 steps a day lowers the risk of heart disease and early death, even when spending the rest of the day sedentary, research suggests.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , found that every extra step above 2,200 steps a day – up to about 10,000 – reduces these risks, regardless of how much of the remaining time is spent sitting.

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This year’s hiking events cover everything from vineyard strolls to foraging safaris and coastal routes with spectacular views

9-17 March

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Bannau Brycheiniog, south Wales: I’ve got my map, my compass inherited from my granddad, and and extra coat. The race is on!

I stand on a grassy slope, gazing at the impending mountain. Mist billows at its ridges, charging into the sky. I begin the climb upward towards the Bannau Brycheiniog mountain range.

As the grass gives way to sandstone slabs, the air shifts and a coolness arrives. I check my supplies again. My compass, inherited from my grandad, a map, and extra coat are all in my bag. I need to be prepared for unpredictable weather. When I reach the crossway to the first peak, Corn Du, wisps of mist are spiralling alongside the track, beckoning me forwards. The steep climb begins and the race is on.

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With millennia of history hidden beneath our feet, connecting with the ancient past offers endless fascination, and many ways to get involved

When I was a teenager, I watched a TV documentary about a frozen human body that had been discovered at the summit of Mount Ampato in Peru. Dubbed “Juanita” or the Incan ice mummy, this girl had been a human sacrifice, killed in about 1450 at the age of 14 or so – the same age I was. Her body had mummified, preserved in the permafrost, which meant her clothes, her hair, even her stomach, containing her last meal, were all still intact.

Using a battery of scientific techniques, as well as historical and anthropological knowledge, the anthropologist-archaeologist-mountaineers who discovered Juanita were able to unpick the story of her final months, weeks and hours. I was astounded to learn that discovering and explaining such mysteries could be an actual job. Anthropology and archaeology, and the challenge of making the strange familiar, and the familiar strange, had a hold on me.

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The American author on whale watching, Kehinde Wiley’s hypnotic paintings and an indispensable Canadian singer-songwriter

Dave Eggers was born in Boston in 1970, raised in Illinois and now lives in San Francisco with his wife, the novelist Vendela Vida, and their two children. He is the author of many books for adults and children, among them The Circle , What Is the What , The Every and The Eyes and the Impossible . He is the founder of McSweeney’s, a nonprofit, independent publishing company, and two nonprofit organisations – 826 Valencia and ScholarMatch – aimed at giving low-income young people the ability to write and to access higher education, debt-free. His latest picture book, Soren’s Seventh Song , about a young humpback whale, is out in the UK this month (Cameron Kids).

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From watching grey seals and migratory birds to fossil hunting and cliff jumping, our tipsters share their coolest experiences

Experience the unique beauty of the New Forest national park on a winter cycling adventure. With fewer crowds, you can enjoy peaceful rides through ancient woodlands and across heathlands. Remember to dress in warm layers, check your bike for winter readiness, and bring some hot tea or coffee in a Thermos to savour in the midst of your journey. Wildlife, serene landscapes and crisp winter air make this a fantastic outdoor activity in the UK.
Magsy Griffin

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