Cold comforts
With Christmas’s festivities now long behind us, winter can seem a gloomy prospect for countryside adventurers. But by now we should be noticing an increase in birdsong on brighter mornings – great tits, wrens and thrushes are already gearing up for spring. Their voices offer a promise of warmer, more inviting days.
A way for us to bridge the gap is to put a few plans in place for escapades later in the year and this issue is packed full of ideas for summer dreaming. On page 30, we’ve asked a range of experts to look ahead to summer and give us some inspiration for new and exciting things to do. And then our own Joe Pontin takes us to the Lizard – a glorious part of Cornwall that seems to avoid the summer crowds. Joe’s been going every summer for 19 years and he takes us on an irresistible journey from cove to cliff to cosy harbour of white-washed cottages. Walk with him on page 18.
But what about now, you might ask? If you love wildlife, then head to the coast. Winter offers an enormous abundance of wildfowl and waders and none is more beautiful than the avocet. Mark Cocker tells the astonishing story of the species’ recovery from extinction on page 38. When you’ve have your fill of natural spectacles, why not try one of our walks to see some of Britain’s man-made wonders, page 81? We’ve lined up 15 incredible bridges, viaducts, buildings and even roads – and best of all, they won’t fly away.