A wonderful Spotlight winter!

Picture this: the stark beauty of Castle Howard in North Yorkshire set against a winter evening sky, a comfortable armchair close to a fire in an English pub and a frosty afternoon at a Victorian Christmas fair. These are just three ways to enjoy the cold season in the UK. In our story “Britain in winter” (page 14), we have a number of travel suggestions, but also book and film tips, for you that convey the atmosphere of Britain at this time of year. Do you have ideas to share with us about what to see, read or watch that you associate with a British winter? We’d love to hear about them.

If you prefer to get away from the cold, our travel destination in this issue is South Africa. Spotlight author Lois Hoyal shares her experience of a safari on horseback in which she took part with her husband and two daughters. Her funny, charming and captivating description of a five-day riding trip in Waterberg, a UNESCO biosphere reserve in South Africa’s northern Limpopo Province, is one of my favourite travel stories this year. Join the Hoyal family as they come face to face with giraffes, rhinos, snakes and a couple of baby crocodiles. “Safari on horseback” begins on page 30.

Finally, I would like to thank you, our readers, for the many letters and comments you have sent us over the past year. Please keep up this correspondence. In the meantime, all of us in the Spotlight team wish you a happy holiday season.