Whats in the issue

It can be tricky to find peace and quiet. To discover the right time and place to decompress, surrounded by nature and the majesty of landscape. But for those willing to put the effort (and miles) in, there are rewards and solitude waiting. Even in the UK.

So, in our June edition, we look at 21 of those extraordinary wild places – from St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides and the Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales, to the Isles of Scilly and Sark in the Channel Islands. One of my personal favourites is Loch Rannoch in Perthshire. I visited 10 years ago and have never forgotten the train journey up the west coast of Scotland with craggy peaks soaring away from the trainline and then to the loch itself. A long sliver of water overlooked by Schiehallion – the fairy hill of the Caledonians – famous for its almost perfectly conical shape. One of my abiding thoughts was: “Am I still in the UK?”, as it looked utterly other-worldly, almost like a scene from ‘Lord of the Rings’.

But it’s proof-positive that, away from the madding crowd, those wild and rugged places still exist on our crowded isle and they’re something that we should truly cherish.

Also

in this edition…

Climate farmer - We chat to Sarah Bell, a mixed farmer from Rutland about the sustainability challenges of running a highly diversified farm.
Open Farm Sunday - It’s British farming’s big open day, as hundreds of farms throw their gates open for the public to experience food and farming, close-up.
Sheep and wool - Livestock farmer Clare Wise explains the vital importance of sheep shearing to animal welfare.

Great British Food - Miranda Gore Browne looks at how to make the most of this season’s strawberry crop, including a delicious recipe for a rustic strawberry chocolate cake!
Delightful delphiniums - A striking plant that makes for an unforgettable spectacle is a true passion for Colin Parton, as Nicola Stocken discovers.
Three things I can’t live without… With actor and national treasure, Samuel West.

Country Kidd - Charlotte Reather meets Jodie Kidd to talk pick-ups and pony lorries, catwalk burnout, the restorative pull of the countryside - and why saving the village pub really matters.
What’s cooking in your kitchen? Featuring Connor Wilson, the chef at the Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest in Slaggyford, Northumberland, who reveals his culinary influences and favourite dishes.
Britain’s favourite butterfly – Kate Merry from the charity Butterfly Conservation explains why butterflies matter and how to vote for your favourite.

Britain’s wild heart - From the Hebrides to the Scilly Isles, Emily Scaife picks out 21 of the remotest places to visit in the UK.
Author Richard Collett looks at why the UK has borders and how these have both separated the nations and also brought them together.
Rural attractions - We pick out 15 farm parks to visit this summer across the UK.