British nature

In the 1530s, Henry VIII dissolved over 800 monasteries. North Yorkshire was particularly affected. For centuries, abbeys influenced North Yorkshire's spiritual, economic, and social life. Cistercians farmed sheep, Augustinians ran hospitals and schools, and Carthusians...

Before churches, before Christianity, before any written record of this land, the springs were already being used. Somerset has more named holy wells than most English counties. Many have been buried, piped, forgotten, or built...

Most travellers visit Scarborough or Whitby, but miles of coastline beyond these towns hold more to discover. The Yorkshire coast runs 45 miles from the Humber to the Tees. Shale and boulder clay erode each...

Most people drive straight through the Dales. These ten places are worth getting into. Limestone, glaciers, and time shaped the Yorkshire Dales. This produces waterfalls, sandy rivers, and plunge pools carved by ancient water. The...

On 8 May 2026, Sir David Attenborough turns 100. Britain has produced many great broadcasters. It has produced only one David Attenborough. There is a generation of people in this country who grew up watching...

In 1986, Halley's Comet last swept through the inner solar system. It won't return until 2061. But right now, what it left behind is lighting up Britain's skies. Most people alive today will never see...

Each river pulses with its own spirit, coming together to create walks that inspire and captivate anyone venturing through northern England. North Yorkshire’s rivers are numerous, but three stand out. The Swale, England’s fastest flowing...

Somerset is known for more than just cider and cathedral cities. Here are some places the county has quietly kept to itself. Somerset tends to keep its secrets. While its well-known landmarks draw visitors, most...