HURTLING west, bound perhaps for the soft sand beaches of south Devon or the thunderous surf of Cornwall, brings the promise of lazy days, picnicking alfresco, immersion in an absorbing book, invigorating clifftop walks and a brief hiatus from the humdrum of everyday life. The destination is utopian, but reaching it can be as far removed from paradise as it is possible to imagine, for there are few fast roads that join the A30, which has the ultimate responsibility for transporting travellers into Britain's deep South-West.
The three-lane M5, which begins at West Bromwich and ends in Exeter, is businesslike, monotonous and built for swift journey times, barring when accidents induce tailbacks or sheer volume of traffic forces cars and lorries to a crawl. By contrast, the more southern A303, the best bet for Londoners leaving the capital or Home Counties residents escaping the likes of Sussex, Kent and Surrey, is renowned for its quirkiness, its frustratingly lengthy queues and its indecision-it switches from one to two lanes and back again with alarming regularity once past Solstice Services. Its twists and turns can necessitate repeated stomping on the brakes and its hills bring articulated lorries to a near standstill, together with their following packs of lighter vehicles. According to National Highways, there are in excess of 100 accidents along the route annually.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 22, 2024 من Country Life UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 22, 2024 من Country Life UK.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
A leap in the dark
The primal play of light and shadow, whether in Leonardo's ever-so-subtle sfumato or Caravaggio's dramatic contrasts, has shaped Western art, as Michael Hall reveals
Beauty and the blimp
Inflammable airships may be gone, but a new hybrid aircraft, capable of delivering eco-friendly aviation, is set to take to the skies with a bang, finds Charles Harris
Three wishes for food and farming
Royal hedge planting, the terrible toll on Ukrainian farming and a maiden speech
Seeing the wood for the trees
Scotland's much-evolved forestry industry has become a focus for clever investors
Let's fall in love
Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it. Laura Parker finds that, when it comes to creatures mating for life, persistence, patience and a little dad dancing are key to success
Back from the dead
THREE Wentworth elm saplings have been planted in the grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, and on the Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire-29 years after what was thought to be the lastknown Wentworth elm died.
A man among men
What makes a master? Beloved of the commercial art world, handled warily by art historians, the word has long been opaque. Michael Prodger investigates its many meanings-and discovers that being male confers an unfair advantage
Unearth one of life's luxuries
Black diamonds are a girl's best friend this Valentine's Day, with Périgord truffle-based skincare from TRUFFE
Adventure awaits
Spend an unforgettable family holiday on the Benmore Estate and experience some of Scotland's finest wildlife and sporting activities
Let the art rule the head
Despite being a world leader in everything from jewellery to fashion and music, the UK is failing to nurture creativity at school and in regional centres. Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A Museum, calls for an urgent review
