The Best Things In (Country) Life Are Free

It’s hard to do anything in a city without spending money. Yet in the country, some of the greatest pleasures are there for the taking

Swimming

In town, you usually have to pay for the pleasure of a few lengths in a heavily chlorinated pool, but in the country, the bracing waters of British lakes (such as Coniston Water, Cumbria, above), rivers and beaches offer a far more wholesome experience.

Food

It’s possible to pay a small for tune for a punnet of blackberries and a bag of mushrooms from Borough Market, but in hedgerows and woodland they are up for grabs. Depending on the season, you can take your pick of Nature’s bounty—sloes, wild garlic, chestnuts and crab apples all offer the flavour of the countryside.

The night sky

Planetarium? Heavens, no! In the absence of light pollution, the night sky in many parts of the country reveals celestial wonders. As well as a chance to learn to tell the Plough from the Sickle, astronomical study offers the perfect cover for a furtive Cohiba—not to mention any other nefarious activities you may want to keep from your host/spouse/parents.

Flowers

Cow parsley and daffodils might not combine the scent and sophistication of roses and peonies, but they have a capacity to evoke the pleasures of our ever-changing seasons. Better still, rather than costing £20 a bunch, they are free to anyone with a pair of secateurs happy to spend a few hours browsing verges, fields and hedgerows—but be aware of which are protected and don’t take too many.

The views