CATEGORIES
Purple reign
It’s September and the grapes hang heavy on the vine, ripe for treading, explains Amy Jeffs
Admiration and intimacy
The Palace of Versailles, France From 1661 until his death in 1715, Louis XIV invested huge sums of money transforming Versailles into a palace that commanded international admiration. Philip Mansel considers the response of English visitors to this astonishing creation
Straight from the horse's mouth
Equus caballus has served us for millennia on the land, the battlefield and in the sporting arena, so it’s no wonder our passion for our trusty steeds remains unbridled, says John Lewis-Stempel
All the gears and no idea
The presenter on the realities of farming and why rock stars should run the countryside
Where champions are made
After Britain’s triumphant equestrian Olympics, there is a chance to watch the stars on home turf, says Kate Green
Wonderful walnuts
IN the run-up to my birthday in mid-July, it is not unusual to see me with a knitting needle heading to the nearest walnut tree.
Why Craft Makes You Happy
Among the design events that Country Life will be hosting over the autumn is one that explores the life-enhancing benefits of the handmade interior, from furniture and lighting to tableware and textiles
The golden eagle has landed
Already firmly established in the Highlands, these majestic raptors are now being reintroduced in southern Scotland. Joe Gibbs investigates their reception and the repercussions
Oh valleys of shifting light and changing skies
The brooding horizons, misty glens and dramatic castles of Scotland make it a mecca for film crews shooting anything from historical dramas to Bond films and sci-fi adventures, finds Daniel Pembrey
The classical castle
Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire The property of David Home Miller and Catherine Macdonald-Home | One of Robert Adam’s less familiar commissions, recently rescued from neglect, has a fascinating story to tell about the development of his castle style, finds Roger White
Berry unusual
There’s a wealth of juicy deliciousness beyond the standard fruitcage fare of strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. Mark Diacono explores all the other berries we should be growing, too
Majestic Scotland
Peace, grandeur and productive lifestyles are all to be had north of the border, as offered by several excellent estates
Come to the carnival
A century after his death, the versatile French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is best known for his Carnival of the Animals suite, but there was much more to him than that, reveals Pippa Cuckson
An art form that makes us think
One of Britain’s greatest living sculptors reflects on a new cathedral project
Wall-to-wall brilliance
Inside the early-18th-century walls of Hopetoun House, West Lothian, bold planting schemes and original designs are providing an exciting new use for this 12-acre former kitchen garden, discovers Noel Kingsbury
Reaching for the top
IN THE GARDEN
‘And your English summer's done'
Deciding to ignore Kipling’s gloomy assessment of August, John Lewis-Stempel and his labrador cool off after a day’s combining with a dip in the stream
Beyond Our Wildest Dreams?
Wilder farming is as close to a silver bullet for the future management of our marginal lands as we’ll find and it’s high time to embrace this new way, contends
Island retreat
Holly Kirkwood has the pick of properties for sale on the Guernsey open market
In the ribbons
Whether pinned on a politician’s lapel or won in the show ring, rosettes can be more precious than shiny trophies
Age is no barrier to greatness
The play’s the thing as Sir Ian McKellen gives his Hamlet and classic musicals are given enlightening new twists
A sailor's playground
From pristine bays and teal waters to seals and puffins, Emma Bamford relishes boating around Guernsey
Rebecca
Britain's greatest mastepieces
Phoenix from the flames
Two glorious houses that burnt to the ground– one in Herefordshire in 1999 and another in Wiltshire in 1882–have been rebuilt, as another, in Devon, has been beautifully updated
Upstairs, downstairs
The Victorian terrace is one of the unsung heroes of 19th-century architecture, not only elegant and space efficient, but also highly adaptable to the changing demands of modern life, believes Clive Aslet
Under the Guernsey stars
From dark skies to wild coastlines and magnificent gardens, Antonia Windsor revels in the Bailiwick’s spectacular natural world
Why fuchsia snobs should think again
Banished for being blowsy and vulgar, the much-maligned fuchsia is at last being welcomed back into society
In A World Of Pure Imagination
More than a century after they were last exhibited, Gustave Moreau’s The Fables remain timeless and glittering visions of a jewelled neverland, finds Matthew Dennison
In the frame
Everything you need for beautiful windows, selected by Amelia Thorpe
Never say never
What resources are needed to save a country house on the brink? Lucy Denton investigates