Joy, liberation and good boots: a beginner’s guide to multi-day hiking in Australia

Setting off on your first big bushwalk can be intimidating but good planning (and the right gear) pays off

10 enchanted gardens: beautiful and quirky spaces

Our pick of truly unique gardens inspired by everything from black holes and poison to kidnap and cats

Flower power: why blooms are an essential part of any garden

A homegrown bouquet is great for pollinators, a pleasure for people and a green alternative to buying from the cut-flower industry – so don’t forget to include them on your plot

I’m 53 and want to be able to say I love my life. How do I begin, starting from here?

In midlife and mid-pandemic, our connective ties can feel loose, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Rebinding them requires commitment

Country diary: The hair-trigger pigeons are up again, more dance than flight

Brighton, East Sussex: How many times a day do they do this? How do they decide who goes first?

Go on, I dare you: Philippa Perry’s advice for a fulfilling new year

Philippa Perry tackles readers’ personal problems every week as our agony aunt. Her tip for an amazing 2022? Get out there and find a new passion

Pick the habit: the best podcasts to get you into a new hobby

Want to learn a language, start gardening, read more, or make running and meditation a habit for the new year? There’s a podcast for that …

On the right track: how walking connects me to the land and its people

From the Himalayas to Palestine and north London to south Devon, hiking gives a sense of belonging

Run that marathon! Write that novel! How to make 2022 the year you finally smash your goals

Every year millions of us resolve to learn a new language, get super fit or master a new skill ... then never start. How can we make it happen? Experts explain all

A beginner’s guide to snorkelling: ‘Slow down … you see the most amazing stuff’

An easy entry into adventure, it does not cost much to get started with snorkelling – all you need is a decent mask, a wetsuit and the right place to go