‘I was connected again to those I love’: writers on meeting up with friends at last

Whether it’s running, walking, swimming or picnicking, all are more fun with friends. Writers share their experience of the return of the rule of six in England

Secular pilgrims: why ancient trails still pack a spiritual punch

Where kings and abbots walked, tourists now follow. Are these increasingly popular trips just another holiday or are we getting more religious?

10 tranquil places for lockdown calm in the UK: readers’ tips

Gardens and graveyards, coasts and country parks all offer welcome respite from fear and sorrow, but our tipsters also found peace in our biggest cities

10 of the most tranquil places in the UK

Many of us have stumbled upon unexpected corners of serenity during lockdown. Here’s our bucket list of natural spaces to explore when we can

UK Covid: PM warns 8 March is earliest England’s schools can go back, if it will not cause ‘surge in disease’ – as it happened

PM stresses 8 March ‘earliest’ date for schools reopening; 1,725 deaths recorded in second highest daily toll; arrivals from red list countries face quarantine

Come on in! The exhilarating joy of outdoor ice-bathing

The popularity of outdoor swimming has soared during lockdown. These bathers are even breaking the ice to go for an endorphin-releasing winter dip

The joy of steps: 20 ways to give purpose to your daily walk

Has the novelty of a prescribed stroll long since worn off? From tracking animals to uncovering hidden history, here’s how to discover a new world in your neighbourhood

I got cabin fever in lockdown … so I built my own beach hut

Few things say escape like a beach hut. After checking out some classic coastal designs – and remembering boyhood dens – I’m making one in the garden

How intention turns a walk into a pilgrimage – plus 5 British pilgrim trails

The co-author of a book on Britain’s pilgrimages reveals the benefits of structuring a walk around a purpose that is ‘determined by your heart’

Semi-solo hiking brings me the gift of time alone, and the joy of reuniting

Needing solitude in lockdown but wanting her partner’s presence, our writer came up with the idea of taking opposite walking routes