Escape to Dartmoor’s wide-open spaces on this easy four-mile walk from Saddle Tor to Buckland Beacon, with sweeping views, ancient legends, and the famous Ten Commandments stones.

A simple supermarket salad becomes something extraordinary with a quick forage in a West Country garden. From wild garlic to asparagus and Cornish new potatoes, this is a celebration of spring’s freshest flavours.

From harbour-side terraces to hidden countryside lawns, here are some of the finest pub gardens in the South West—personally tried, tested and worth seeking out on a sunny day.

A spontaneous stop on Dorset’s dramatic coast road leads to a bracing walk along Cogden Beach to West Bexington. Tough underfoot but richly rewarding, this stretch of Chesil Beach offers wild scenery, quirky beach art and a memorable meal at The Club House.

A BBC Radio 4 play about Exmoor writer Hope Bourne sparked memories of a remarkable encounter on the moors. This personal story reveals her fiercely independent life in a remote caravan, her outspoken views, and the extraordinary resilience that made her one of Britain’s most fascinating countryside voices.

The Lizard Peninsula is Cornwall’s most dramatic and distinctive landscape — a windswept headland stretching into the Atlantic and home to Britain’s most southerly point. From the turquoise waters of Kynance Cove to the timeless fishing village of Cadgwith, this remarkable corner of the West Country feels more like Brittany than Britain.

The silence of the mountain was deceptive. Somewhere in the shifting shadows of the valley, the pursuit was closing in. Sebastian felt the cold air bite at his lungs—a sharp reminder that they were no longer in the gentle, familiar hills of Exmoor. "We can't stop," Sasha whispered. Her eyes were fixed on the jagged peaks ahead. Sebastian looked back. Far below, a single pinprick of light flickered. They were being hunted by a family that viewed loyalty as a commodity to be

Why do we eat lamb at Easter, and where did the Easter Bunny actually come from? From the high slopes of Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor to ancient Roman prayers and Persian equinox celebrations, Martin Hesp explores the deep-rooted history behind our favourite seasonal flavours and shares his tips for the perfect traditional roast.

From the ancient ‘Lamb of God’ tradition on Dunkery Beacon to the ruined churches of the Somerset Levels, discover the 10 best hills to climb in the West Country this Easter for stunning views and a touch of local folklore.

Exmoor is shaped by its rivers. From the wild, boggy heights of the Chains to wooded valleys and hidden coastal combes, these waterways define the landscape — and some of the finest walks on the moor.

Martin Hesp reveals the real-life journalism, photography and Cornish landscapes behind The Cornish Snapper: The Granite Mystery — a modern mystery where a sharp-eyed photographer and a seasoned reporter uncover clues others miss.

The Isles of Scilly sit far out in the Atlantic, where fishing remains part of everyday life. Here lobster, crab and the day’s catch move quickly from sea to plate, offering visitors a true taste of Cornwall’s island seafood traditions.

A guide to the Dunkery Beacon walk on Exmoor, including where to park at Webber’s Post, the best views over Porlock Vale and the legends surrounding Exmoor’s highest hill.

I wouldn’t put this up in summer—many of these beaches can get crowded. But in spring autumn you might visit any of these ten spots and find yourself entirely alone. From the rope-climb descent of Pedn Vounder to the fossil-filled pavements of Doniford and the Caribbean-white sands of St Martin’s Bay, this is my personal shortlist of the West Country’s finest stretches of sand. Whether you are looking for surf, silence, or a sense of history, these are the places that haunt t

It might sound crazy to cook on a beach in midwinter - but a day out with Devon’s Dan the Fishman is just what’s needed to blow away the Christmas cobwebs

An introduction to Porthgwarra on the South West Cornish Coast - part of the inspiration for the first Cornish Snapper novel

Here is an evocative excerpt for your website and social media. I’ve designed this to hook the "old school" reader with a strong seasonal opening while subtly hinting at the expert advice contained within. Wild Garlic: The Pungent Herald of Spring 2026 The distinctive scent of garlic is once again wafting through the West Country woods, marking the true start of the foraging season. From the simplicity of a butter-rich omelette to the vibrant kick of a fresh pesto, wild garl

In this article we hear about the loneliness of the old lighthouse keepers and we feature a remarkable podcast interview with one of the men who used to serve on some of the loneliest lights of them all…

Can a press photographer be the modern-day Sherlock Holmes? Award-winning journalist Martin Hesp introduces 'The Cornish Snapper', a new mystery series born from a BBC debate and set in the rugged landscape of West Penwith. Meet Veryan Lammoran and Thomas Hamilton—the most unlikely investigative duo in the West Country.

Exmoor’s ancient builders had a problem: no big rocks. While Stonehenge got the glory, our local ancestors had to make do with "micro-monoliths." From the "napping floors" of Hawkcombe Head to the mysterious stone circles near Porlock, I explore why these tiny stones still hold a 7,000-year-old secret about who we really are.