Country Living UK July 2022

Reading through the pages of this coastal-themed issue prompted me to recall places by the sea that I have visited and loved. Those that sprung to the forefront of my mind include: Northumberland’s Coastal Path, where clifftop castles tower over rows of colourful terraced houses that tumble down to the beach; the Scottish Highlands, with its mountainous landscapes and crystal-clear light framing every glorious view; and North Norfolk’s wide sandy beaches and big vistas, where the sky magically touches the sea on the horizon. Each place, unique and special, holds many happy memories defined not just by the scenery but the elements, too. Being up close to nature on the coast really connects you to a place and makes you feel differently about it – and life. On page 77,…

“The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside”Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib SENSE OF THE SEASON… head in the clouds Lie back and watch as pillowy clouds move gently overhead in a kaleidoscope of pictures. Warmer months are the perfect time to bask in the sun and let your mind wander, spotting dancing dragons, familiar faces or teacups in the sky. Cloud shapes can also give clues about the weather that’s on the way: cotton wool-like cumulus clouds mean it’ll probably be fair for the rest of the day, while billowing cumulonimbus suggest summer showers and even thunder. metoffice.gov.uk DON’T MISS Giffords Circus Coming soon to a common or castle near you: the latest show from the celebrated Giffords Circus. ¡Carpa! features aerial acrobatics, juggling, dance, horseplay and clowns – all…

SPOTTER’S GUIDE Hidden coves Sneak away to enjoy unparalleled sea and sand – without the crowds MAN O’ WAR BEACH, DORSET Steep steps descend to this shingle stretch; scramble down to the aquamarine waters, protected from swells by a reef (visit-dorset.com). DRUIDSTON HAVEN, PEMBROKESHIRE Hidden from the road, this curve of velvet sand is a locals’ favourite, cradled by cliffs and accessed only by the coastal path (visitpembrokeshire.com). CORAL BEACH, ISLE OF SKYE White sand and blue waters appear like a mirage amid the tufty moorland (visitscotland.com).…

Shetland With its wild shoreline, vast volcanic landscapes and primordial stone circles, Shetland might have been conjured from a storybook. Towering clifftops host seabird cities, while seals, otters and, occasionally, orcas slip through the surf below. Although temperatures rarely rise above 13 degrees, the summer sun lingers for up to 19 hours a day in July. WHAT TO SEE AND DO Closer to Norway than to Edinburgh, this ancient archipelago was under Norse rule until 1469. On the main island, known as Mainland, Jarlshof offers 4,000 years of human settlement on a single site. Take a tour to see Bronze Age homesteads, an Iron Age broch and a medieval farmstead (shetland-heritage.co.uk). From Jarlshof, take the grassy coastal path towards Sumburgh Head, an RSPB nature reserve whose crags teem with guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes…

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THIS MONTH Growing edible flowers Author and seasoned smallholder Sally shares her Yorkshire plot with sheep, horses, hens, ducks, an orchard, vegetable garden and pond My herb garden has lost the plot. Or at least that’s what it looks like. I scattered borage seeds a few years back, hoping for the odd flash of blue, but the plants have taken hold with a vengeance and are threatening to overwhelm the rest of the bed and, dare I say it, me. But I don’t care. Not really. Borage is one of those wonderful plants that gives so much while asking for so little in return. Not only does it dazzle, with its azure star-shaped petals, but pollinating insects go crazy for it. If you walk past the herb garden on a summer’s evening,…