BBC Countryfile Magazine

Countryfile Magazine inspires you to explore forgotten corners of the great British countryside and provides knowledge of the people and wildlife that inhabit it. We want to tempt you into trying new things, seek out new places and make the most of Britain’s beautiful landscapes.

New Year by moonlight

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THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

JANUARY IN THE COUNTRY • THE BIG PICTURE

TOP 10 Perfect parkruns • Every Saturday at 9am across the UK, hordes of people walk, jog or run five kilometres around a 5k course. Parkrun is a free community event – here are 10 of the most beautiful routes.

NEW COINS

ID GUIDE: BUNTINGS

Adam Henson • DRYSTONE WALLS PROTECT OUR LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE

JOHN CRAVEN • ADAPTATION IS THE KEY TO MANAGING CLIMATE CHANGE

Nicola Chester • A bitterly cold winter makes for a hard life in the countryside, but community prevails

DISCOVER WINTER IN THE BEACONS • With wild, frosty hills in which to roam by day and the warm welcome of market towns and ancient inns at dusk, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park is a fabulous place to escape in the colder months, writes Owen Thomas

NOW GO TO BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG • Where to stay in the national park, by Owen Thomas

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WINTER WARMERS FOR BURNS NIGHT • This 25 January, celebrate Scotland’s greatest poet on Burns Night with these delicious traditional Caledonian recipes with a twist from the Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod

Winter wonders • These spectacular frosty images from the 2023 Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards are sure to send thrills down your spine

Bee-friendly winter flowers • Brighten your garden or windowsill and nourish hungry bees through the chill, too, with James Wong’s top 10 cold-weather blooms

Who killed the capercaillies? • Britain’s largest grouse is one of the most spectacular sights in the Highlands – but at this rate they will soon be extinct. Why? Richard Baynes seeks the culprits

Magic of the moon • The Moon orbits Earth at an average distance of 239,000 miles, yet it impacts almost everything on our planet, from the way animals behave and plants grow to how tides move. Dixe Wills explores the lunar influence

FULL MOONS OF 2024

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FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2023 • Not sure what to read next? We asked four nature and countryside specialists to recommend their three top books of the last year – perfect for reading on long winter nights

YOUR DAYS OUT… IN PHOTOS

Your countryside • HAVE YOUR SAY ON RURAL ISSUES

Country puzzles • RACK YOUR COUNTRYFILE BRAIN WITH THESE WILD AND WONDERFUL GAMES

BBC Countryfile Magazine

BEST DOWN JACKETS • You can’t beat a down jacket for its combination of light weight and superb warmth on outdoor adventures. We put some of the top brands to the test

BUYING A DOWN JACKET • Down-insulated jackets tend to be expensive, so it’s important to make the right choice. Helen Webster explains how to find the right jacket for you

Easy circular walks • When daylight is in short supply, these brisk routes in frosty landscapes will invigorate body and soul

FOUR MORE SHORT CIRCULAR WALKS • Go to countryfile.com to find detailed routes and maps for circular walks 7–10

Next month Plan your summer escape • Where to have a blissful holiday in beautiful countryside

Let’s make nature accessible for all • More all-terrain wheelchairs are crucial for accessibility to the outdoors, says access campaigner Debbie North

01 CORNWALL PORTSCATHO

02 SOMERSET GLASTONBURY TOR

03 NORFOLK CLEY MARSHES

04 GREATER MANCHESTER DOVE STONE RESERVOIR

05 CONWY GREAT...