Roger Butler peers over steep slopes on a roller coaster along Offa’s Dyke

Alex Roddie enjoys the best bit of the undulating South Downs Way

OUR latest adventure takes us to a tranquil setting alongside the glorious River Thames, to charismatic Cookham in Berkshire. Many enthuse that this is the most scenic stretch of the river from source

■ Distance: 5¼ miles/8.5km ■ Time: 2½ hours ■ Grade: Easy

THE area where the River Tees approaches the sea has been largely industrial in recent times, but the upper stretch of the river is very different in character. Here, while the villages, hamlets and r

When friends who recently moved to west Devon invited us to see their new home, we decided to combine the visit with a brief autumn tour of the area, so we could explore the beautiful landscapes of Da