On a leisurely weekend break, the last thing I expected to be wearing was a hard hat with a headlamp, a battery pack and a pair of wellingtons. But there I was, fully togged up – along with seven othe

In January, I make a calendar showing key dates – football fixtures, meetings of the WI, a wedding in the family – and see what gaps there may be for trips away. From that routine came a late spring b

It’s always risky trying somewhere new, when you really like the place that you’ve been going to at February half-term for the past three years. Add to this our annual craving to see the sea after a l

■ Distance: 6 miles/10km ■ Time: 3½ hours ■ Grade: Moderate

■ Distance: 5 miles/8.2km ■ Time: 4 hours ■ Grade: Challenging

My husband, John, decided that he wanted to visit the Haynes Motor Museum, located near the small village of Sparkford in Somerset. As a lad he and his mates had spent many happy hours tinkering with