As winter relinquishes its grip, Tessa Waugh enjoys a copybook meet, with convivial chat, springy turf and good sport – while the real hunting aficionados demonstrate their teleporting skills

The relentlessly positive spirit of the VWH hounds and their huntsman is infectious during a good day’s sport

With 36 years in hunt service behind him, Robert McCarthy is one of the country’s most senior and most respected huntsmen. He talks to Tessa Waugh about Crufts, the current situation and life in Northumberland

The Taunton Vale field enjoy a good day in their prime country, with hounds hunting well

Just a hop, skip and jump from London, but a million miles from the stresses of the city, newly refurbished countryside retreat Burnham Beeches makes a perfect escape, whether you’re seeking a Mother’

These days, there’s a lot of talk about the politics of personality, but standing in the dim light of an extensive cave system near West Wycombe, we were transported back to a time when politics was a