Echoes of the water

The connection between nature and creativity comes in many forms. Here, artists, writers and musicians talk about the different ways in which they take inspiration from the outdoors - and share the places that fuel their imagination

I’ve wandered into an oil painting. In front of me is a millpond with a cream-coloured cottage at its edge and a froth of English greenery on its banks. The scene is unmistakable. Where my mind’s eye

News and current affairs from the world of boating

A slow train journey through southern France shines a light on one of Europe’s early engineering masterpieces, the Canal du Midi, and the historic cities that thrived on its waters

30-minute birder Amanda Tuke sees the benefits of being distracted by birds at home, and on the coast

Simon Ellis completes the final leg of his three-month sabbatical cruise along the South Coast of England