In this extract from Peter Wise’s new book, an angler is fishing an ice-age lake where the coffin containing an evil monk who was reputed to have come back from the dead was once dumped. But the past is coming back to haunt him…

Each year, Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden, is created afresh from the ice and snow of the nearby River Torne. For this winter, it has recently opened its doors. Guests arrive at Icehotel 36

Daniel Pembrey picks out his top travel books of 2025

Igloo-building, pine needle soup and some seriously high-stakes fire building – Anna Richards heads to the Swiss Jura mountains for a course on extreme cold survival

Why is it important to notice the changing of the seasons and how does it help our understanding of nature? It’s fun and satisfying to notice changes with each passing day. And the things we enjoy doi

CHARLES CECIL