Hilly horizons and shooting stars: a car-free adventure across Coniston and south Cumbria

Boats, trains and buses lead to a hauntingly beautiful side of the Lake District, bursting with wildlife, culture and relics of the past. While dark-sky canoeing makes for a magical night

Limerick: the not-so-gritty city is one of Ireland’s overlooked gems

This handsome city on the west coast has atmospheric waterside pubs, medieval architecture, and a passion for sport and the performing arts

Twinkle towns: eight great places in the UK for a festive getaway

From Scotland to the South Downs, we celebrate top spots for a sparkling last minute pre-Christmas break – or fun-filled day trip

‘The old town is adorned with twinkling lights’: readers’ favourite Christmas breaks in Europe

Our tipsters revel in Christmas markets, seasonal tipples and live choral performances from Bath to the Black Forest

20 of the best UK pubs with bedrooms, for lunch and a winter walk

What’s better than a winter pub lunch? Staying the night afterwards. Our pick includes coaching inns, a 12th-century abbey and a Game of Thrones hotspot

Where tourists seldom tread, part 6: ‘ugly, lovely towns’ with stories to tell

Dungannon, Burnley, Barrow-in-Furness, Harlow and Merthyr Tydfil may not be quaint, but these robust centres have a poetry that’s all their own

How to do Champagne on a prosecco budget: a tour of France’s most famous wine region

The champagne houses of Épernay and Rheims produce some of the finest fizz in the world, but if you know where to look, there are bargains to be had

Winter wonderlands: 10 family activity days and adventures in the UK

Walking with snowmen, skating with penguins… get festive with our top 10 days out for children

Feel the heat: the Northern Irish beach that’s embracing Scandinavian sauna culture

The Finnish-style Hotbox is making waves on Benone Strand but Ireland has its own tradition of therapeutic ‘sweathouses’. Plus six more stylish beach saunas, from Shetland to Sussex

Steam and sparkle: six of the best Christmas railway journeys in the UK

From Santa Specials for excited children to a luxury Yuletide Evening Express for the grownups, these colourful trips will get you into the festive spirit

Merseyside’s towpath to the past: a 20-mile walk along the Industrial Revolution’s first canal

Giant relics from previous centuries, a restoration effort and our writer’s childhood memories loom large on this hike along Britain’s first modern canal

‘Crisp air and wildlife – fantastic’: readers’ top tips for UK winter outdoors activities

From watching grey seals and migratory birds to fossil hunting and cliff jumping, our tipsters share their coolest experiences

On Yorkshire shores: dinosaurs, birds and beaches on a wild autumn tour

A car-free, off-season trip based on new itineraries for visitors reveals Jurassic period fossils, teeming seabirds, genteel villas, pubs and enormous beaches

A local’s guide to Vilnius, Lithuania: the best bars, culture and bargain hotels

We lift the lid on one of Europe’s best value cities with a tour of old-school canteens, prize-winning communist blocks, and a bar with Jesus on a carpet

French made: the Paris festival celebrating centuries of unique crafts

Couturiers, spirit-makers and neon-sign merchants are among the 600 artisans opening their ateliers next month to showcase their traditional trades