{"id":17749,"date":"2022-07-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=17749"},"modified":"2022-08-04T13:13:31","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T11:13:31","slug":"a-free-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/2022\/07\/28\/a-free-country\/","title":{"rendered":"A free country…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Walk the Coleridge Way to Porlock on the Somerset coast, a low-cost adventure full of wonder and delight <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

A free country\u2026<\/h2>\n\n
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“The traditional six weeks of summer holidays pit dreams of golden adventures further afield against the harder reality of trying to find somewhere to visit at a time when everyone with children is doing the same. Add in a steep rise in the cost of living and the fun of the summer break can vanish. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

One of the great joys of the British countryside is that walking, watching nature, swimming in the sea and even wild camping in some places are open to all and largely free. Ben Lerwill beautifully illustrates this in his magnificent Somerset stroll<\/a> in the footsteps of poet ST Coleridge. These simple pleasures are immensely rewarding. <\/p>\n\n

But what about transport and accommodation? Is there any way to keep such costs down and still have a great time? We asked two intrepid travel writers to share their best tips for country breaks<\/a> that don\u2019t cost the Earth. <\/p>\n\n

A similarly optimistic tone imbues the whole magazine this month. I was warmed by the story of the Beaumonts, a Lake District couple who have revolutionised their farm<\/a> by embracing nature. Their approach has regenerated their land and income. Then there\u2019s the uplifting tale of botanist Leif Bersweden, cycling the country to catalogue our wildflowers<\/a> and working to revive them. We need these beautiful plants to survive, he says. So let\u2019s kick the idea of neatness in nature into the long grass and give the strimmer a summer break, too. <\/p>\n\n

Fergus Collins, editor@countryfile.com <\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t miss our nature and countryside Plodcast \u2013 available on all podcast providers <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

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HOW TO CONTACT US<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

To subscribe or for subs enquiries<\/strong>:
Domestic telephone:<\/strong> 03330 162112
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Contact<\/strong>: www.buysubscriptions.com\/contacts
Post:<\/strong> BBC Countryfile Magazine, <\/em>PO BOX 3320, 3 Queensbridge, The Lakes, Northampton NN4 7BF<\/p>\n\n\n\n


To talk to the editorial team:<\/strong>
Email: <\/strong>editor@countryfile.com<\/a>
Telephone:<\/strong> 0117 300 8580 (answerphone; please email rather than call)
Post:<\/strong> BBC Countryfile Magazine, <\/em>Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST Advertising enquiries: 0117 300 8815 App support: http:\/\/apps.immediate.co.uk\/support<\/a> Syndication and licensing enquiries (UK and international): richard.bentley@immediate.co.uk<\/a> +44 (0)207 150 5168<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Follow us on Twitter: @countryfilemag <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Follow us on Instagram: @Countryfilemagazine <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com\/countryfilemagazine <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find us online for lots of bonus content: www.countryfile.com<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

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THIS MONTH\u2019S CONTRIBUTORS <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Ben Lerwill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 51-mile Coleridge Way begins in the Quantock Hills before undulating gently \u2013 and occasionally steeply \u2013 across Exmoor to the coast.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Sabrina Pace-Humphreys<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrail running takes me to places inaccessible by car, train or bus. To the top of hills where, at the break of dawn, I feel gratitude for the body I have.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Leif Bersweden<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHopping off my bike to explore small roadside copses and meadows provided some of the best and most unexpected finds of the year.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Photos: Getty; Courtesy of inov-8\/James Appleton<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A free country\u2026 “The traditional six weeks of summer holidays pit dreams of golden adventures further afield against the harder reality of trying to find somewhere to visit at a time when everyone with children is doing the same. Add in a steep rise in the cost of living and the fun of the summer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":17742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"3","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"3","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_3-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_3-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"August-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"August-2022","purple_external_id":"August-2022-3-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"August-2022-3-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000084059||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000084059||","purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.193","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.countryfile.193","purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.193","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.countryfile.193","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"91da22fd-9e7f-40d1-a93f-fc46e9516d91","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-08-04T10:52:44Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"5dc448b8-76b0-4b7b-ad99-2b2e3fd43b3e","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-08-04T11:13:39Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAw==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AXcRIuHawS3utmSsuP9Q7Pg","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[23],"tags":[14],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80.jpg",1361,845,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80-300x186.jpg",300,186,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80-768x477.jpg",768,477,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80-1024x636.jpg",800,497,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80.jpg",1361,845,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2022\/07\/6b9d78df-b406-4d5c-a081-2728d22c5b80.jpg",1361,845,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A free country\u2026 “The traditional six weeks of summer holidays pit dreams of golden adventures further afield against the harder reality of trying to find somewhere to visit at a time when everyone with children is doing the same. 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