13 h. ago ‘I feel as if we could be in Scandinavia’: exploring the Norfolk that time forgot

Breckland is a little-known part of England that sings with peace and rare wildlife. It would undoubtedly be a national park if so much of it hadn’t been commandeered by the military. But there is a place to stay on its bordersThe small white signs with red lettering are dotted through the landscape: “Military training area – keep out”. It adds to the eerie feel of unusually quiet roads and twisted Scots pines, which gather the long summer dusk around them.But when we arrive at our accommodation on an old farm bordering a forbidden area where the British army conduct secretive manoeuvres, the whole place sings with peace. A red kite cavorts in the breeze over handsome parkland, a cuckoo calls and, down by the Wissey, a gin-clear chalk stream, reed warblers chunter from deep within the rushes. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Summer in Europe’s lakes and mountains: 15 of the best holidays

With cooler air, fewer crowds and lower prices, the mountains make a great alternative to the coastAll Italians race to la spiaggia in summer, leaving the hinterland marvellously empty. Tuscany gets a lot of love, but travel one region over to Umbria and Monti Sibillini national park bewitches with views of the Apennines and eyrie-like, honey-coloured hill towns such as Castelluccio, soaring above a plateau of brightly coloured poppies, cornflowers and daisies. It’s a gorgeous spot for hiking, biking and tracking down a trattoria to dig into specialities such as wild boar with locally grown lentils. You’ll find some of Italy’s finest salami in butcher shops in Norcia, as well as black truffles on the menus of restaurants such as the Michelin-starred Vespasia, which is in a 16th-century palazzo. Alternatively, you could join a tartufaio and their dog to head into the woods on a truffle-hunting tour.How to do it Organic farm Agriturismo Casale nel Parco dei Monti Sibillini (doubles fr...

Politics

3 d. ago Scottish councils, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, to be given full powers to introduce road charging

A new strategy cover car use charges has been announced after the Scottish Government ditched an ambitious traffic reduction target.

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Touron’ sparks outrage after walking toddler up to wild bison inside Yellowstone National Park: ‘I was shocked’

The shocking incident was captured on video, with one observer referring to the adult responsible as a ‘touron’ – a mix of ‘tourist’ and ‘moron’

Events

4 d. ago Two women dead after 'incident' at Eryri National Park after cops pull them from water

This is a breaking news story and is constantly being updated as the story develops

Events

4 d. ago Two women die after being pulled from water in Eryri national park

Officers were called to reports that one woman had been pulled from a pool close to the Watkin Path in Nant Gwynant, Gwynedd

Events

4 d. ago Prince William's desperate mission as 'things need to change' at Dartmoor

Dartmoor National Park faces greater heat stress for crops and livestock in summer and increased and more extreme rainfall in winter, according to the Met Office's research

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5 d. ago Harrowing moment hiker saw friend 'freefall 65ft to death' on dangerous mountain walk

Maria Eftimova, 28, was out hiking in the Welsh mountains with pals when she suffered the fatal fall on the 3,000ft high Tryfan mountain in Wales' Snowdonia National Park

Events

5 d. ago UK village with just 150 residents is hidden gem with 'stunning views' and waterfall

The Lake District National Park is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and charming villages, drawing visitors from across the globe — but this spot is a hidden gem

Politics

5 d. ago Tourist gored by bison in Yellowstone after group ‘approached it too closely’

It is the second bison attack in Yellowstone this spring

Politics

5 d. ago Scottish Government urged to come up with plan B after Galloway National Park rejected

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth wants Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon to act and ensure Galloway isn't forgotten.

Politics

5 d. ago Mystery after two hikers are found dead on remote island in Lake Superior’s Isle Royale National Park

Authorities hiked 11 miles overnight to find the victims’ bodies

Events

6 d. ago SNP minister demands higher immigration to Scotland as she urges PM to help Holyrood tackle country's ageing population

Equalities minister Kaukab Stewart reiterated the Scottish Government's call for PM Sir Keir Starmer to ditch a 'one-size fits all approach' to immigration to the UK.

Politics

6 d. ago Dead elephants and feral sea lions: how poisonous algal blooms harm the planet

As the Earth heats up, the amount of algae in our waterways is rapidly increasing, transforming the colour of lakes and killing entire ecosystemsBefore the elephants collapsed, they walked in aimless circles. Some fell head first, dying where they stood moments earlier; their carcasses scattered near watering holes across the Okavango delta. The unexplained deaths in May 2020 alarmed conservationists. By July, at least 350 elephants had died and nobody knew why.“The animals all had their tusks, so poaching was unlikely. A lot of them had obviously died relatively suddenly: they had dropped on to their sternums, which was indicating a sudden loss of muscle function or neural capacity,” says Niall McCann, director of the conservation group National Park Rescue. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Pheobe Bishop's mum 'ripped apart' as body found in search of missing teen

On Friday, a body was discovered close to the Good Night Scrub National Park, near Gin Gin, in Queensland.

Events

9 d. ago Unloved house next to Eryri National Park in Wales is going to auction: Could it be YOUR perfect project?

Craig y Nos has been owned by the same family for generations, but has fallen into disrepair and needs a full renovation.

Politics

1 week ago Human remains found in search for missing teen Phoebe Bishop hours after housemates charged with murder

Police found the remains at around 2.30pm near Good Night Scrub National Park

Events

1 week ago Human remains found in search for missing teen Pheobe Bishop hours after housemates charged with murder

Police found the remains at around 2.30pm near Good Night Scrub National Park

Events

1 week ago Pheobe Bishop: Queensland police find suspected human remains in search for missing teenager

Police say remains found during search of area near Good Night Scrub national park on Friday afternoonAustralia news live: latest politics updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPolice say they have found what is believed to be human remains as part of the search for missing 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop, the day after her housemates were charged with her murder.The discovery of what is believed to be human remains was made at about 2.30pm on Friday and were found after a search of an area near Good Night Scrub national park, close to Gin Gin, police said.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Cutting off rhinos' horns is a contentious last resort to stop poaching. A new study found it works

A study published in the academic journal Science has found that cutting off the horns of rhinos in Africa leads to a reduction in poaching of the endangered species

Politics