1. Feel the rays in sunny Cyprus

England is in the middle of another bad summer, so STEVEN HUGHES escaped the inconsistent weather and took off for the perennial sun of Cyprus.

2. New friend in the city is number one

Covent Garden is one of London’s most popular tourist destinations.

3. A landmark of luxury on banks of Loch Lomond

How far does £50million go when renovating an 18th Century baronial mansion? STUART WHITE travelled north of the border to the gleaming Cameron House to find out.

4. Take your pick(nic)...

Picnics have come a long way since soggy sandwiches and hard boiled eggs and help comes in the form of this new book from Mark Price, the managing director of Waitrose, called The Great British Picnic Guide.

5. Flower ’bout that for taste in salads – nasturtium

Nasturtiums held a great fascination for me as a child because I was told you could eat them.

6. Disco time means it's party time

A female-led party operation could be the answer to many busy parents’ prayers wanting to give their youngsters a day to remember.

7. Feel like royalty at historic stately home with class

Combining history with luxury, Hartwell House is a glorious stately home less than an hour away. LEIGH MENCARINI discovered it was an ideal destination for a weekend break.

8. Don’t forget the picnic!

9. Make thyme

Summer is a fabulous time for using the freshest of ingredients and there is nothing like picking a bunch of sweet smelling herbs from the garden.

10. ‘Beautiful part of the world keeps drawing me back’

Following in the footsteps of walking romantic Alfred Wainwright, JAMES ASHFORD set off to conquer some more of the many routes of the picturesque Lake District. He certainly earned a good pint of Black Sheep ale.