The wait is nearly over: The Field’s famous Christmas number is winging its way to homes across the land.

Packed with festive sport, including Adrian Dangar reporting from North Yorkshire’s magnificent Studley Royal shoot, plus Rory Knight Bruce revelling in the high birds and fine hospitality at Bettws Hall’s Kempton estate. Eleanor Doughty speaks to those sporting stalwarts at the coalface of the countryside who are busier than ever over the Christmas period, while the heyday of big guns is celebrated in our look back at punt gunning. Sarah Kate Byrne enjoys a high day following the Old English hounds of the Warwickshire, as James Fisher marvels at the skills of artisan fish carvers.

We take you to St Moritz, dashing through the snow on polo ponies, as the uber-glamorous Alpine resort prepares to celebrate the 40th-anniversary of the Snow Polo World Cup. Janet Menzies takes life at a more sedate pace as she examines the pull of tractor runs: lighting up the countryside with festive cheer while raising millions for good causes. Meanwhile, Marcus Armytage is hoping to find a Bedlington terrier in his Christmas stocking: the very best of terriers in his book. Despite the horrors of war, the Essex Yeomanry found ingenious ways of bringing good spirits to the Western Front with their passion for and pursuit of fieldsports in the First World War.

Isn’t it time you rediscovered the pleasure of a decent cognac, ask Roger Field. Harry Wallop delves into the history of mince pies, as Joe Nesbitt-Larking pays homage to the queens of cheese: the women at the forefront of artisan cheese.

This and all your favourites including sporting artists, cookery, gundogs, the best kit and much, much more including Mary Skipwith’s interview with the Duchess of Rutland, who talks of her farming roots, why fieldsports are a great leveller and the Government’s lack of vision for the countryside.