A stunning location overlooking the loch. The hostel is recently refurbished to full 'green' standards with both wind and solar power and recycling. Well located for exploring the hills around Rannoch Moor - the best way to arrive is by train to Corrour Station and then walk the 1km to the hostel.

A must for scenic beauty in a remote location.

Loch Ossian YH, Corrour, Fort William, Inverness-shire.
0870 004 1139
www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/Web/Site/Hostels/txt_LochOssian.asp

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A laid back, small town in the Roya valley hard up against the border with Italy.

Easily accessible by train from Nice and surrounded by beautiful hills perfect for exploring by foot or cycle.

Great entry point to the Mercantour National Park.

The town has its share of interesting buildings including an ancient bridge and the baroque Saint Michel cathedral set in an impressive town square.

With plenty of places to eat well Sospel is a peaceful haven away from the hectic coastal area.

www.sospel-tourisme.com/

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A brilliant way to get into fantastic situations amongst some of the most dramatic, spectacular and beautiful mountains in the Alps.

The via ferratas are protected routes, or climbs, with fixed cables and some ladders and bridges which allow you to get to places normally reserved for rock climbers.

Even so some experience and mountain sense is needed, as well as the correct equipment that can be easily hired.

Arabba is one centre that gives access to a range of routes.

They are graded to degrees of difficulty.

Others are Cortina and Corvara.

One way to get there is to fly to Venice/Treviso followed by a relatively short drive north.

Essential reading are Volumes 1 and 2 of 'Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites' by John Smith and Graham Fletcher and published by Cicerone.

Arabba Tourist Office, Via Boè 3, Arabba, I 32020, Italy.
Tel: 39 0 436 791 30

Cortina d'Ampezzo Tourist Office, P.tta San Francesco 8, Cortina dAmpezzo, I-32043, Italy. Tel: 39 0436 3231/2/3/4/5.

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The Garganta de Cares (Cares Gorge) cuts deep into the Picos de Europa, a beautiful range of mountains rising up to 2500m and close to the north coast of Spain.

Arenas de Cabrales is a delightful hill town and a good place to reach Poncebos for access into the gorge. The path is spectacular and threads its way through fantastic scenery to the small hamlet of Cain where refreshment is available before the walk back. The round trip can take about 6 hours and, although the path is entirely safe in good conditions, vertigo sufferers might not find it to their liking.

There are plenty of other more challenging walks in the area for the suitably experienced and equipped, with a number of refugios, Alpine style mountain huts, to allow round trips through the range.

Arenas de Cabrales Tourist Office, Carretera General, E-33554 Arenas de Cabrales, Spain. Tel: + 34 985 846 484

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Friday - trains to Inverness with bike on board.

Saturday - head west and into Glen Affric - one of the longest and most beautiful. Narrow lanes, east side of Strathglass, lead to forest track to single track with fantastic scenery. Youth hostel at Allt Beithe in remote spot at head of glen.

Sunday - west past Camban, some bike pushing needed, and Allt Granda Falls followed by long descent along Gleann Lichd to west coast at Morvich. Road to Skye, over bridge and down Sleat peninsula. Fabulous views of Knoydart for free. Youth Hostel at Armadale.

Monday - first ferry to Mallaig and train, via scenic West Highland line to Fort William, Glasgow and back home in time for work Tuesday.

Mountain bikes needed but the route has everything - beautiful forest, lochs, mountains and coast combined with scenic train journeys and great hostels.

Youth Hostels at Inverness, Glen Affic and Armadale.
Trains at Glasgow, Inverness, Mallaig and Fort William.

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Tucked away down country lanes between Concarneau and Pont-Aven. A really lovely beach - ideal for children with soft sand, sloping gently into the sea. A small Ile off-shore and small dunes and rocks for exploration and adventure.

A number of excellent campsites - the one where we camped was linked to the beach by a path through a field of poppies. Good place for the first French camping trip with a young family.

Raguenes Plage, Nevez, Brittany

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Recently re-opened cafe and B&B in splendidly isolated position on Rannoch Moor. Only accessible on foot or by train to its own station!

Great food and drink (lots of venison-based dishes from the local estate) and within walking distance of beautiful lochs and hills. Equally brilliant Loch Ossian eco-Youth Hostel close by.

Corrour Station House, Corrour Estate, Fort William, PH30 4AA
- at Corrour Station.

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The Juma is a small hotel right on the square at the centre of Pollenca and above one of the local cafes. It is comfortable and the owners, a local family are very helpful and welcoming. So are the bar staff.

Plaça Major, Pollenca, Mallorca.

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