Ian Johnston

A relaxed three-day sea kayaking route stating at Kyleakin and heading along the Plockton shore before crossing to Applecross for the first overnight. Day 2 was along the southern coast of Applecross to the mouth of Loch Kishorn, across to visit Plockton before a camp near to Kishorn Island. Day 3 was a return to Kyleakin via the Black Islands. Tidal planning is needed on this trip to take account of the strong tidal streams in Kyle Akin. If the wind is against the tide in this narrow strait, rough water can be expected.

A 29 kilometre circular walk starting at Glen Tanar and taking in the 626m summit of Clachan Yell, which is a great viewpoint. Although mostly on good estate tracks, Clachan Yell itself is pathless and has some rough going underfoot. the easiest route to the summit goes to the high point of the estate track and then over short heather and deer grass to the summit. All routes heading to Glen Tanar directly involve some "heather bashing" on fairly steep slopes. Note that the bridge over the water of Tanar at Etnach is no longer useable, if the river is high this will prevent crossing to the main mounth track.

A gravel loop starting at Nethy Bridge and using the Speyside Way and National Cycle Route 7 to get to Aviemore, then the Old Logging Way up to Glenmore, then rough track and forest tracks through the Pass of Ryvoan back to Nethy Bridge. Most guidebooks show this route done clockwise - having done it both ways the anticlockwise loop makes for a better ride as the climbing is mostly done on the Old Logging Way up from Coylumbridge to Glenmore. this is a gentle gradient on a good surface and not really a route that can be descended fast as it gets quite a bit of bike and walking traffic. The section of forest track from Forest Lodge to Nethy Bridge shown on this route is an absolute delight of flowing downhill riding.

A walk which starts at the lower car park of the Hohneck, which can get very busy, so arriving early is recommended, going up to the rather bare and eroded (due to its poularity) summit of the Hohneck. There's a viewpoint indicator here pointing to the main summits visible. mostly across the Rhine valley. I returned to the col and too the Sentier des Neves (Snowfields Path) along the edge of the ridge out to the Kastelberg, returning along the ridge itself. a highlight was three Chamois feeding on a steep patch of grass below the path

A walk starting at Domaine de Haute Bluchers campsite. An initial climb to Lac des Corbeaux on a path and forest road arrives at the lake (which has a car park and can get busy). the yellow waymarked path which has warnings about technicality and danger can be followed up to the viewpoint of Roche du Lac - well worth the effort. the ground is steep and rough but in dry conditions is OK. On descending bac to lac des Corbeaux I walked around the lake before returning to the campsite via the beautiful forest pool of Etaing de Sechemer.