• Stay on the path and away from cliff edges

• Wear boots and warm clothing

• Take extra care in windy and/or wet conditions

• Always supervise children and dogs

• Leave gates and property as you find them

• Remember that mobile signal can be patchy in some coastal destinations so let

• someone know where you are heading and when you are due to arrive

• Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home

More down to earth, a new mountain bike centre near Tomintoul, which could create the longest single track descent in Scotland, has been approved by the CNPA. Two trails will be built – 10 kilometres and 19 kilometres – through the forests and on existing forest roads. The descent from the summit of Carn Daimh on the longer of the trails will be approximately 4.7 kilometres. CNPA Planning Officer, Mary Grier, said, “Interesting and challenging trails will be created from the existing landform rather than being man-made and will involve limited construction and minimal tree felling. We’ve also added a condition that the trail should be no wider than 1.2 metres, all of which helps protect the surrounding forest and landscape. Currently both cyclists and walkers use the forest roads and the likelihood of conflict between the two has been identified as low.  The increased promotion of the new centre could attract more people to enjoy the outdoors in this area of the park and explore the existing network of paths.” More detail can be found in the planning paper at www.cairngorms.co.uk/park-authority/planning/planning-papers.

5th May 2012 will see the official launch of this monumental project and events will continue throughout the summer as communities take the opportunity to hold their own celebrations; listings will be available on a Wales Coast Path website to be launched in early 2012. Big Welsh Coastal Walks will be organised by Ramblers Cymru. These will be a series of led walks, suitable for all levels of fitness, along the Path in what is expected to be one of the largest mass participation events ever seen in Wales.The whole path will be accessible to walkers and, where practical, some sections will also be suitable for cyclists, families with pushchairs, people with restricted mobility and horse riders.

It’s tipped by Lonely Planet as one of the World’s top ten destinations for 2012 – www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/travel-tips-and-articles/76854.

Link up on Facebook and Twitter for news and stories about the Wales Coast Path:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wales-Coast-Path/140486052706861

http://twitter.com/#!/WalesCoastPath

The mountains featuring in the Torridon Winter Walking Festival’s programme contribute to some of the finest mountain scenery in Europe – Beinn Eighe, Liathach, Coire Mhic Fhearchair, Beinn Alligin and Beinn na h-Eaglaise – and require not only stamina and fitness to conquer in both summer and winter conditions, but also an introductory lesson in Gaelic pronunciation at the very least (included).

As the high level walks are aimed at people who are used to the mountain environment, they require a reasonable level of fitness.  The walks take in wild places, don’t necessarily follow footpaths, and conditions underfoot coupled with the terrain dictate that the walks are of a medium to strenuous nature.  The rewards, on the other hand, are of spectacular uninterrupted views over a stunning Highland landscape bathed in a winter freeze. Low level walks also feature on the Festival programme, and follow estate roads and footpaths passing through frozen glens and past frozen lochans without the commitment of a hill climb.

There are plenty of accommodation options in the area – many listed on the Festival’s website – ranging from youth hostels, B&Bs and guest houses to self-catering, inns and hotels.

For further information on the Torridon Winter Walking Festival, to book a place on one of the walks, to find out more about the guides, the routes and the accommodation, check out www.thetorridon.com/activities/walking-festival.

Conservationists, and many sea eagle enthusiasts, had been concerned that the high winds felt across Scotland in May could have had a detrimental impact on breeding white-tailed eagles at the vulnerable part of the season when most nests contain small chicks. Indeed, some nests failed including that of BBC Springwatch star, nicknamed ‘Itchy’, who experts fear lost his chicks in the storm. However, the bad weather failed to blow the species off course. Recent survey figures for the 2011 breeding season reveal that there were 57 territorial pairs in Scotland, an increase of 10% on the previous year. A total of 43 young fledged successfully from these nests.

White-tailed eagles finally became extinct in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century, due to human persecution and collecting of eggs and skins. After an absence of over half a century, a re-introduction programme began in 1975 on the Isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides, aimed at returning these majestic raptors to the Scottish skies. Since then, the species’ population has been steadily recovering, and conservationists believe there are now as many ‘flying barn doors’, as they are affectionately known, in the UK as there were over 150 years ago.

The successful breeding season on the west coast comes as a further 16 white-tailed eagle chicks, gifted by the people of Norway, were released from a secret location in Fife in August. The chicks are part of a six-year project, now entering its final year, to increase and expand the range of this iconic species into its former haunts in the east of Scotland.

Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland, said, “The white-tailed eagle is part of Scotland’s rich natural heritage and it is fantastic to see them back where they belong and gradually increasing in numbers and range on the west coast. They are improving biodiversity in this country and bringing in important economic benefits to the communities they soar above. Now with the east coast reintroduction entering its final year, we are anticipating the first steps towards the establishment of a breeding population of sea eagles on the other side of Scotland. There is plenty of suitable habitat and natural wild prey to support a healthy population.”

The technical snow-tec socks have in-built high density ‘low impact’ padded zones on the heel and shin for extra protection. The cushioning foot zone helps prevent foot movement and blisters when wearing ski boots. The Nylon and Lycra yarns provide extra foot and calf support whilst the wool and acrylic blend provides excellent thermal insulation.

The Manbi snow-tec socks come in 3 different size ranges (4-6½, 7-9½ and 10-13) and a range of colours. They are ideal for all outdoor winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, sledging, cross-country skiing and off piste.

Named as one of  Entrepreneur magazines’‘100 Brilliant Companies is Fit for Trips, a pre-travel fitness company that offers customised programs to get travellers in shape for physical adventures such as climbing Kilimanjaro or heli-skiing the Canadian Rockies. Fitness programs are conducted virtually and include videos, charts to track progress, and access to professional fitness coaches – all via the internet and printable or downloadable to portable devices like iPods. Each program is precisely tailored to the type of trip and level of difficulty, whether walking, hiking, paddling, climbing, or other activity. Similarly, being physically prepared for an adventure trip reduces the chances of injury, soreness and fatigue or failure to complete an activity like summiting a mountain. “I founded Fit for Trips to ensure that any traveler with an adventurous desire could fulfill their dream. Our customized programs make it possible for more travelers to go on adventures—and enjoy them beyond expectations,” says founder Marcus Shapiro. For more information on the specialised programs offered, visit the website: www.fitfortrips.com.

Even better, pack your camping gear and book a pitch for a spot of Christmas camping. Earlier this year, WWF-UK published Livewell which showed how people could eat in a way that was good both for them and the environment. Now, Livewell’s five Christmas ambassadors present their top tips to make festive fare healthy for you and the planet:

Good King Waste-less – “Up to 30% of what is brought home is wasted. Get creative with leftovers so your pennies and food provisions stretch even further.”
Peas on earth – “Enjoy more seasonal fruit and vegetables such as spuds, parsnips and brussels sprouts.”
The Gutcracker – “Eat less processed food as they often contain high levels of tummy-tubbing sugar, fat and salt. They also tend to be far more resource-intensive to produce.”
Christ our savor-er – “Relish each mouthful of your Christmas turkey or ham and try to have modest portions of seasonal meats so that they are a tasty complement to your meal. That way, you can enjoy all the trimmings, too!”
Scroogetinise – “Try to eat certified food, stuff that meets a credible certified standard – like from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for fish, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for palm oil or RSPCA Freedom Foods for meat and eggs.”

And the icing on the Christmas cake?

By following these simple steps, ‘YULE’ be helping to avoid climate change (food is responsible for 30% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions), conserving ecosystems on which precious wildlife depend (orang-utans and armadillos whose habitats are being cleared for palm oil and soya plantations will be particularly grateful), and improving your family’s health and well-being with nutritious and delicious meals. Duncan Williamson, sustainable consumption programme manager at WWF, says, “Christmas is the season of good will to all. And that includes nature. So set aside those miserable low-carb diets and go low carbon instead. Our Livewell Christmas launched with a traditional Christmas menu and shopping list, that includes all the good stuff like turkey, nuts, bacon, cheese, sprouts and pudding. This really is a low-carbon healthy week of food that the whole family can en-joyeux over Nöel!”. WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. It’s working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Find out more about WWF’s work, past and present, at www.wwf.org.uk.

For more information:

Visit Livewell to download its special Christmas week menu and shopping list, visit wwf.org.uk/livewellxmas.
Visit Eat Seasonably (eatseasonably.co.uk) for information about what fruit and veg is in season now.

Visit Wrap (wrap.org.uk) to learn how to reduce the amount of food you waste.

Billed as the ultimate walk, the arduous hike over Nepal’s mighty mountain range stretches from Taplejung in the shadow of the world’s third-highest peak, Mt. Kanchenjunga, in the east to Humla in the west at the border with Tibet.

Adventurers who complete the full grueling trek will encounter a huge variety of cultures from the mainly Buddhist Tamang people of the central Langtang region to the ancient animist practices that mix with Hinduism in the far west. GHT covers 16 districts, ranging from Dolpa that connects with the Tibetan plateau, to Darchula, which borders India. It will take experienced trekkers around five months to complete, although it can also be broken down into ten smaller sections.

The country has 8 of the world’s 14 highest peaks over 8,000 metres, including the world’s highest, of course – Mt. Everest at 8,848 metres. The Everest region offers several trails that range from 10 day to 3 week packages. The Annapurna Circuit, Nepal’s most popular, is a 300 kilometre, 3 week trek that rises to 5,416 metres and passes through two river valleys.

Just remember to pack your thermals!

Detailed information on the GHT can be found at www.thegreathimalayatrail.org.

Nepals Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) is one of the longest and highest trekking routes in the world. Image courtesy of Adventure Travel Live