■ Distance: 9½ miles/15.3km ■ Time: 4½ hours ■ Grade: Moderate

I’m sceptical about news stories you sometimes read of big black cats roaming the countryside. I was, however, tempted to don my boots for a hike I found on the internet titled In the Footsteps of the

■ Distance: 6 miles/9.5km ■ Time: 4 hours ■ Grade: Moderate

■ Distance: 5 miles/8km ■Time: 2½ hours ■Grade: Easy

■ Distance: 7¾ miles/12.5km ■ Time: 3½-4hours ■ Grade: Moderate

■ Distance: 6 miles/9.6km ■ Time: 3½ hours ■ Grade: Moderate