The Wicklow Mountains are where I first fell in love with the outdoors. When I was six, my dad decided it would be a brilliant idea for our family of three to spend two weeks walking along the Irish c

3 6.3km/3.9 miles/3-4 hours Ascent 760m/2493ft

St Patrick’s Way winds through the mercurial scenery of Northern Ireland, visiting the places linked to Ireland’s patron saint. Ailsa Sheldon sets out to explore its highlights by foot, bike and canoe

2 10.8km / 6.7 miles / 8-9 hours Ascent 1224m/4016ft

Jim Perrin revisits an old haunt to reveal the real high point of the ‘White Barrier’ via Wales’ highest waterfall, a pair of ponies, pubs and ring ouzels thrown in for good measure

We arrive at the top of High Cup Nick in the North Pennines. “It’s like the world starts just over there,” comments my friend Mark. He’s pointing down the U-shaped chasm of High Cup Gill, beyond whose