Have a happy hike with Simon Yates in the Lakes
Some events significantly alter the course of your life. Growing up in a village in south Leicestershire, I had little idea of the mountainous and wilderness terrain found elsewhere within the British Isles, or the adventure opportunities they presented.
At 15, that changed for good when I was offered the chance to undertake a magical week of supervised outdoor activities from a camp at Coniston in the heart of the Lake District.
We canoed on the lake and walked through the hills. The landscape was stunning and being among it made me feel euphoric. The fittest of us were chosen to undertake a two-day walk, which included an ascent of Scafell Pike, and we bivouacked for the night high on its slopes, sleeping under the stars.
When an instructor asked if two pupils wanted to go rock-climbing the following day, I quickly raised my hand. I did not know it then, but a life-changing decision had been made. I cannot remember the name of the climb, but do recall the location - Dow Crag - above the tarn of Goat's Water high on The Old Man of Coniston, whose quarry-scarred slopes sweep down to the village. It must have been a good day, as it started a life-long passion for climbing that is still running 29 years later.
As part of my involvement with the first ever Coniston Walking Festival, I have chosen what I would flippantly call a "happy hike", as my guided walk - a strenuous circuit of fells. From the village, a direct route leads up The Old Man of Coniston via Church Beck, past old quarries and the small tarn of Low Water to the summit - the highest part of the route.
Once the initial climb is complete there is ample time to enjoy the stupendous views and ridge walking north to Swirl How, east to Wetherlam and then back southwards over the Furness Fells. It will be a great day out, which will certainly be rounded off with a pint of the award winning Coniston Bluebird Ale in the Sun Hotel, or another one of the village's excellent pubs.
I am a fortunate man. I have managed to fashion a life around what I love doing most - climbing mountains. I met my wife in the Lake District and 14 years ago we made Cumbria our home. I am proud to say our two young children will grow up as Cumbrians. Looking back, I can only wonder what course my life may have taken had I not gone on that school camp all those years ago. Coniston will always have a special place in my heart.
· The Coniston Walking Festival (conistonwalkingfestival.org) runs September 28-30. For accommodation, call 0845 4501199, golakes.co.uk. Simon Yates's guided walk on September 29 is sold out but we have secured extra tickets. The first five readers to email info@conistonwalkingfestival.org quoting "Guardian offer" will receive a free pair of tickets for the walk.
Enjoy autumn blooms, Crete
If you love flowers, then make up for the dismal summer with an eight-day hiking tour of Crete. The island not only has flora typical of the Mediterranean, but 140 species of its own, making it one of the best places to see wild flowers in Europe.
The tour is based in Chania, on the comparatively unspoilt west side of the island. Apart from the blooms, there are aeons of history, stunning mountain scenery and beautiful walks.
· The tour departing October 16 costs £895pp including flights, full-board and guiding with Naturetrek (01962 733051, naturetrek.co.uk).
Biking the Borders
Mountain biking has grown quickly in Scotland, and autumn is perfect for it. Forestry Commission Scotland has invested cannily in its 7stanes mountain biking trails in the Borders, and best of all is Glentress in the Tweed valley.
If you've never tried mountain biking and fancy a go, this is the perfect place to try. There's a colour-coded system of trails for novice to expert and a skills loop to practise new techniques. Bikes with disc brakes and suspension are available for hire ... and try the cafe's ginormous cakes.
· 01721 721736, thehubintheforest.co.uk. visitscotland.com/adventure.
Horse riding, Transylvania
It's not that Transylvania isn't famous, just that it isn't famous as a beautiful, undeveloped paradise for horse riding. Tucked up against the Carpathian mountains, this is European life at a wholly different pace. If you've been out of the saddle for a while and want to break yourself in gently, then Equine Adventure's nine-day break at the Stefan cel Mare equestrian centre is perfect.
Suck in the crisp autumn air riding along Roman roads and medieval tracks through forests that are still home to wolves, bears lynx and wild boar.
· The trip includes rides, accommodation, all meals with wine and costs £645 or £1,095 with flights and train transfers. 0845 1306981, equineadventures.co.uk.
Surf the craic, Ireland
Good surf, Guinness and live music - the Lahinch Surf School in County Clare has them all. Started in 2002 by former Irish Surfing Champion John McCarthy, the school was the first of its kind in Ireland and still the only Irish Surfing Association set-up on this stretch of the west coast.
The two-mile long beach in Lahinch has a variety of breaks for all standards and five miles further south is Spanish Point, another perfect surfing beach.
· 00353 65 7082061, lahinchsurfschool.com. Surfing weekends from €179 including accommodation, board and three lessons, excluding flights.
Rugged hiking, High Atlas
Escape the autumn slog for a long weekend of hiking and biking in the rugged High Atlas mountains near Marrakech. A fast transfer takes you to the Kik plateau, a beautiful region of stark limestone peaks, green valleys and high plateaux criss-crossed by rough jeep tracks and mule trails. Not as physically punishing as the highest mountains in the Atlas, it's still spectacular, and passes through villages that have hardly changed in centuries.
· 020-8150 6131, epicmorocco.co.uk. £325pp for five nights' accommodation, transfers, guide, most meals and bike hire but not flights.
Camel trekking, Libya
Stunning rock formations, ancient rock art and endless dunes, this is the Sahara as you imagined it. KE Adventure Travel's nine-day trekking holiday includes five days of moderate walking in Libya's Acacus mountains, sleeping in the desert accompanied by Tuareg guides and camels that carry your bags. If you'd rather not walk too far, Wild Frontiers explore the Acacus by 4x4.
· KE Adventure Travel (017687 73966, keadventure.com) has departures on October 19 for £1,105 including flights. Wild Frontiers' (020-7736 3968, wildfrontiers.co.uk) Libya Unveiled departs November 17.
Fungi foraging, South Wales
Autumn is heaven for mushroom enthusiasts but first-timers will feel more confident about what's good to eat and what's not with a little instruction. The National Wetlands Centre Wales near Llanelli is hosting a fungi foraging walk on October 14 starting at 2pm that lifts the lid on the seen and unseen world of fungi.
The centre has spruced itself up this year with a range of new attractions, including canoes for hire and new bike trails, all of which supports its critical work in conserving wetland habitats.
Birdwatching, Strangford Lough
One of the great events of the birdwatching calendar takes place each autumn on Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough - the arrival of the geese. Virtually every light-bellied brent goose on the planet spends the winter here and it's often possible to observe up to 3,000 on a single day.
The hide at the Castle Espie Wetland Centre is the best place to watch them from and is just a two-minute walk from The Old Schoolhouse Inn, Comber.
· Castle Espie Wetland Centre, adults £5.50, children £2.75. wwt.org.uk/gallery/118/visit/castleespie/.html. At the Old Schoolhouse Inn (028 9754 1182, theoldschoolhouseinn.com) a two-night package costs £35pp pn B&B.
Learn to dive, Egypt
As close as you can get to coral-laden tropical briny, with guaranteed heat for the next three months, the Red Sea remains the most convenient option for learning to dive for those who can't face a murky gravel pit in the Midlands.
El Gouna - quieter than Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada - has the Movenpick Resort spread across a cluster of islands with a huge private beach, spa and Dive Tribe, a Padi dive centre, where attaining your Open Water qualficiation takes four to five days.
· Regaldive (01353 659999, regaldive.co.uk) offers a one-week learn to dive break from £820pp including flights, transfers, B&B and tuition.
