Our original idea had been to nip up to Scotland for a few days. I'd already spent a pleasant afternoon scouring the maps, finally settling on a route that would offer a dusting of snow and a couple of new (to me, at least) bothies. An invite had been sent out to friends, and positive replies received.

Winter can throw up a few challenges for the car-free walker. Bus or train services might not run as frequently as in the summer months, and waiting for the bus in sub-zero temperatures is less appealing than at other times of the year. And for those without axes and crampons, many of our finest mountains are out of reach.

This has slightly truncated my ability to head for the hills at the drop of a hat, but I have learnt that becoming a parent doesn't have to mean the end of car-free adventures it just means the adventures start a little nearer to home. With a little extra expenditure and planning, children can easily become car-free walkers.