Two foxes; a brace of pheasants; one green woodpecker and one grey heron; 300 seagulls; two jays; a family of rabbits. What reads like a recipe for some gluttonous medieval feast is actually the wildlife I glimpsed on a recent train journey from Brighton to Bristol. Window gazing is a simple pleasure for the regular train traveller.

Think 'canals' and Amsterdam or Venice come to mind. But London's vibrant waterways are just as impressive; overlooked only because there is so much else crammed into the capital. A day wandering the banks gives you a glimpse into their industrial past and a chance to share in the recreational present.

Some people might think it unwise to plan a trip to the hills more than two days in advance, let alone two months. But being southern in address, frugal by nature and a non-driver by choice, there is little I can do but throw caution to the wind and commit to the uncertainties of the Scottish weather and plan my adventures early.