PEAK PRACTICE: BY CAMERON McNEISH

Three more walks to encourage you to get out and stride off the post-Hogmanay hangover. The combination of exercise and fresh air will soon clear the head and give you an appetite for your New Year's Day dinner.

The Loch Katrine Aqueduct Loch Katrine, as well as being the finest of all the Trossachs lochs, is the main water supply for the city of Glasgow. The loch holds some 14 billion gallons of water at any one time, no doubt due to the annual average rainfall of the area of some 2125mm (85 inches). A beautifully engineered aqueduct runs all the way from Loch Katrine to Glasgow, most of it underground, and this short family walk follows the obelisks and round towers which trace its subterranean course.

Map: OS Sheet 56 Distance: 4.5 miles round trip.

Time: Two to three hours Route: From the pier at Stronachlachar, just off the B829 Aberfoyle to Inversnaid road, take the tarmac road that initially follows the southwestern shore of Loch Katrine. Just before Royal Cottage, a rough track leads off to the right and steadily climbs the hill, following a bizarre assortment of towers and obelisks which mark the route of the aqueduct and your walk. After passing a number of these round towers you'll notice the path veering off to the right towards a flat-topped obelisk as you are half-way up a small hillock. Leave the main path and climb to the top of the hill for a tremendous viewpoint. From the hillock make your way back to the flat-topped obelisk and descend into the forestry plantation. At the first round tower in the forest turn left, following a path through the trees all the way down to the B829. Instead of continuing to follow the towers and the aqueduct along by Loch Chon and its long route to Glasgow, turn right onto the road and follow it back to Stronachlachar.

Climbing the Hill of God Few mountains, however grand, can claim to be God's Hill, but an old translation of Beinn Lididh, or Ben Ledi as it is known today, claims just that. Close to the Stirlingshire town of Callander, Ben Ledi is a popular hill among walkers and ramblers. Its ascent is not unduly difficult and the views from the summit more than compensate for the energy expended in reaching it. Although the route traverses a mountain ridge, for much of the way the track is enclosed by forestry, on the ascent as well as the descent. The summit of the hill, at 2883ft, is classified as a Corbett.

Map: OS Sheet 57 Distance: About seven miles Time: Four to six hours Route: From the north side of the bridge that crosses the river from the A84, follow the well-made path that climbs up through the forest. Once clear of the trees, the path veers to the southwest below some cliffs to reach the southeast ridge. Climb the ridge north, over a couple of bumps, past a memorial cross to the summit cairn. From the summit, descend in a northwest then a northerly direction to a broad and often wet bealach. From there descend eastwards, down an obvious path into the Stank Glen. Farther down the glen, beyond a fence, well maintained and signposted paths are followed down through the forest to Stank, from where it's only a short walk southwards back to the car park.

WALK OF THE DAY Meall a'Bhuachaille and the Kincardines Meall a'Bhuachaille, the hill of the shepherd, makes a grand start to this high-level ridge walk above Glenmore near Aviemore. From Meall a'Bhuachaille (810m) the ridge traverses Creagan Gorm (732m) and Creaggowrie (686m), before finishing on Creag Mheadhonach above the waters of Loch Pityoulish.

Map: OS 1:50,000 Sheet 36 Distance: 11 miles (18k) Time: Six to seven hours Route: Leave the car parking area just beyond Glenmore Lodge and follow the broad track that runs through the forestry plantation. After quarter of a mile, cross a bridge over a stream into the Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve of Ryvoan. The path continues below the slopes of Meall a'Bhuachaille, passes Lochain Uaine, the green lochan, and continues to Ryvoan bothy. From there, climb the path to the summit from where another path runs down to the bealach between Meall a'Buachaille and Creagan Gorm. Continue over the latter hill, then over a subsidiary top before continuing to the summit of Craiggowrie. From the summit, descend the western slopes to reach the viewpoint of Creag Mheadhonach. Descend southwards and pick up the forestry track which runs through the woods southeasterly to the Badaguish Outdoor Centre, where another forest track leads you to Glenmore. From there, close to the Reindeer Centre, take the minor road back to Glenmore Lodge.