The Highland village of Newtonmore holds a special place in my heart because it's where I was brought up. I spent a happy childhood exploring this beautiful and peaceful part of the world and I try to get back for visits as often as I can.  It's my retreat when I want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.  When I'm in Newtonmore I enjoy nothing more than getting out into the great outdoors for long walks, taking in the breathtaking panaoramas that greet me on all sides of the valley.  Newtonmore is gateway to the Cairngorms National Park.

My friends and I always enjoy walking the Wildcat Trail, a 10km route which surrounds Newtonmore taking in all the spectacular scenery this area has to offer including wooded glens, gushing rivers, heather-clad moorland, tumbling waterfalls and an array of flora and fauna. Look out for shy wildlife too.  On this occasion we saw red squirrels and birds of prey.  The trail can be enjoyed as a complete circuit or you can just do sections of it if you prefer as there are various paths linking the trail to different start points in the village.

The really fun part for children and adults alike is spotting the colourfully decorated wildcats which are hidden along the route, numbering more than 100.  You can pick up your Wildcat Experience Track Pack at the Wildcat Centre in the middle of the village and as you head off in search of the wildcats make sure you mark each one's location as you identify it, bring your map back to the centre for verification and claim your certificate or prize! Believe it or not the Scottish Wildcat is more at risk of extinction than the Amur (Siberian) tiger.

I almost never visit Newtonmore without walking up to Glen Banchor which is a beautiful, wild wee glen situated just behind the village.  Within 15 minutes walk of the village you can be roaming the surrounding hills and strolling along the banks of the River Calder, which flows down the valley of the glen into the River Spey. The area provides excellent hill walking opportunities and offers access to several Monadh Liath Munros. This area featured in the highly successful BBC drama series "Monarch of the Glen", as part of the fictional Glen Bogle estate.

It is one of my favourite places and as a child I spent long, lazy summer days swimming in the river and having picnics with family and friends.

Tune into my next blog when I'll tell you about another one of my favourite walks in the area.