On the Inca trail
The popular author Bill Bryson will be taking part in Barnardo's Trek Peru 2001 next May. The 10-day fundraising expedition along the Inca trail to Machu Picchu starts from Cuzco and leads you through Inca hamlets, Aguas Calientes, and Phuyupatamarca (the City above the Clouds). All you have to do to, aside from a fair bit of walking, is raise a minimum of £2,500 in sponsorship. This will cover return flights and expedition expenses. At least 52 per cent of the money raised will go to Barnado's and the charity Kith and Kids. The first Peru trek takes place in September 2000 and the second in May 2001. Tel: 08457 697 967.
Bike from Berwick
The National Cycle Network, a Millennium Commission project, will be 200 miles longer on Wednesday when a new section between Newcastle and Edinburgh is opened. By 2005 it is hoped that the whole network will have doubled in length to 10,000 miles. The new stretch passes Hadrian's Wall, beautiful coastline and border castles before reaching Scotland's capital. The launch is at 11am at Berwick Barracks Museum, Berwick-upon-Tweed and National Cycle Network maps of the new route are available for the reduced price of £4.50 (plus £2 p&p) until 31 August. Call the information line on 0117 929 0888 or visit www.nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk.
Road to enlightenment
From 20 to 24 September the Dalai Lama will present five days of seminars at the Path to Enlightenment Buddhist conference in Le Caylar, Languedoc-Roussillon. If you fancy attending, but don't subscribe to the central Buddhist tenet that suffering is caused by a craving for worldly things, Bowhills have highlighted a pair of luxurious villas suitable for conference guests. For details quote ref: R172 for the villa in nearby Montpellier, while the second villa in Campagnan has a private pool (quote ref: R118). Bowhills: 01489 872 727. Holy Cowes!
Sailors will be heading for the Isle of Wight on 28 July for the annual yachting extravaganza that is Cowes Week. Red Funnel has last-minute availability in a range of hotels and self-catering accommodation, such as Gurnard Pines Holiday Village where a two-berth lodge is £459 for seven nights. They have also extended their ferry timetable to cater for the extra passenger demand. For ferry bookings call Red Funnel on 023 8033 4010 and for holiday information call Isle of Wight Holidays on 023 8033 3811 or visit the website www.redfunnel.co.uk/holidays.
