SPECIALIST TRAVEL

www.ramblers.org.uk
This attractive site serves avid ramblers and Sunday strollers alike. The jewel in the crown is the walks finder, searchable by map or by destination, time of year or grade. Just pick your walk, print out the route map and notes and you're off. There's also a forum on gear, finding walking companions and more. Also try www.nationaltrail.co.uk, which is dedicated to the 15 designated National Trails in England and Wales for walking, cycling and horse riding, with photographs and interactive route maps.

www.factivities.co.uk
Information and booking facilities for all kinds of activities from orienteering to model plane flying. Search by activity or destination.

www.companions2travel.co.uk
Excellent resource for pairing up people who are travelling on their own and want some company. Post a profile if you don’t want to go it alone. Lone travellers should also try www.singulartravel.co.uk, which has negotiated deals with tour operators to scrap single supplements, or there's www.friendshiptravel.com for city breaks to long-haul trips and www.solosholidays.co.uk for UK events and beyond.

www.blacktomato.co.uk
This luxe site has been redesigned to use even more big, inspirational travel snaps. There's more personality, with videos of the company's travel experts, plus the opportunity to search by "need" destination, and price. Two rival sites, which also inspire with their experience-led breaks, are isango.com and whydontyou.com.

www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure
So gorgeous looking you feel like you can jump through the screen, this website has some of the most interesting adventure trips around, plus reader competitions galore. Plenty of gear guides, gadgets and videos - it does have a US-bias though.

www.skiclub.co.uk
The Ski Club of Great Britain's site has grown into the most comprehensive ski site in the UK - the best stuff is the snow reports, resort guides and technique tips. There's also www.natives.co.uk , which is geared for season workers but great for news and gossip, plus the links page goes to more specialist ski sites. Also worth checking out is www.welove2ski.com for resort guides, and news from the slopes.

www.snowboardclub.co.uk
For boarders there's for news, events and tips. For more serious there's info on competitions, camps and courses.

www.gapyear.com
Exhaustive guide to gap-year travel. Advice, features and a range of options to help with that big trip. There's an active forum and also opportunity to meet other travellers and join volunteer projects. Also see www.yearoutgroup.org, a not-for-profit organisation that is a goldmine for career breakers and gappers looking for volunteer breaks from a few days to long-term endeavours.

www.wwoof.org
If you're after free board and lodging in return for hard graft on an organic farm head to www.wwoof.org. Likewise www.helpx.net lists farms that will host hard-working volunteers, plus other businesses like homestays and even sailing boats.

www.bootsnall.com
Guide to independent travel with useful information on destinations, and plenty of forum and community action.

www.greentraveller.co.uk
The leading British website for eco travel - great for news, green travel tips and inspiration for a low-impact holiday. Also check out gogreentravelgreen.com, a blog-style website from a couple with a passion for travel. Great lists and an active user-base.

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