Hillwalker The Munros

I have been very impressed with the programs, which offer such a wide range of functions that I have yet been unable to fully explore them all. It is of great practical use for me inasmuch that, if I intend to do a hill walk, I can firstly select the hill and derive information about its height, grid reference, pronunciation before printing out a recommended walk and also acquiring a taste for things to come by viewing the list of photographs/video clips on offer. The facility I really like, however, is to be able to plan my own route using either the Harvey maps in the programme or my own maps, which have been pre-scanned and added to the program. By selecting numerous appropriate waypoints on the map a route card can be drawn up and accurate bearings, along with an estimate of the time taken, are produced automatically for each section of the walk. This card can be printed and used not only to help with navigation on the day but also to give the Mountain Rescue a better idea of where you might be should the unthinkable happen!

As the programs are so extensive they are also very relaxing to use when the weather is too bad for walking! I particularly like the panorama function, which gives a 360 degree view from your selected hill. To add a bit of surrealism you can actually obtain the panorama from up to 30 times the height of the hill, which brings into play such interesting features as the Wash or the M6!

In my opinion it has one of the best after sales services I have ever come across, either by e-mailing or phoning Iain White at Isys. He has always been most helpful and has infinite patience with computer illiterates such as myself!

Each program covers a specific group of hills and the series began with the Munros, moving on to the Corbetts and most of the other Scottish hills of distinction, followed by Lakeland Fells and the Mountains of Wales.

Much has been said about other CD-ROM's which include photographs and video clips. These however, lack the additional interactivity of the Hillwalker series.

With Hillwalker, you not only get a large number of outstanding photographs, many of the creation of the average walker, recording what has been seen on a good day in the hills, but also many other features to add to the enjoyment of the program.

You can select hills via a main map and home in on details, such as virtual panoramas, route planning information, video clips, proper maps with "on the ground" detail and outstanding Gaelic pronunciations. All this gives a flavour of what can be experienced out of doors.

In addition, you get an extensive log, arguably the best of it's kind, automating all those ticks, you previously put in a notebook!

Go and buy it, then go to the hills and see for yourself.