A real smorgasbord of a show for you this week! Get trendy with a Slackline (and win one too!), find out about being a jolly swagman, consider the benefits of joining the Open Canoe Association, understand more about wildlife, trapping and pest control and find true outdoor romance!! Enjoy!!

Richard Harding is a commuter. His chosen mode of transport is the ever green bicycle. His current work in the UK hi tech industry is coming to an end and, as one might expect, he's decided to commute home. Nothing unusual in that, except that 'home' is now in New Zealand and starting at the end of March he's trying to be home for Christmas!

Back from 2008 OS Outdoors Show at the NEC we sample some of the atmosphere and bring you the finalists from the Alpkit Colab competition plus comments from several folks who visited the show. Andy and I give our round up thoughts at the conclusion of the event and there's a goody bag full of interesting items to be won. Loads of interviews gathered at the show and much more coming in the next few weeks.

Opened in 1965, the Pennine Way was Britain’s first national trail. Since then another 14 have been designated in England and Wales, with a further 4 in Scotland. Together they cover well over 5000 kilometres each one with unique qualities which explore the rich, scenic and historic countryside of Britain. Paddy Dillon has walked all the trails – twice! Here he talks about his love of the routes and his new guide, ‘The National Trails’ a complete compilation of all Britain’s National Trail walking routes.

Islomania is defined as a craze for, or a strong attraction to islands… and Paddy Dillon has the bug! Paddy is a prolific outdoor writer with over 30 books to his name. Here we find out just how many islands he has visited (and walked all over!), and what makes island visits so very special. You can get loads of great holiday ideas here!

Mark Richards’ transition from full-time farmer to full-time outdoor writer has been a gradual one. In 1973, with the direct encouragement of Alfred Wainwright, he wrote his first walking guide to the Cotswold Way. Since then he has indulged his pleasure in exploring rural Britain by creating a range of walking guides, including guides to the Peak District, Hadrian’s Wall and more recently the ambitious series of ‘Fellranger’ guides to the Lake District, supported by ‘Great Mountain Days in the Lake District’, a new guide to 50 days out in the high fells.

Photography and the outdoors could have been made for each other, yet we all sometimes find there is a disappointing miss-match between what we wanted to capture, and what we actually achieved! Jon Sparks has developed his youthful hobby into a professional career, and here he offers some valuable tips for outdoor enthusiasts, whatever their sport or destination.

Pembrokeshire contains Britain’s only coastal National Park, such is its beauty, with soaring rugged cliffs, tranquil inlets and broad sandy beaches. There is immense variety in both the scenery and natural life of the Pembrokeshire coast. Dennis and Jan Kelsall talk about their lifetime of exploration on foot, which can be equally satisfying for serious walkers and those more inclined to potter.

Welcome back to this weeks show, where we talk, tarps, tripods and fishing. This week we meet Jed Yarnold and discuss tarpoligy, Vic Soloman who tells us about the new Manfrotto carbon fiber tripods and Kevin Ashton about the practicalities of using a sea kayak as a fishing platform. Plus of course, our What's On Diary and the chance to win one of the remaining VIP 10 pairs of tickets we have to give away for The Outdoors Show.

We're back with the first in our series of weekly shows to let all lovers of the outdoors know what is going on around them. In this weeks show we chat to the editor of a new Ocean Paddler Magazine, PGL Holidays who are looking for new instructors and Kate Thomas regarding the forthcoming Outdoors Show. Plus of course, our What's On Diary and the chance to win one of 40 pairs of tickets we have to give away for The Outdoors Show.