IT's National Outdoor Week - time to go outside, get some fresh air and get active.

But to Bolton dare-devil Brian Cunningham, this means more than going for a walk in the park.

Irma Heger caught up with the man who traded in a high-flying career for hair-raising adventures

WE may be turning into a nation of couch potatoes, but Brian Cunningham has never been more active than since retiring from IBM computers 10 years ago. He puts many people half his age (and less) to shame.

The Northern Ireland-born 62-year-old grandfather from Oakley Park in Heaton just loves setting himself challenges in the world of outdoor pursuits.

He currently works as a visiting professor at Manchester Business School, but that does not stop him from taking on some of the most arduous adventures in the world.

"I am trying to make the most of my time," said Brian. "I organise my work to fit around my life, and these activities are a major part of my life."

Brian was first introduced to outdoor pursuits by his uncle, Dr Joe Cunningham, who was the third person ever to sail across the Atlantic single-handedly. "I dreamt of doing something like that myself one day," says Brian, who believes others could change their lives by taking part in more outdoor activities.

That day came in 1967, with a stormy expedition from Ireland to Iceland. "I left Northern Ireland as a boy, and came back a man," said Brian.

In 1972, Brian and his party were the third British crew ever to cross the world's third largest icecap, the Vatnajokull in Iceland, using sledges. "Then there was a gap, when an awful lot of plans were shelved, because of my family - three wonderful kids and a wonderful wife."

Since retiring, Brian - who is an experienced sailor, mountaineer and ice-climber - has been on expeditions to Canada, Greenland, Spitzbergen and Antarctica. Ultra-distance mountain running, dog-sledging, sledge hauling - nothing is beyond him.

Para-kiting is his latest adventure, using a special kite to pull a three-wheeled buggy, measuring three by three meters, which he describes as "very vigorous, very fast, very exciting".

Last year, he crossed the Gobi desert using these high-tech "contraptions". The team covered 1000 miles of inhospitable terrain in 17 days - making for a world record.

But there have also been disappointments, too. Two years ago, his bid to travel 650 miles across Antarctica in the kite buggy on skis failed. "We had to get lifted out, there was no wind. That probably was as low a time as I've ever had, because you are letting down your supporters," he said.

Brian's most scary times were on a sailing trip from Scotland to the Canaries, 10 years ago with ex-SAS adventurer John Ridgeway. "We had some extremely violent storms and it was very traumatic. Out of the 15 days at sea, we had 10 days of gales. There was a lot of damage to the boat. It might not have been life-threatening, but it was very frightening.

"With these kind of activities, you do get worried from time to time, but I subscribe to the view that there's no excitement without fear," he said.

Compared to some expeditions he has completed, his most enjoyable adventure was relatively sedate - it was a 220 mile hike in America with his wife, Christine, from the Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mount Whitney.

"We spent three weeks in the wilderness and never crossed a road, it was absolutely wonderful. I have done more exciting and frightening things, but that was by far the best thing I've ever done, I didn't want to come back."

At the moment, Brian is planning his next adventure, but he doesn't want to tempt fate, so keeps his ideas to himself.

To keep fit, he goes out running every day, and he would like to encourage others to get fit, have fun and enjoy the countryside, too.

"There's so much satisfaction for me in setting goals for myself. We have arrived at a point in society where we almost think that pleasure is something you buy, that we need to spend money at a leisure facility. But believe me, you don't have to spend any money and you can get much more out of it by just getting out.

"I would like to encourage as many people as I can to get out, get in shape and realise how much beauty is out there - there's so much satisfaction to be gained.

"Bolton is a fantastic place to live. There's Winter Hill, the moors, we're close to North Wales, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales - it's perfect."

Useful Information:

National Outdoors Week is sponsored by the Countryside Agency, Millets and Ordnance Survey, to encourage people to try out new outdoor activities, find new hobbies and learn more about the great outdoors. To coincide with the week, there is The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show at the Birmingham NEC from Friday until Sunday (March 18-20), focussing on anything from canoeing to rock climbing and diving to adventure travel.

ALL SET FOR A STROLL?

Walking is one of the most popular outdoor activities and Bolton and the surrounding area is perfect for stepping out into the countryside. Why not try out the Irwell Sculpture Trail, a 30 mile footpath stretching from Salford Quays through Bury, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom into Rossendale and up to the Pennines above Bacup? Along the way, there are 28 environmental art pieces.

To download leaflets and maps, go to www.irwellsculpturetrail.co.uk or phone Bury Tourist Information Centre on 0161 2535111.

Other popular local walks include Holcombe Moor (car park at the Peel Tower monument on B6214 above Holcombe Brook village); Rivington Pike (from car park at Lower Rivington Barn off Rivington Lane); Jumbles Country Park (car park off A1676 Bradshaw Road) and Moses Gate Country Park (off the A6053 in Farnworth).

To find a host of local walks, visit the Bolton Evening News website www.thisisbolton.co.uk/lancashire/bolton/leisure/walks