Skating on thick ice

Ottawa, Canada's capital city, also boasts the world's longest ice rink. It stretches from the parliament, built to resemble our own British Parliament with a Canadian Big Ben, some 7.8km (five miles) out of town. It is the Rideau Canal, but you don't need to worry about falling through the ice. The canal only opens to skaters when the ice on it is seven inches thick. For grandparents and young children you can hire an old-fashioned sledge, giving you added stability as you glide along, pushing them in front of you. The sledges cost just 15 dollars for two hours, like the skates, and are available at the three hire shops along the way. We start at the top of the canal, sailing along with the wind blowing us south, until we are among the elegant houses of the well-heeled suburbs. If we were to carry on south-west we would eventually reach the shores of Lake Ontario and Toronto, Canada's biggest city. But that is not an adventure I'm contemplating this time - I'm taking the train.