I've been an outdoors enthusiast since childhood and am still an active rock climber, hill-walker, mountain-biker, sailor, snowboarder, canoeist and fly fisherman. I have climbed and tramped in four continents, including ascents of Jebel Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Mount Kinabalu in northern Borneo, the Old Man of Hoy in Scotland's Orkney Islands, the Northwest Face of Half Dome in California's Yosemite Valley, and Wild Country, a 265m sport climb on the Greek island of Telendos.

I live on the northern slope of the Sidlaw Hills near Coupar Angus in Perthshire with my partner Carol, border collie Flo, and cat Casper. From the summit of King's Seat above our house, there are grand views across Strathmore to the hills of the southern Highlands, ranging from Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin in the southwest through Ben Chonzie, Ben Lawers, Schiehallion and Beinn a'Ghlo, to the Glenshee Munros and the hills around Glen Clova to the northeast.