Hill of Fare, just up from Banchory, is an ideal venue to teach hill and navigation skills.

I had a superb 4 day trek around the Lake District in August, thanks to a route suggested by Peter Dixon (@munro277) on twitter!

Such a stunning weekend had to be finished off with a family walk up a hill to take in the sunset.

It was far too bright and fresh today to sit inside typing emails and doing chores so I headed for a hill nearby. Carnferg up the Fungle road from Aboyne is a great wee walk, with the sun beaming through the trees and crunching iced turf below my feet, a pleasant 3 hours it was!

It was 14degC when I went up my first hill this morning, Scolty Hill near Banchory. It wasn't long before Sarah and I had our coats off as we walked along the quiet path, away from the main route, walking on top of a blanket of Larch needles.

A loo with a view! Corrour bothy in the Lairig Ghru, Cairngorms.

What's your oldest piece of kit? Mine is a trusty mug that I've been using for quite a few years now....since 1983 to be exact!

Last year I completed my first TGO Challenge, the across Scotland backpack hosted by The Great Outdoors magazine.

Yesterday I decided to dig out my winter gear and go on a test run up Morven. I'd been watching the social media frenzy about snow on the hills and I was beginning to feel the need for some of that fresh cold air on my face!