There is nothing extraordinary about me. But in 2017, I climbed all 446 2,000ft mountains in England and Wales in just six months – the fastest-ever time.
Solo and unsupported, I walked more than 1,000 miles, ascended five times the height of Everest and slept under the stars more than 25 times. I did it all while holding down my job, moving house and keeping my personal life just about under control.
Despite what it might sound like, I’m not some sort of super-human, all-action adventurer. I have no idea how to abseil down a precipice, or forage for berries, or navigate in mist. I can’t build a shelter or tie useful knots.
I’m scared of most animals and my legs go wobbly if I stand too close to a cliff edge. Dark nights freak me out and I can barely sleep in my tent unless it’s perfectly horizontal. Oh, and I can’t even grow a rugged beard.
But my adventure proved that you can integrate something truly adventurous into your everyday life. You don’t need to be rich, or have 12 months off work, or travel halfway across the world, or be Ranulph Fiennes. With a little outdoorsy grit and adventurous spirit, anyone can go on a big adventure – including you.