Contrary to what you might think, Ray Mears isn’t that into philosophising about nature.
He has his own philosophy, sure, but he’s not about to shove it down anyone’s throat – audiences at his live shows, TV viewers or students at his wilderness bushcraft school in East Sussex.
Referring to the school, Woodlore, he said: “Our job isn’t to tell people what to think, or what to believe. It’s to show them how things work and impart to them the skills and abilities that make it possible to be comfortable in a natural environment with very little.
“It’s nature’s job to teach people what to think. People must find their own philosophy.”
In fact, Ray sees himself first and foremost as a pragmatist and facilitator.
“I think that’s really important, because we all go outdoors with our own abilities, baggage and background.
“You need to find a philosophy that works for you as an individual.”
It is this straightforward narrative which Ray will bring to his live show at the Music Hall in Aberdeen on Monday and Eden Court in Inverness the day after.
Over the course of an evening, he will give an insight into his many adventures around the world, using footage, photographs and one or two unusual props.
He is reluctant to give away too much, but he guarantees there will be “something for all ages”.
Audiences might just pick up a few survival tips too, all of which he employs wherever he treks.
Top of his list is keeping a bright disposition.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is to retain a sense of humour, because stuff happens and things go wrong,” he said.
“So it’s important never to panic, and always be prepared. Most of the stories you hear of these days when people get into real problems are through lack of preparation. Normally, if people get themselves into a tight spot and they have the right gear and know where they are going and what they’re doing, they make it through.
“But if people find themselves in dire circumstances without proper preparation, then it’s going to be pretty tough.”
Ray has attracted a dedicated following since the cameras started rolling on his journeys into the wild. In his numerous TV series, including Tracks and World of Survival, viewers have discovered hidden corners of the planet with Ray as their guide.
His skills are recognised and valued by many.
Three years ago, he was drafted in by the police in Northumberland to help in the hunt for fugitive gunman Raoul Moat. According to the police, his input was central in forcing Moat out of hiding.
Celebrities, too, have subscribed to Ray’s survival and tracking techniques.
In the series Trips Money Can’t Buy, Ray famously embarked on an expedition into the Honduran jungle with actor Ewan McGregor.
“He’s got an amazing sense of adventure,” said Ray. “It was a pleasure to work with him, and we got on like a house on fire.
“It was a real journey as well. What I liked is that he really signed up to the journey. We had mules with us and the crew carried their rucksacks on them and their equipment on their shoulders.
“Ewan carried his rucksack the whole way. There came a point when we had done enough filming and the director said, ‘Ewan, if you want to, you can put your rucksack on the mule’.
“He said, ‘No I’m going to carry it all the way’. That’s the kind of guy he is – and when you’re working with that kind of person you can’t go wrong.”
Philosopher or not, Ray has firm views on the planet and our changing relationship with nature.
But he prefers to reserve conversations of that nature for professionals, rather than “bore” us regular folks.
But, with light prodding, he’s happy to give an insight into his thoughts on the world at large.
Top of the pile, he believes, is “how we exploit nature, and for what cost and benefit”.
He said: “I think sometimes we look for short-term gain but we need to think more long term.
“The thing that concerns me most is the way we use the term ‘extinction’. It’s a complicated issue because, of course, extinction is a natural part of process of life on our planet – 90% or more of species will become extinct.
“But we seem to be causing extinctions faster than they would be happening otherwise naturally, and what concerns me about that is we depend ourselves on these natural systems and we are impacting on them in ways that we may not yet understand the ramifications of.
“My firm belief – and I think science is becoming stronger in its support – is that, from the early days I went into the woods, I’ve thought that nature responds to our actions. If you think of the fact that we are creating more extinctions than before, it makes me wonder how nature will respond to that.”
An Evening with Ray Mears – The Outdoor Life will be at the Music Hall, Aberdeen, on Monday, September 30. Tickets are available from www.box officeaberdeen.com or by calling 01224 641122. Tickets for the show at Eden Court, Inverness, on Tuesday, October 1, are available from www.eden-court.co.uk, or telephone 01463 234234.