An Aberdeen man is in peak condition after bagging all of Scotland’s munros – for a remarkable third time.
John Cushnie, from Dyce, recently completed a third round of Scotland’s 282 mountains, which are 3,000ft or above.
The 58-year-old has now joined a small and select group of people, estimated at between 30 and 40 walkers, who have completed the circuit on three occasions.
And he admitted that this most recent sojourn into the skies will probably be his last.
He explained: “When I first started hillwalking, it was 1976 or 77 and it was all new to me.
“Then somebody told me all about the munros and, from the first time that I climbed Mount Keen, I was hooked.”
The former mechanic completed his initial mission in 1988, prior to tackling the smaller Corbetts – measuring between 2,500 and 3,00ft – and advanced to his second round in 2006.
And he has managed to pass on his passion for the peaks to others.
He added: “I’ve taken about 15 people up onto the munros – I introduced my nephew, who is now about 30, when he was only nine.
“Of course, I have a very supportive wife who is definitely a munro widow.”
On his last ascent of Mount Keen, Mr Cushnie even managed to meet the next generation of munro-baggers.
He explained: “There was a nine-year-old boy who had just finished his third munro with his mother. I explained to him there were 282 to do, and I had just finished my third round, his name was John too.
“I also met a group of strangers up there and we ended up drinking champagne together.
“Physically, it was much harder on the last round because I’m older, and I’m starting to get problems with my joints.
“But it doesn’t mean I’m going to stop. I am going to do the Grahams, which are between 2,000 and 2,5000ft – I think I’ve got another 10 years of them.”
Mr Cushnie’s advice for anyone looking to follow in his footsteps is to start with one of the Cairngorms’ most celebrated summits.
He added: “Whenever I take someone up for the first time, I always go to Lochnagar, which I’ve been up eight times.
“Anyone thinking of doing them all should get it done when they’re young.”
