A celebrated adventurer, who scaled Mt Everest at the age of 63, has kicked-off the first annual Huntly walking festival.

Hamish Fulton led a two-hour co-ordinated stroll around the Aberdeenshire town on Saturday (April 17th) as part of the event, which is designed to promote the town as a base for walking holidays, the Press and Journal reported.

Mr Fulton, who during his five-decade career has walked for a week without sleep, will complete a 21-day solo walk across the Cairngorms over the next couple of weeks.

He described the region as a “special place” and revealed that he will not walk a determined route because “that’s not like normal life”.

According to the newspaper, he said: “It’s a bit of a treasure within the totality of the British Isles, being the largest, highest piece of ground.

“I’ve done quite a few walks in the Cairngorms, something like 15 seven-day walks, and one two-week walk, so the next one up is 21 days.”

Earlier this month, Moira Halstead, spokeswoman at Walking for Health, claimed that the activity is a fun and convenient way to exercise and enjoy the countryside.