AN ARMY veteran from the Wee County recently conquered the Cairngorms, defying his visual impairment to achieve the feat.

Ian Hunter, from Tullibody, was one of three inspirational Sight Scotland Veterans to venture up the Cairngorms, participating in a life-changing winter skills course.

It was a huge boost in confidence for the 65-year-old, who lost his central vision due to three brain surgeries and an optical stroke.

He was joined by RAF veteran Iain Young, 60 from East Linton, and Steven Williams, 41 of Edinburgh.

The trio were understandably apprehensive and nervous before the climb, but enjoyed a great couple of days learning about winter navigation, mountain weather and avalanche forecasts, using ice axes and crampons, moving on snow and ice, ice axe arrests and what to do in an emergency.

It was an experience they never imagined they could take part in because of their visual impairment and gave them a huge boost in confidence and independence.

Ian said: “This was the first night I have spent away from my wife since 2017, so it was massive in terms of my confidence and independence.

“I really was not sure about doing the course, but I was encouraged to push myself, so I went for it.

“It gave me a real sense of what I can do, and I already have another walk planned to Hadrian’s Walls.

“It does show you that in life you shouldn’t be worried about what you can’t do, even with a visual impairment, we should all be encouraged to push ourselves, try new things and most importantly to continue doing the things that we love.”

The course was organised by Able2Adventure, a company which strongly believes in the long-term benefits of participation in outdoor activities on physical and mental health.

Fellow veteran Iain Young, who is coping with Stargardt syndrome, added: “I would do it again in a heartbeat, it was ten times better than I could ever have imagined.

“It gave us all such a massive confidence boost, not just while we were there but in everyday life, as it showed us to believe in ourselves more.

“So we went worrying about what we couldn’t do and came back feeling reinvigorated, it was so good for us mentally.

“It helped us to almost relive what it was like to be in the forces again; pushing each other, camaraderie and using skills we all thought we had forgotten.

“I always think confidence breeds competence, I can’t thank the organisers enough.”

Sight Scotland Veterans, formerly known as Scottish War Blinded, is the sister charity of Sight Scotland – visit sightscotlandveterans.org.uk for more.