Hiking in Tuscany, Italy

We are sitting round the dinner table at Lavacchio when my mother jumps up to check the eggs. She’s not aiming to make an omelette; she’s just interested to see if the first chicks of the season are starting to break their way out of the eggs.

Whilst on the walkers' high level route this week I experienced another first. The 'Haute Route', as it's known, is normally a 12 day trek which crosses the high mountain passes between Chamonix, France to Zermatt in Switzerland. My clients were a team of four experienced hikers from America who have been planning this as part of a long trip to Europe for many years. This year we experienced a first on any trip ... 

Some of our guests are talented it song writers it seems.... this is from Phil, Linda, Sally, Pat, Malcolm and Robin who were an excellent team. Many thanks for the great company....

What a brilliant few weeks of filming for the BBC. I've been busy working as Producer/Director on The Adventure Show which has been a roller coaster of adventure sports events. First, we were off to film the Islands Peaks Race which involves competitors sailing/running from Oban, to Mull, Jura, Arran then back to Troon for the finish. The weather was foul and I was amazed by the guts and determination of the sailors and runners. They had no respite from the weather and sailed/ran through the night taking in the three highest peaks on the three islands - totally amazing. I think it should make great TV - once we've wiped all the sea spray from the film!

Whoever said that we often take our own backyard for granted was wrong!

I have just returned from a walk in the mountains behind our village of Finhaut in Switzerland and was blown away by the beauty of this crisp autumn day. I set off from the Lac d'Emosson and climbed up through the Gorge de Veudale surrounded by the golds, and reds of the trees and grasses. A stiff hike saw me to the summit of the Cheval Blanc at 2830m.