The hill that changed my life…

Mountains are tricky things. You think you’re just going on an innocent walk, to stretch your legs and maybe see a nice view. Little do you suspect, when you’re lacing up your boots, that your walk may just lead to a fascination, and that fascination to a

JEREMY ASHCROFT, MOUNTAINEERING EDITOR AND MAP-MAKER

Dow Crag, it’s effectively my local peak. I’ve climbed almost every route on it both in winter and summer, and I know every inch of it backwards. Climbing on it in all seasons has equipped me with invaluable skills that have enabled all my adventures. I even managed to put a new winter climb up on it, something of which I’m immensely proud.

SIR CHRIS BONINGTON, LEGENDARY MOUNTAINEER

The north wall of the Eiger in 1962 when I made the first British ascent with Ian Clough, enabling me to start a career based round climbing, writing and lecturing around it.

ANDY WINTERBURN, TRAIL READER

Pen y Fan, 2012. Me and a mate decided to try hillwalking. Luckily had great weather and a good route from Cwm Gwdi. I’ll never forget the thrill of reaching the top. Never looked back and now regularly get to Brecon, the Peaks, Lakes and Scotland when I can.

DAN BAILEY, GUIDEBOOK AUTHOR

A teenage wander up Pavey Ark. Though I didn’t then know it had a name, my first time up Jack’s Rake opened my eyes to the thrill of scrambling. I’ve never been the same since.

BONITA NORRIS, EVEREST SUMMITEER

Everest. It inspired me to become a mountaineer and led me to go on so many wonderful expeditions that would never have happened were it not for that one great peak.

GRAEME STANFORD, TRAIL READER

Kinder Scout in 1979. I was 13 and it poured down all day, we were like drowned rats. Loved mountains ever since – does that make me a masochist?

JEN RANDALL, OUTDOOR AND ADVENTURE FILM-MAKER

As a collection of hills I’d say Glen Coe changed my life. As a kid, I loved driving through them, walking in them, camping in them, writing stories about them... and I still go there just to visit sometimes.