One of Britain's finest alpinists and rock climbers, known for bold and audacious ascents, he is also a writer and occasional poet. A man who had already opted for one of life's tougher careers as a PT instructor for HM Prison Service only to give it all up, along with the regular salary and house to live in a van and pursue his passion for climbing. His appetite for climbing is as ferocious as ever. Nick is a genuine personality, that rare breed of person who understands and revels in the intricacies and emotions of climbing and mountaineering.

He has made numerous first ascents in Scottish winter, in the Greater Ranges, when trad climbing, and in the Alps. His 2016 ascent of Nyainqentangla South East via the North Buttress won him and his partner Paul Ramsden a prestigious Piolet d’Or (the ‘Oscar of mountaineering’) and worldwide commendation. Nick is one of the finest Scottish winter climbers of his generation, making exceptional first ascents such as Nevermore (X) on Lochnagar. His love for winter extends further afield where he has made ascents of numerous very technical routes in Canada, though one trip was cut short by him having to fight off a bear!

Nick’s entertaining and thoughtful writing resulted in his first book, Echoes, being released to widespread acclaim. His next book, Tides, is out shortly.

Nick’s penchant for the extreme and the inhospitable has meant we have made custom products for him, including the finest – and most expensive – expedition sleeping bag we have ever made, featuring welded seams, waterproof fabrics, and the most breathable lining fabric available. A combination of our Extreme Light and Extreme Expedition bags, it proved a key part of Nick’s ascent of Nyainqentangla South East where he claimed it was the only expedition he’d been on when he hadn’t got cold. We’d call that a success then.

Nick’s website is available here.