An adventurer is to camp wild in Perthshire as part of a six-month Scottish tour to raise money for charity.
Wayne Hall will brave the elements between February and August with just his German shepherd, Jerry, for company.
The 46-year-old hopes his trip will raise £10,000 for homelessness charity Shelter.
Starting on February 27, he will set up camp at Loch Morar, near Mallaig, before winding his way through Scotland, stopping at 25 lochs, including Perthshire’s Loch Eigheach and Loch Errochty.
Along the way he will photograph wildlife for organisations including the RSPB, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission.
The self-employed tiler, who lives near the Peak District, decided to embark on the adventure of a lifetime after discovering that his rented cottage was about to be sold.
He said: “The idea of the trip really reared its head last September after spending a few days wild camping in Galloway Forest Park at Loch Moan.
“I heard the news just after returning from Loch Moan that my home was to be sold by the landlords in the spring of 2013 therefore a long trip became a real possibility.”
So Wayne decided to pack a tent and canoe into his trusty VW camper van and head for the Scottish hills with six-year-old Jerry.
He will use his van to travel from loch to loch before paddling to a more remote area by canoe.
Wayne said: “England has gone it feels like every square inch is owned and signs saying ‘Private, Keep Out’ are everywhere.
“In the wilds of Scotland the sense of freedom and belonging is very special.
“Also, wild camping gets you away from just about everything. You can really relax and get in tune with your natural surroundings so quickly.
“The outdoors is a fabulous place to spend time, no matter what the weather throws at you.
“I see this as a great opportunity to raise some funds for the very worthy charity, Shelter, who do immense work nationwide, helping families and individuals in times of real need.”
He added: “My dog is another strong reason for doing the trip, too. I absolutely love my dog and working as hard as I have been has left less time for him.
“We have a really close bond and it was obvious that I had to be true to myself and give him what will prove to be an amazing adventure, which he will love.
“I’ve canoed the River Severn with him, wild camped in Scotland with him many times and he adores it.
“Plus, he’s starting to creak a little bit at the tender age of nearly seven, and so am I at 46, so there’s no time to delay things.”
Wayne said he is particularly looking forward to visiting Perthshire.
He said: “The big draw to Perthshire for me is the region around Loch Rannoch. Loch Eigheach is tricky to get to but looks breathtaking.
“Also, I’ve been looking at Dunalastair Water, which has a Tay Forest Park on its south shore and the River Tummel exiting to the east perfect place to spend some time with the camera and the canoe.
“The estate at Dunalastair also has some fascinating Scottish history and some very picturesque ruins.
Sadly, Lochs Rannoch and Tummel, both beautiful lochs, have roads along both shores, making wild camping not very wild and a bit too noisy.
“The route I’ll be taking on the trip is not set in stone and flexible to suit weather and the midge factor.
“I would estimate we should be heading for Loch Eigheach some time in July. I can’t be more precise Mother Nature is going to be in charge of the schedule. I’m just a passenger.”
Anyone who would like to make a contribution to Wayne’s charity challenge can donate atwww.justgiving.com/sixmonthsinscotland.