A KENDAL man diabetes is celebrating after scaling 503 Scottish mountains and almost 200 Lakeland fells.

Nigel Saxton, of Hayclose Crescent, completed his final Corbett - a Scottish mountain between 2,500 ft and 3,000 ft - this month.

The former teacher has spent his life walking in the Lake District and Scottish Highlands and completed his 40-year challenge with a walk up Carn A’ Choire Ghairbh, with his wife Judith.

“I felt very satisfied and proud of myself,” he said. “When I’m on the hills I feel doubly alive. It just gives you such freedom. I have been very fortunate to have the time to do this.”

Mr Saxton, 60, began walking in the Lakes with his father at the age of five. It wasn’t until his twenties that he decided to take on the 284 Scottish Munros - a Scottish mountain over 3,000 feet.

But in 1982 he was diagnosed with insulin dependent Type 1 diabetes.

“I really struggled with the news and it took me a while to get over, but I love hill walking so much I didn’t want to give up. I ended up completing all the Munros by 1989,” he said.

“I had done 30 each year for 10 years and while I was waiting for my friends to finish I repeated another 150 Munros.”

After this, the father-of-three decided to increase his challenge and began to climb the Corbetts - all 219 of them.

“In many ways they are more difficult than the Munros,” he said. “4,500 people have completed the Munros but only about 400 people have walked all 219 Corbetts and only one other person with Type 1 diabetes.”

Mr Saxton hopes his efforts will inspire other diabetes sufferers to come to terms with the condition.

“When I was diagnosed I found it hard. It can be very dangerous if you don’t look after yourself and there is always a danger of going hypo-glycemic with exercise. But with perseverance and self-discipline it doesn’t stop you doing anything.”

Mr Saxton will now attempt to complete all 214 Wainwright walks.

“I recently realised I only have 30 left to do,” he said. “That can be another small task for my retirement!”