A man known as "Mr Cairngorms" is to receive an award for his contribution to mountain life at a festival next week.

Organisers of the Fort William Mountain Festival have revealed Dr Adam Watson will be presented with the Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture.

The Zoologist from Aberdeenshire was one of the pioneers of ski mountaineering and those putting on their ski goggles and trying this themselves may appreciate his pioneering work.

Dr Watson has spent much of his life exploring and studying the national park, becoming a mountain guide in the 1950s.

And when not making use of climbing ropes, he was studying the wildlife and ecology of the Cairngorms, a lifelong area of interest that has seen him complete two PHDs.

He has also carried out research into the history of place names in the range.

The festival runs from February 15th-19th and includes films, lectures, guided walks and skill sessions on hiking, climbing, skiing and mountain biking.