A CULROSS pup has become the 20th dog to climb all 282 of the Scottish Munros. 

Montmorency, a springer spaniel affectionately known as Monty, has exceeded his owner's expectations and conquered every peak with just half a lung. 

Gavin Ballantine said that, in total, the journey included 1,455 miles of running, 640 hours of effort and the equivalent altitude gain of climbing Everest 17.5 times, taking around four years to achieve.

He first took his faithful friend mountaineering six years ago as an attempt to tire him out and was shocked at just how much the dog loved it. 

Gavin said: "We jumped in the car and headed over to a snow-capped Ben Narnain in December 2018 and that was it; he shot up the mountain like a hairy express train and discovered his purpose in life.

"In finding that we forged a bond that I don’t believe I’ll ever replicate again. 

"From this humble saunter in the Arrochar Alps, we started ticking off easily accessible Munros and gradually developed into quite a team. 

"Being a keen runner, we soon went on to tackle some of the biggest days in Scotland; the full Fannaich Ridge, the Loch Monar 6, the North & South Glen Shiel Ridge loop, The Mamores 10, the Crainlarich 7, and finally a knee busting Mullardoch round."

(Image: Supplied.)

Unfortunately, it was then that Monty got poorly. He developed pyothorax - a condition that occurs when inflammation fluid or pus builds up in the chest cavity. 

The spaniel was hospitalised and had to undergo surgery which left him with just three lobes left in his lungs - half of what is normal for a dog. 

Gavin was sure that this spelled the end of his mountain excursions with his best friend. 

"That was the first, and very last, time I ever underestimated my dog," he continued. 

Just two weeks after his release, Monty was back to his normal self and raring to go. 

"Skye and the Black Cuillins, on the other hand, are not to be underestimated," he recalled,  "Aided by a false sense of our abilities, and a confidence borne of stupidity, we aimed for a four-day crossing of the ridge.

" With hindsight, this was rather a big ask, but despite some ferocious weather, horribly torn dog boots, a million twisted ropes and a truly unattractive 30 metre abseil from Sgur Nan Gillean we somehow managed it without putting Monty in a backpack.

"He scrambled, climbed and scurried his way, paw after paw, up to the top of every summit. 

"Despite the wholly justifiable fear that I’d be dragged off a cliff by a two-tonne spaniel; looking back this may just have been our best time together in the mountains.

"The sheer disbelief in peoples’ eyes when they see a spaniel hot-footing it up the Inn Pinn is truly a sight to behold."

Monty and Gavin completed all 282 Munros on August 3 with a solo trip up Ben More on Mull. 

Reflecting on their five-year journey, Gavin said: "There is a pure simplicity surrounding the moments we’ve shared together in the mountains; marking the occasion with anything other than a ‘good boy’ and a treat would seem to signify the end to something I never actually wanted to finish.

"But finish we did; sat alone, on top of a mountain, staring out at all of the memories and moments we’d shared together over the last five years.

"He’s getting older now, and although his mind is as sharp as ever, his body just can’t keep up.

"It breaks my heart every time I lace up my trainers knowing that he won’t be running along beside me. Just as I know it breaks his heart every time he has to watch me leave without him. 

"I would never have started, let alone completed, my Munro round without Monty. I truly cannot thank him enough for being my dog, but more importantly, for being my friend."