THERE he was, sitting on the back of a ridge in Scotland as darkness drew in.

No food, no water; not even a torch. Flung out of school with qualifications, down on his luck and feeling pathetic.

He was lucky to make it down in one piece, barely avoiding being “one of these muppets” who need to be rescued.

But the experience of an adventure up Glen Coe completely transformed TV presenter Simon Reeve, who is touring the UK with a show, encouraging people to get out of their comfort zones.

Determined to save people from a “life spent looking at little screens”, the Wilderness presenter will bring his To The Ends Of The Earth tour to the Alhambra Theatre on Thursday, November 14.

Ahead of what is set to be an inspiring show, Simon spoke to the Dunfermline Press, recounting the tale in a bid to encourage people to turn left where they have always turned right.

“As a little London lad, hopeless, pathetic, really troubled – I went to Glen Coe and I climbed up to what I now know is the Lost Valley”, he remembered.

“It was an experience that properly and genuinely changed my life.

“It gifted me physical self-confidence I didn’t have at the time.”

(Image: Contributed)

But darkness drew in and Simon admitted he was he was “lucky” to make it back down.

The West London boy, who comes from an ordinary family, climbed up not because he felt a spiritual calling, but because he had watched Highlander with his mate Dwight on VHS some 30 times.

Simon continued: “It really transformed me and as an experience, I share it with others not to suggest that they should do what I did, but I also don’t think we should stop people from having real experiences just because of our concerns about health and safety.

“We’ve got to live a proper human life and a proper human life involves risk, it involves challenge, it involves pushing yourself just a little bit – whatever age you are, wherever you are, however you are.

“It could be as simple as trying a different food you’ve never tried or it can be pushing yourself to go and sleep outside for a few nights in what is just about the most beautiful part of our islands, in one of the most gorgeous parts of the world.”

READ MORE: Fife Council predicting an £18.6m overspend by end of March

Simon, well know for his travel adventure series and documentaries as well as his bestsellers, will be looking to inspire audiences to make the most of their chances to have wild experiences.

He will be sharing tales and thrilling stories, behind-the-scenes footage, deep thoughts and plenty of laughs at the show.

“I feel like we are all getting sucked into life spent looking at little screens”, Simon continued.

“I think there’s genuine risk involved with that, that we lose some of our humanity by constantly watching box sets or clicking ‘like’ on messages and not actually getting up and out there.

“And I know that’s easier said than done, I know it’s easy for some jumped-up telly person to start telling people: ‘oh, you need to go explore the world’.

“I am not saying we all need to go explore the world, I believe we all need to push ourselves a little bit out of our comfort zones.”

Certainly, he will share stories about remote places, however, he will be encouraging people to find “their own Ends Of The Earth place”.

Simon added: “That doesn’t have to be on the other side of the planet, it can be quite close to home, it can sometimes be just around the corner from where you live.

“You can find it by turning left where you only ever turned right.

“You can find it by walking somewhere you’ve only ever driven or taken a bus to.

“You can find it by just lifting your head from the screen you are staring at as you are walking along the street, and taking in fully where you are and the people around you.

“But more than anything, I want people to push themselves just a bit – not a crazy amount, don’t go bungee jumping off Everest or something completely mad.

“Just try and challenge yourself a little bit and you’ll find out what you are capable of, it will build confidence, it will build awareness.

“Taking a few more risks delivers memories and experiences, which we all need.”

Visit nothird.co.uk/live-shows/simon-reeve/ for tickets and more information.