Britain’s best-known mountaineer and Berghaus athlete Sir Chris Bonington, has received the top award of the Outdoor Writers’ and Photographers’ Guild at a special ceremony held in Penrith on Friday, March 13.

He received the Guild’s coveted Golden Eagle award – an original watercolour painting by Guild member David Bellamy – from president Roly Smith for his distinguished contribution to the outdoors world.

Nominating Chris Bonington for the award, Roly Smith said: "If you asked any member of the British public to name the person they most associate with the outdoors, the chances are they would say Chris Bonington.

"In addition to being Britain’s best-known mountaineer, Chris has been a loyal member of the Guild for over 20 years. He has been our finest ambassador for the great outdoors for nearly 50 years, and he has always tried to put something back."

Chris Bonington was awarded the CBE in 1986 and knighted in 1996 for his services to mountaineering, and his many honorary positions have included being the president of the British Mountaineering Council; president of the Alpine Club, and president of the Council for National Parks. Chris’s charitable work has included the presidency of Lepra, and vice-presidency of both the YHA and the British Lung Foundation.

Chris Bonington lives with his wife Wendy at Hesket Newmarket, and the painting which is the subject of the award shows one of his favourite views, Skiddaw from Uldale.