A NORTH-EAST toddler is hiking his way through the Scottish mountains - aged two-and-three-quarters.

Darwin Bradley, who lives in Guisborough, east Cleveland, has already conquered two of the mountains, known as Munro Peaks.

At 22 months, his parents took him up Meall Chuaich, which is 953 metres, then, eight months later, they scaled Schiehallion, which is 1,083 metres.

Weather permitting, the energetic youngster will conquer three more peaks in aid of charity in two weeks' time.

He will scale 996-metre Spidean Mialach, 1,035-metre Gleouraich on September 5 and then 1,027 metre Sgurr a' Mhaoraich on September 7.

Darwin's parents, 30-year old Sarah and 40-year-old Mark, an area warden for the National Trust, say they were amazed by his first climbs.

"He was unbelievable. He walked up Schiehallion and ran back down," said Mrs Bradley.

"We originally took Darwin walking to wear him out, but he loved it so much we went on increasingly longer hikes."

The couple had booked a trip up Kilimanjaro before they found out Mrs Bradley was pregnant with Darwin.

They cancelled the expedition, but now plan to do it with their son when he is about 11.

"We want to take Darwin up all 284 of the Munro Peaks before his 16th birthday, although he needs to develop a bit before we can attempt some of the higher peaks.

"His bones need to grow and he needs more upper-body strength. He can't fit in the rock climbing harness at the moment.

"When he gets older though, his dad wants them to be the first father and son team to tackle Everest."

In January, Darwin raised £400 for the tsunami relief fund by climbing Roseberry Topping with his parents.

His latest expeditions are in aid of Epilepsy Action, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Dreams Come True, which grants the wishes of seriously or terminally ill children.

When asked why he liked climbing mountains, Darwin replied: "I feel on top of the world."