JUST 30 years ago this year, an ex-Army officer and his wife took the wrong turning up an Exmoor bridlepath, arrived at a derelict farmhouse that was not for sale – and made a decision that would change their lives for good.

Since then, the house, in remote moorland in sight of Dunkery Beacon, is where Sir Ranulph Fiennes has dreamed up, planned and prepared the dozens of boys’ book adventures which have made him one of the world’s greatest living explorers.

Now comes the challenge which has kept the Exmoor planning team busy for months. This momth, the 72-year-old third Baronet of Banbury – who prefers to be called Ran – will begin what he thinks could be his greatest test in 50 years of doing what doubters have said could not be done.

His Global Reach Challenge involves scaling four major peaks in ten months to become the first person to cross both Polar ice-caps and to climb the highest mountains on every continent.