Having narrowly avoided proposing on a recent trip to New York, Pete spent time planning a special proposal for Fleur. It had to be in nature, but where? With the whole world to choose from, how could he possibly decide?

I had a good idea that Fleur would really value a carefully chosen setting for me to propose to her. I had no idea except that I knew it had to be outdoors. One of first things that drew me to Fleur was her love of the outdoors and her passion for nature.

We’ve been to many beautiful places in the world but there is something incredibly special about the UK. The green hills, crisp winter air, changing seasons, waterfalls, hidden trails, giant Oaks, bird song. There is no place like it.

We had a trip in our beloved campervan planned to Glen Coe in Scotland at the end of a chilly March. I figured that a week’s walking would surely present the perfect spot for a magical proposal. Each day we went out, I went prepared with the engagement ring, a half bottle of champagne (space was limited) and two champagne flutes. The champagne and glasses were wrapped up and hidden in what looked like a first aid kit. There was a fair chance that Fleur would discover this and my secret would be blown.

The weather was awful for the first day. Although the scenery was spectacular it just didn’t have the wow factor.

Day two was the same, and I was starting to wonder if I would find a place at all, at the right time, with the right weather. We had hoped to get up onto high ground, such as Buachaille Etive Mor but the weather was wasn’t good enough. There was snow above 600m, with cloud around the same height, stiff wind and drizzle. We decided instead to walk around Buachaille Etive Beag, in the valley paths of Lairig Eilde and Lairig Gartain. We started early enough and the weather started to clear. Lairig Eilde provided plenty of running water. This is medicine to Fleur. She would stop and meditate by flowing water for a few minutes, and then we’d move on. Fleur finds such serenity from this and she has introduced me to a new world of mindfulness and meditation.

We were looking for a place to stop for lunch and as the weather was getting better and better I thought I might find the right spot. By day two nature had worked her magic on us. We were calm, happy and connected. In nature we feel life goes a little slower and things have such clarity. Everything seems to work for us, like everything fits together somehow in a way that is too complicated when we have phones, emails, household chores, kids needing lifts etc when we are at home. As we came out of Lairig Eilde we got a fabulous view of Beinn Ceitlein and I had hopes that lunch would find us the spot. We were super hungry and had held out for a great lunch spot and by the time we rounded Buachaille Etive Beag near the road we were so hungry we stopped in the least comfortable spot for miles. We ate quickly and then rather disappointed, we headed along Lairig Gartain on the return.

We hadn’t gone for more than 5 or ten minutes when we stumbled across the most beautiful waterfall. It wasn’t big or spectacular but it was exactly how you would imagine a peaceful, calming, beautiful waterfall. Surrounded by trees and shrubs and beautiful rocks. The weather had cleared up and the sun shone. I stopped. This was it. I knew this was the place.This was where I wanted to ask Fleur to marry me. What I didn’t know was how I could get everything ready without Fleur knowing or seeing. To my delight, she said to me “do you mind if I meditate here for a moment?”

This was awesome. Fleur was sat on a huge rock, eyes closed, her face so beautiful, so calm and so at peace. I quietly opened my daysack, took out and unwrapped the champagne and glasses and positioned them about 3 metres behind us upstream. Then I sat and looked at Fleur, knowing that she had no idea what was about to happen. It was a lovely feeling, like I had paused time at this perfect moment. It felt very spiritual, as if the universe was working with me. I’ll treasure those few minutes I had, the universe paused so I could be in that moment. My senses heightened, my heart pumping with excitement and nervousness. The sound of water growing louder and clearer, the colours of the sky, the flowers and trees so vibrant.

As Fleur opened her eyes I held her hand and our eyes met. Still sat on the rock, we said nothing, just staring into each others eyes. This is something we do. Holding eye contact for a few minutes in silence is very powerful. My memory of exactly what I said is hazy. Probably because I had planned what I was going to say and when it came to it everything went out of my head. I think I said “I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you”. I think Fleur said something like she felt the same. Then I reached into my pocket and got out the box with the ring in it. Opening it up I said “Will you marry me?” I remember Fleur’s eyes welled up as she said yes. We kissed, and hugged. It was such a perfect moment. I completely forgot we had the champagne, then remembered suddenly, turning her around to see the flutes and bottle on the rock with the waterfall behind.

I flippin nailed it!

We had a great day’s walking and were buzzing all the way back to the campervan. We spent the next few days walking in the most beautiful Scottish hills and mountains. We were married the following April and we now spend as much time as we can sharing our love of nature with each other, with our scouts at 1st Bramhall, and with our friends and customers at nature escapes.