A businessman who caught hypothermia while walking his dog in the Highlands stripped off his clothes before his death, an inquest has been told.

Jason Gates was reported missing on March 17 after his dog Max was found running loose close to Drumnadrochit, near Loch Ness.

His body was found in a dense forest on nearby Cnoc a'Bhuachaille on May 3 and a post-mortem revealed the 36-year-old had died of hypothermia.

Coroner David Horsley explained: "When people start to develop hypothermia they are actually cold but they feel hot and take their clothes off."

Items of clothing belonging to Mr Gates were found abandoned in the weeks following his death.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Horsley told the family of Mr Gates: "He had gone up to Scotland to help clear his head, he had been having some health problems.

"He had been enjoying walking his dog when he has developed hypothermia and he has died. His death is due to a tragic accident.

"I am so awfully sorry, what a terrible shock for you and to have it drawn out for so long in the time it took to find him. I am entirely satisfied that Jason has died due to an accident."

Mr Gates' father Malcolm told the inquest his son had been suffering from stress and he had encouraged him to take a break from the business they ran together with Mr Gates' brother-in-law.

He said: "He was stressed, we wanted him to have a break from the business because he hadn't had a holiday for many years."

He added his son was on a second visit to Scotland, having returned briefly to Bedhampton, Hampshire, to pay builders who were renovating his home.

The inquest heard Mr Gates had a history of depression and had been seen by mental health services in recent months.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Gates's sister, Alison Ware, said: "He was a lovely guy, we knew him best and he was a lovely, fun guy, a bit quiet and always described as a gentle giant, he wouldn't hurt anyone.

"The best brother and uncle you could ever have, it's just a tragedy."