Mountaineering Scotland 

Mountaineering Scotland is the organisation that represents hill walkers, climbers, mountaineering and snowsports tourers in Scotland.

Our aim is to inspire and encourage people to enjoy the physical and mental benefits of walking, climbing and mountaineering in Scotland's hills, mountains and climbing venues, through affordable skills training and information campaigns to promote safety, self-reliance and the enjoyment of the mountain environment and indoor climbing walls. We also campaign to protect Scotland's mountain landscapes and to safeguard access rights. 

Our work is funded through the support of our 16,000 members and 140 clubs, along with non-governmental grants and investment from sportscotland.

The Mountaineering Scotland office will be closed from 4pm Friday 20 December 2024 and re-open at 9am Mon 6 January 2025, to allow staff a well-earned break. Please note that emails to info@mountaineering.scot and phone messages will not be monitored during this period.

Need to contact us about a course booking? If you are booked onto a mountain skills course during this time and need to contact us about your booking, please use the contact details on the PDF joining instructions attached to your booking confirmation email to get in touch with the instructor directly. 

For any other enquiries please email or call and leave a message on 01738 493 942 and we will respond on our return in January.


Be part of our community

Join Mountaineering Scotland

As a member, you can save money with some amazing discounts and offers on outdoor gear, accommodation, mapping and other useful services. 


You can also improve your skills with our range of mountain safety and climbing courses, and keep up to date with all the latest news and stories in our regular emails and Scottish Mountaineer magazine. Individual, joint, family and youth memberships available - why wait? Join us now.

Become a member

Give the gift of membership

Gift membership is the perfect present for the hill-walker, climber or backcountry skier in your life.


Individual, joint, family and youth membership available, with a free gift and many great offers and members benefits that will save them money and keep them up to date with all the latest news and safety info to help them enjoy their time on the hills this coming year.


Gift membership


What's new?

Winter skills courses in Scotland

Ready for winter in the mountains? Get the skills you need with our great value training courses

Find a course

2024 ThinkWINTER campaign

Our joint winter campaign aims to provide inspiration, advice and skills for those heading to the hills 

Find out more

Winter vehicle access to Glen Strathfarrar

Find out about winter vehicle access arrangements for Mountaineering Scotland members

More info  


Support our campaigns - It's Up to Us

Add your pennies for paths

Now you can give to It's Up to Us when you shop at Cotswold Outdoor stores in Scotland from September to the end of December 2024 through Pennies - just round up your purchase at the till from as little as one penny, and that money will go to support our campaign. It's as easy as that, and every penny does count!

t’s Up to Us is a campaign from Mountaineering Scotland and the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) to raise awareness of the desperate need for investment in the repair and maintenance of informal mountain paths to protect the fragile mountain environment and for the safety of path users. The campaign will initially focus on raising £300,000 to repair the badly damaged upland path on An Teallach - one of Scotland's most iconic mountains - in the Northwest Highlands. 

Find out more


Our Month: Mountaineering Scotland - November 2024

At the end of each month, we take a look back at the work the team has been carrying out on behalf of our members. Read on to hear the latest updates from the Access & Conservation, Mountain Safety, ClimbScotland and Member Services & Communications teams.

Also:


Join us

As a member you will support our work and enjoy a range of member benefits including a free gift, insurance, quarterly magazine, great value mountain skills courses, discounts, offers and more.

Tree a Trip - plant a tree for every trip you take to the hill, crag or climbing wall

Tree a trip

Take action on the climate crisis by ensuring that a tree is planted in the Scottish Highlands for each trip you make for recreation. A donation of just £6 secures a tree of local stock for a rewilding projects in the highlands.

Safety and skills courses

Mountaineering Scotland runs subsidised safety and skills courses that can help you improve your abilities and confidence, and get the most out of your mountaineering and hillwalking adventures.

Online shop

Treat yourself or a friend to our branded beanies and windjammers and a range of other items like T-shirts, keyrings and TakItHame bags.


Our activities 

Hill walkers enjoying the Scottish highlands

Hill walking

With 282 Munros, 221 Corbetts and many many more wild and beautiful hills and mountains to explore - what are you waiting for?! Check out our guide to starting out - from kit choice to venturing out with your kids.    

Indoor climber

Climbing

We are Scotland's sports governing body for indoor climbing and whether you get your kicks at a climbing wall or prefer real rock outdoors, we have advice on where to go and how to progress.

Mountaineering in Scotland

Mountaineering

For summer scrambling, winter adventures with ice-axe and crampons, or even skis, Scotland's mountains are a mountaineer's playground. Discover more and check out our advice on getting started.

Off to the hills

Mountain Weather Information Service

Checking what the weather is going to do is an essential part of preparation for the hills. Click here for a direct link.

Top tips for starting out hill walking

Not sure how to start out? Check these pages for excellent advice on how to head for the hills with confidence.

Climbing Ben Nevis: what you need to know 

It's the mountain everyone wants to do. We give some valuable information on what you need to do to make your experience safe - and pleasurable!

Essential skills: how to cross rivers - or not

River crossing - when you can't avoid it - is just one of the essential skills you can learn about in our Skills section, to increase safety, confidence and enjoyment in the hills.


Member essentials

Climbers scrambling in Glen Coe. Scrambling course

What's on?

Check out our mountain skills courses, climbing comps, coaching workshops, talks & other events.

Climbing club members on the hill

Find a club near you

With over 150 clubs to choose from, you are sure to find people who share your interests. 

Screengrab of log-in page for membership section

Members Portal log-in

Head straight for our online members portal to join, renew your membership, book a course or amend your details. 

Image of Mountaineering Scotland membership card

Your discounts

Cover the cost of your membership with the savings you can make on gear, places to stay and much more.


Our strategy 2022-25

Mountaineering Scotland strategic framework 2022-25

Mountaineering Scotland's strategy for 2022-25 outlines the vision and values of our organisation and the outcomes we hope to achieve over the next three years.

Shaped in consultation with members, staff, key partner organisations and the wider mountaineering community, the strategy centres on four strategic pillars:

  • Representing
  • Protecting
  • Inspiring and 
  • Developing


See the Strategic Framework here


ScotRock is the fortnightly podcast bringing climbers and mountaineers together to share some of their amazing stories.

 

Hosted by Calum and Robert from our ClimbScotland team, the podcasts take an often irreverent but always informed look at the people and the issues that matter in Scotland’s mountains and climbing walls.

 

Available on Podbean, Itunes, Google podcasts, Spotify and all other major podcast apps – just search for ScotRock