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An increase in membership subscriptions for 2025-26 is proposed as outlined below:


Current (annual)
Proposed rate from 1 Apr 2025 (annual)
Difference (annual)
Individual (over 18)
£41 £47 £6
Individual/ClimbScotland Gold (under 18)
£20.75 £24.25 £3.50
Concession £25 £31 £6
18-25 Digital Membership £23 £28 £5
Mountain Training Candidate
£33 £39 £6
Member of Club (over 18/University)
£21.75 £26.75 £5
Member of Club (under 18)
£12.50 £16 £3.50
Joint (2 adults)
£68 £80 (£7 saving) £12
Family (1 adult + under 18s)
£45 £54.50 £9.50
Family (2 adults + under 18s)
£73 £87.50 £14.50

The changes will not come into effect until 1 April 2025. This means that members with renewal dates over the winter months will not be affected, and communications can start early to members renewing thereafter.

For the past two years the day-to-day operation at Mountaineering Scotland has been running at a small loss and if we do nothing the gap between income and cost is forecast to rise to £49k this year and £76k in 2025/26. Clearly this is unsustainable and as well as making savings and drawing down on reserves, unfortunately we have little choice but to apply an increase to the fees.

  • General Inflation - In common with all businesses, the ending of Covid restrictions coincided with double digit inflation becoming embedded in the UK, and this has hit us hard in all areas of our operation, adding considerable cost to the work we do for you, our members. While we have attempted to absorb as much as possible, ultimately membership subscriptions do need to realistically reflect these cost increases.
  • Insurance – Much has already been said elsewhere about the rapid rise in our insurance costs which are now over £100k more than they were in 2018 (a 191% increase) and which continue to go up year on year. A very recent review of our insurance provision found there is little appetite from alternative UK insurers to cover our specialist requirements and with a £multimillion settlement of the BMC claim and another in the pipeline, we are now rated as a risky area to insure. Despite that, it’s worth noting that even now the cost per member to provide full indemnity against claims of property damage or accidental injury is still good value at 70p per member per month.
  • Personal accident cover* – On a positive note, this year for the first time we’ve been able to include personal accident cover for minimal cost as a benefit for individual members (see below). This brings us into line with other similar organisations and is something we are often asked about.  
  • Staff costs – Our staff are the backbone of the organisation with huge experience of dealing with the issues you tell us are important. They have been affected, as everyone has, by the surge in the cost of living and we have had to address this with salary increases. Additionally, to replace several retirees we’ve also had to recruit new members at higher salaries than previously paid to remain competitive with current market rates .
  • Access and conservation – It is worth re-stating that this remains a hugely important area of our work and one which you consistently tell us is a major reason for being a member of Mountaineering Scotland. The role of Access and Conservation Officer is now entirely funded by membership subscriptions and is an area we would ideally like to increase our focus on, however, we can only do it with your support.
  • Scottish Mountaineer magazine – We continue to remain committed to publishing Scottish Mountaineer twice a year but the fact is that print advertising no longer covers the majority of the cost, and this impacts on the level of financial investment we need to put in to bring the printed version to you.

We want to continue as a strong, financially sustainable organisation, providing excellent quality of service to our members and developing new areas of work to enhance and expand on what we already do. If subscriptions remain at current levels, we will have no choice but to discontinue some of the work we currently undertake especially if further unforeseen cost pressures arise.  

Membership fees support our activity across the organisation with an emphasis on the provision of member services and our work on access and environmental issues. 

See our 2023-24 annual report for more detail: www.mountaineering.scot/about-us/business-matters/annual-report-and-accounts

Mountaineering Scotland subscriptions compare very favourably with other similar organisations in the UK and overseas including the BMC, National Trust for Scotland, John Muir Trust, and Mountaineering Ireland.


Individual member
(over 18)
Club member
(over 18)
Mountaineering Scotland
(proposed from 1 Apr 2025)
£47£26.75
BMC (from 1 Jan 2025) £53.97 £29.33
Mountaineering Ireland (2024 rates)£59.23
£31.70
John Muir Trust (from 1 Jan 2025)£46
N/A
National Trust for Scotland (2024 rates)£63
N/A

Because of the ongoing uncertainties around insurance and other costs, we are unable to fix membership fees at this time. However, we will continue to use member income as effectively as possible and in the unlikely event we end up with a surplus in 2025 it will be used to reduce the impact of any other unexpected cost increases.

In addition to the tangible member benefits outlined below, we hope that as a member you feel there is value in being part of Mountaineering Scotland and supporting all the work we do on your behalf as the voice of our members including:

Our core areas of work:

  • Access – safeguarding access rights, dealing with member enquiries, , working with the National Access Forum, ski centres, developers and landowners to develop guidance and raise issues of concern.
  • Mountain Safety – providing affordable skills training, working with partner organisations to promote safety and self-reliance, public information campaigns, spearheading the Mountain Safety Group for Scotland to develop mountain safety at a strategic level.
  • Environment and Planning – campaigning to protect mountain areas and landscapes, reviewing and where appropriate objecting to planning proposals impacting on mountain areas and landscapes, supporting partner organisations with the aim of increasing biodiversity in the mountains and sustainable mountain environments.
  • Developing pathways through our ClimbScotland and Mountain Safety programs for people to explore and experience all aspects of mountaineering, both indoor and outdoors.
  • Member Services – providing information, guidance and opportunities for members to enjoy hill walking, climbing, ski touring and other mountain-based activities safely and responsibly.

Providing a quality service and value for money for our members

We believe that membership of Mountaineering Scotland continues to offer excellent value for money and provides a quality membership package including:

Combined liability insurance up to £20m covering:

  • Hill walking, indoor and outdoor climbing, parapenting & the full range of mountaineering activities including off piste skiing.
  • Other activities where they are used in the approach or as part of mountaineering activities eg mountain biking canoeing & kayaking.
  • Volunteers including coaches, hut operators, climbing competition volunteers.
  • Club committees.
  • Club trips and member organised trips or solo trips.
  • Cover for qualified or trainee instructors & club members carrying out training in a voluntary (unpaid) capacity.


Membership benefits package:

  • Scottish Mountaineer (print) and Mountain Matters (digital) plus our monthly members’ enews
  • Great value skills courses, climbing and coaching workshops and events
  • Exclusive discounts and offers from top brands, retailers and service providers
  • which more than cover the annual cost of your membership in savings
  • Use of national huts and many club huts in some amazing locations for walking, climbing and ski touring
  • Access to BMC adventure travel insurance and reciprocal rights card
  • Registration with Mountain Training for who go on to gain formal qualifications
  • Supporting our work including campaigns and advocacy to protect mountain landscapes and encourage responsible access to hills, mountains and climbing venues
  • Volunteering opportunities at events and competitions


Affiliated clubs also benefit from:

  • Combined liability insurance benefits for members, committees, volunteers and huts operators (if applicable) involved in club activities.
  • Resources and information including safeguarding, governance, safety and liability, insurance FAQs, marketing/promotion, equalities, data protection
  • Networking events for club organisers
  • Low-cost mountain safety and skills training for club members
  • Featured on our online club finder
  • Access to free legal and financial advice
  • Opportunity to get involved in Mountaineering Scotland campaigns and other activities
  • Secure online member management through our members portal

From 2025 individual members of Mountaineering Scotland will also benefit from worldwide personal accident insurance covering:

Accidental bodily injury resulting in:
Sum insured
Broken bones Arm (Humerus,Radius & Ulna) or Write (Carpals) - £250
Leg (Femur, Tibia, Fibula), Ankle (Tarsals) or Kneecap (Patella) - £250
Skull (excluding jaw and nose), Collar bone (Clavicle), Shoulder blade (Scapula) - £250
Coma benefit £50 per day for each day up to a max of 730 days
Dental Expenses Up to £500
Funeral Expenses Up to £10,000
Hospitalisation £50 per day up to £750
Medical Expenses Up to £10,000
PhysiotherapyUp to £500
Rehabilitation ExpensesUp to £10,000