Inspired by the mountains? Budding writers wanted!

Mountaineering Scotland’s popular Mountain Writing Competition is back! We’re asking those with stories and poems inspired by the mountains to put fingers to keyboards and submit their writings for a chance to win prizes, and have their work published online and in Scottish Mountaineer. 

Alongside the original Prose and Poetry categories, a new Young Poet category has been added this year, giving those aged 11-17 the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Competition Coordinator and previous Mountain Writing Competition winner, Tommy McManmon, said: “The 2024 Mountain Writing Competition is an amazing opportunity for budding writers to explore their love of the outdoors with the chance to win some great prizes.

“We're especially pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for young people to use their creative poetry talents this year. Our experienced judges look forward to reading the entries.”

Entries are assessed by a panel of judges, made up of past competition winners and well-known authors or journalists, joined this year by outdoor writer, author and photographer, Chris Townsend. 

Chris said: “Writing about the mountains has always brought me great joy and I am very happy to encourage others to express themselves through words. I am excited to read the entries and see what surprises and delights they bring".

This year, Mountaineering Scotland has also worked with some of the UK’s top outdoor brands and publishers to add fantastic prize bundles to the usual cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category, including prizes from Highlander Outdoor, Scottish Mountaineering Press, Lifesystems, Harvey Maps, Cicerone Press and SIGG. A full breakdown of each prize bundle can be found here. 

The Mountaineering Scotland Mountain Writing Competition is open to anyone living in the UK, and entries can be fact or fiction, just so long as the subject matter has a connection with the mountains/ any aspect of mountaineering, rock climbing, walking, trail running or skiing/ski-touring. The competition is open to both Mountaineering Scotland members and non-members.

Entries for the 2024 Mountaineering Scotland Mountain Writing competition are open from 9am on 18^th January and close at 5pm on 1^st March 2024. Winners will be notified in April 2024. Entries can be made through the online application portal, with an entry fee of £7.50 per entry (adults), per category, and £5 for the young poet category.