Munro commemoration to clean up in the mountains

A large environmental and community project will involve walkers, runners and climbers of all ages and from all parts climbing the Munros in memory of Sir Hugh Munro.

Those who choose to climb one of the 282 mountains on the online list, will also be asked to remove a small bag of rubbish should they find any during their walk.

In return for their efforts, each participant will be featured in an art publication which will document their mountain experience, with the intention of a travelling exhibition to follow.

The Munro Table project will also plant 282 high-altitude indigenous trees for each mountain climbed, in collaboration with Trees for Life. This is intended to help restore the unique wildlife-rich habitat called montane scrub.

The project is led by Eddie Summerton, of the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD).

Eddie said, “The diversity of walkers who have signed up so far is fantastic. Of course we have some of Scotland’s walking clubs and serious Munro baggers, who have already mapped out their weekends ahead with walks and climbs but we also have folk who are signing up who are returning to the hills for the first time in years, with a child or grandchild to accompany them.

“We’ve heard from a school teacher who is selecting the nearest Munro to the school to include the walk in her class project and also a seriously ill walker, determined to participate in this ‘big walk’ to acknowledge their resistance to the illness.

“This year-long celebration of our hills is goes beyond the legacy of Sir Hugh Munro. It recognises the incredible infrastructure of volunteers who keep paths open, the national parks, the environmental charities and the right to roam. All of these help make Scotland one of the most spectacular places to walk.”

The Munro Table project will launch on Tuesday 19 March, 100 years after the death of Sir Hugh Munro.

At the time of writing more than 200 Munros are still available to be chosen from the online list.

Those interested should be aware of the risks of hiking and hill walking and should not sign up unless they already have experience in the mountains.