Friday 28th February 2025, 9:00am
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 our CEO and our Access & Conservation, Mountain Safety, ClimbScotland and Member Services & Communications teams...
The team started this month with our development day held at Ratho EICC led by our CEO Stuart Younie. It was a great chance for staff to connect, review our 2025-29 strategy, and explore ways to build a more inclusive community and grow membership. We then went for a walk over to the new Lost Shore facility to see some surfers brave to cold!
The Finance Advisory Group met on the 6th of Feb and had a positive report on the out-turn position for this year which is projecting a surplus and this is also the projection in the draft budget for 2025/26. We're awaiting final confirmation of our sportscotland investment, but the in-principle figure is indicating an uplift in funding to provide additional coaching support for our Development and National squad climbers. Although subject to confirmation by the sportscotland board, we are one of only two sports to receive an uplift.
At the February Board meeting, Directors approved the new strategy and discussed expanding the Board from 10 to 12 members, including creating a dedicated Chair position.
Stuart attended the Fort William Mountain Festival, supporting our stand, presenting on “It’s Up to Us,” and tackling a winter ascent of Aonach Mòr with Megan. The festival had an incredible atmosphere, with standout presentations, including Kev Howett receiving the Mountain Culture Award. Looking forward to next year already.
Finally, Stuart and Davie represented us at the Labour Party Conference with Ramblers Scotland, strengthening political engagement and collaboration on access rights and visitor infrastructure investment.
The Mountain Safety Advisors Kirsty, Max and Ross have been busy delivering the usual selection of skills and safety courses this month. Winter has been kind enough to offer winter conditions in the mountains and calm enough to be able to enjoy it, with our ever popular two-day winter skills courses now being offered on both the west and the east.
Senior Mountain Safety Advisor, Ross also attended an excellent event at Glenmore Lodge discussing with fellow mountain professionals about all things regarding avalanche education and how to communicate the importance of the avalanche ‘Problems’.
The end of February sees the Mountain Safety Group put the final finishing touches to the groups’ four-year strategy to encourage positive behaviours for safety in mountain environments. This important document will help focus the efforts of all groups involved in mountain safety in Scotland.
An interesting development in forestry this month was a
couple of consultations for new woodland creation – without deer fencing. Deer management is proposed to control
browsing in order to allow trees to grow, instead of traditionally fencing in
the trees.
Deer fences create two different issues: having to climb
over them if there isn’t a gate nearby; and the effect on the landscape as the
vegetation changes on either side of the sharp divide of the fence line.
It takes some effort to keep browsers in check, as it is
more than deer, or sheep that enjoy young trees; mountain hare and voles have
an impact too, so it takes active on-the-ground management to achieve this.
Plenty forestry proposals come forward with deer fences so
we scrutinise as many forestry proposals as we can to ensure that there are
sufficient crossing points for walkers. We would encourage more woods without
fences – where it can be effectively done.
Finally, a reminder that spring is starting and lambing season is here. Remember to keep your dogs under control to minimise distribution to wildlife and livestock. Find out more here.
Member Services & Communications Update
February saw the second weekend of weather workshops for members, delivered by forecasters Garry and Mehmet from the Mountain Weather Information Service. The Saturday session was a general Intro to Mountain Weather Workshop and the Sunday session focussed specifically on winter weather, both were fully booked and a few people attended both. Look out later in the year for more of these popular courses on one of our favourite subjects!
Talking of favourite subjects, we all love seeing wildlife when we’re out in the hills, and some of us are now better equipped to spot tracks and signs thanks to a fantastic webinar by wildlife expert and certified tracker Dun Puplett this month. More than 50 members joined the webinar to soak up some of Dan’s knowledge – who knew that hare dropping smell like digestive biscuits?
Between all that learning, the team attended the Fort William Mountain Festival on 14-16 February. As well as our stand in the exhibition hall, we were delighted to have the opportunity once again to bring the art of building mountain paths to life and highlight our It’s Up to Us campaign as part of the main Friday night session. Ewan Watson from our partners the Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland was joined by Mountaineering Scotland CEO Stuart Younie and campaign ambassador Keri Wallace, for a talk on How to Build a Mountain Path and the scarcity of funding for upland paths damaged by footfall and erosion.
At the end of February, we said a huge thank you to Membership & Events Officer Karen, who has moved on to follow her dreams and take up a new career in the fitness industry. Many of you will have been in contact with Karen by phone or email at some point in the last 2 and a half years, and hope you’ll join us in wishing her all the best for the future.
ClimbScotland Update
The ClimbScotland team have been busy behind the scenes in February, preparing for the year head and their offering of indoor and outdoor climbing programmes and competitions. ClimbScotland Development Officer, Robert, recently went out to Bloc 10 Dundee, to hang out with FUNdamentals of Climbing provider Andy Swann as he delivered one of the first FUNdamentals workshops of the year. As much as its just nice to hang out with the other providers, and its always fun running these coaching courses, Robert was there to start our 2025 moderation process for all our FUNdamentals workshops. Our FUNdamentals of Climbing coaching workshops are delivered by a small team of providers across Scotland. To help ensure the content that's delivered meets our desired leaning outcomes across the board and to make sure the quality of all FUNdamentals workshops of the standard we now expect we regularly moderate all our providers. While this moderation may be light touch, it provides ClimbScotland staff the opportunity to observe multiple courses run by a range of different instructors. This not only helps us make sure we are all singing off the same hymn sheet, but it also allows us to recognise new teaching methods, coaching styles, coaching tasks and games which we can then share across our team. This sharing of ideas is vital to maintaining quality, but also helps us all grow as coaches and keeps the courses growing with the rapidly developing climbing scene in Scotland. If you would like to know more about the FUNdamentals of Climbing coaching workshops, check out our website.
Round 5 of the Scottish National Bouldering League took place at Avertical World in Dundee and was attended by Heather McAslan, our Competitions Officer. Over 80 competitors took part, trying to send the 30 blocs set for the competition, and with Avertical World's 3-comp Winter Bouldering Series winners announced. The theme was "terrible party shirts" and there were plenty to be seen... The last SNBL round (and final) will take place on 15th March at Eden Roc.
February sees the ClimbScotland Fun Comp Qualifiers come to a close, on Friday 28th. The qualifying window opened on Saturday 18th and young climbers across Scotland at 11 different host venues and have been attempting the routes set for their age categories to see if they can qualify for the Grand Final which will take place at EICA in March.
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Mountaineering Scotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
