Monday 31st March 2025, 9:30am
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...
CEO Stuart Younie started March attending a meeting of the Mountain Safety Group, with a focus on reviewing the draft national mountain safety strategy which members of the group have been working on. Thanks to our Director for Mountain Safety Brendan Hughes, who has put significant effort into developing the draft document. There was a general consensus on the way forward with the next phase to engage in further discussions with the Scottish Government.
A key focus this month has been working with the senior team on the operational plan linked to our new strategy, agreed by the Board in February.
Stuart also took time to attend a sportscotland training course on managing hybrid teams to try and ensure Mountaineering Scotland is able to address the challenges being faced by many businesses, charities and not-for-profit organisations, as many of our staff work part-time hours and / or remotely from The Granary. He was also involved in the interviews for the new Membership and Administrative officer before nipping up to Aviemore to attend the closing event of the International Winter Climbing Met. Despite the disappointing weather there was a fantastic buzz about Glenmore Lodge and thanks to all the volunteers and partner organisations for delivering an excellent event.
Finally, we said a fond farewell to Davie Black, our Access and Environment Officer (pictured), who has retired after 7 years with Mountaineering Scotland. Stuart said "Davie was appointed just before I started in post and has made a significant impact on Mountaineering Scotland during his time. He was the first full time member of staff dealing with this area of work and has led the establishment of a clear policy framework though our Conservation strategy, Manifesto for the Mountains and has developed numerous policy and position statements. He will be well known to many of our members for his measured and thoughtful approach and brought a wealth of knowledge on access, planning and environmental issues. I would like to thank him personally for the support and guidance he has provided me over the last seven years he will be sorely missed but we wish him a long and happy retirement."
The end of March sees the end of the winter skills courses for this season with almost all courses being run despite the sporadic winter conditions – this was mainly due to luck in the timing of courses but we're not complaining! Fingers crossed that next winter will offer much more stable conditions.
Between delivering courses, the Mountain Safety Advisor team and the Climb Scotland team met both on the crag and in a meeting room to look at ways we can share ideas and support each other’s programmes. Work continues in developing a more joined-up pathway through all our skills courses, both indoor and outdoor.
Fingers crossed for some nice spring conditions on the mountains for the first summer navigation courses in the Arrochar Alps.
Find out more about summer navigation and mountain skills courses.
It’s the time of year again when we need to be alert to the activity of breeding birds on ledges on outcrops. Round about now birds will be prospecting suitable ledge locations to start building a nest; different species will start nesting a slightly different times, but all will be looking for spots that are sheltered and free from disturbance.
Regarding birds with special legal protection, golden eagles and white tailed eagles will have started breeding already with a settled period of calm weather. Peregrine falcons are generally slightly later but will be active at their chosen spots already. You may also find Ravens on the nest by now too.
It needs to be remembered that in Scotland it is a criminal offence to interfere with the nest of any wild bird, or obstruct a bird from using it, either intentionally or recklessly.
Our advice to climbers is to check our nesting alerts webpage or any nesting updates on the UKC crag pages before setting out, and on approach be on the lookout for birds in the vicinity showing signs of alarm.
It’s prudent to have a Plan B for a nearby alternative venue, for although you may only disturb them for a short time as you climb through, you don’t know how many have been there before you, or will come after you, and that time off the nest could be crucial to their success in establishing a nest.
As well as nesting birds, it's also time to start keeping an eye out for those pesky ticks! Read more about preventing tick bites and what to do if you get one.
Member Services & Communications Team
With Membership & Events Officer Karen’s departure at the end of February, interviews took place to find a replacement this month, and we hope to have a new start in mid-late April, so please bear with us in the meantime, and we’ll do our best to respond to email and phone messages as quickly as we can.
The International Winter Climbing Meet began on Saturday 1 March, with staff and volunteers welcoming climbers from the UK and abroad at Glenmore Lodge. The climbers set off on the Sunday for a week of climbing (not all in winter conditions, thanks to a mid-week thaw!), with accommodation provided at four of the SMC club huts, then on Friday 7 March all met up again back at Glenmore Lodge, with many new friendships and climbing partnerships having been formed. You can read a full round-up on the UKClimbing website, by Mountaineering Scotland’s Director for Snowsports, and co-organiser of the Meet, Alistair Todd.
We marked International Women’s Day with a series of inspirational videos of some of our female members – Anne Butler (President) and Ilona Turnbull (Vol Director for HR & Equalities), both keen hill-baggers, Lucy Ross, ClimbScotland’s head route setter, and Emma Bush, member of the Scottish Dry Tooling Club and the GB Ice Climbing Team, despite only starting to climb in the last 2 years. You can view them all on our Instagram here.
Our summer mountain skills program has now opened for booking and there are also some new additions to the Ready to Rock climbing skills courses, so there really is something for everyone now, whether you’re completely new to climbing or aiming to hone your sport or trad skills – take a look at what’s on offer.
ClimbScotland Update
The ClimbScotland programme of activity in March has really picked up, with the first of this year’s RealRock sessions being delivered at Glen Lednock by Robert. The session was fully booked with 6 young climbers in attendance, who enjoyed getting on and sending the various boulders at this great venue.
On Saturday the 15th March, the team were spread across two indoor venues supporting our programme and competition activity. At Block 10 in Dundee, our Development and National squad were at a 'Boulder Comp Simulator', in preparation for the forthcoming national boulder championships in Ireland and Scotland. Head Setter Lucy Ross, along with our indorsed setting team were busy on the Friday before, creating some amazing blocs to test the skills of the squad members and done an amazing job. Massive thanks to Block 10 Dundee for hosting.
At the same time, the final round of the Scottish National Bouldering League was taking place at Eden Rock in Edinburgh, attended by our Competition Officer - Heather McAslan and ClimbScotland Director, Hugo Allan. Well done to all the competitors that took part in this year’s league, making the effort to attend as many of the rounds as possible and special thanks to Edelrid and Red Chilli Climbing for providing the prizes.
Continuing the theme of competitions, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena hosted our Fun Climbing Competition Finals on Saturday 22nd March. We had a record number of 420 young climbers taking part in the qualifying rounds across Scotland at 12 host venues. Well done to UHI Perth Climbing Wall and Orkney Climbing Club on winning the ClimbScotland Wall and Club Trophies! A huge thank you to staff at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, our volunteer CCOs, judges and belayers, and parents/carers for supporting and spectating (and bringing competitors to the comp!) Keep an eye out for our Fun Bouldering Competition in the summer!’
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Mountaineering Scotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
