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Our Month: Mountaineering Scotland in October 2024

Wednesday 30th October 2024, 9:00am


Welcome to the October monthly round-up from Mountaineering Scotland!

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 Access & Conservation Officer Davie Black, Senior Mountain Safety Advisor Ross Cadie, ClimbScotland Development Manager Jamie Smith, and Member Services & Communications Manager, Helen Gestwicki. 

Mountaineering Scotland lodged an objection with the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit for a proposed windfarm by the M74 at Abingdon. This may seem at first to be an odd place for a mountaineering intervention, in Turbine Alley along the motorway. However when looking at the potential visual impacts on the landscape, we came to the opinion that it would have a detrimental effect on the setting of the Tinto Hills, which are a regionally significant recreational destination. We have already objected to two other windfarms in the vicinity of Tinto that would impose tall turbines with the blade tip almost as high as the summit, in fairly close proximity.  South Lanarkshire Council had come to the same conclusion with one of the other two proposals, Little Gala, which they have objected to. Let’s hope they are consistent in their assessments, for the sake of Tinto and its surrounding hilltops.

Access issues this month involved a range of issues to look into – signs, forestry gates, e-bikes, route bolting, for example. The wording of signs is a common cause of complaint, some of which are not compliant with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. You would have thought that, after 20 years since the Land Reform Act, there would be a better understanding that “Private – no unauthorised access” is really not appropriate in Scotland. Maybe they just forgot to add in ‘vehicular’…

As with many things, October marks the transition away from summer for the Mountain Safety Team. 

St John Scotland Mountain Safety Instructor, Malcolm Airey has had a busy start meeting up with student clubs delivering safety skills training at their club meets. 

Meanwhile, my October started with the Snowsports Touring Advisory Group (STAG) which brings together representatives from across the Scottish scene- many thanks to Glenmore Lodge for hosting this meeting. I was then in my local area delivering the final navigation course while Kirsty Pallas (Mountain Safety Advisor) helped deliver the expedition days of the Summer Mountain Leader training course. 

Mountain Safety Advisors, Max Hunter and Kirsty Pallas were then down in the Campsie Fells for the first of the Night Navigation courses. The next of these courses are in Pentlands and Dumyat if you’d like to gain more confidence in your navigation. A great ‘next step’ for those that have been on a summer navigation course. 

We're pleased to welcome Heather McAslan as ClimbScotland’s new Competition Officer and latest addition to ClimbScotland team. Heather will be leading on the organisation and planning of our domestic competition programme, looking at developing competition opportunities for young people and adults, as well as developing/supporting volunteers involved. 

Round 3 of the Youth Climbing Series took place on Saturday 19 October at Block 10 in Dundee and seen 122 young climbers competing, which is the highest number of competitors to every attend a YCS round in Scotland, ever!

The first round of the 2024/25 Scottish National Bouldering League kicked off on Saturday 26th October at The Climbing Academy Prop Store in Glasgow. There was a fantastic turn out for the first round which our new Competition Officer, Heather McAslan attended. Next round is on the 30th November at the Ledge in Inverness.

After confirming the date of the 2024 Mountaineering Scotland AGM earlier in the year, the formal invite and papers were emailed to members and clubs on 14 October with details of how to vote and register to attend. If you haven’t received an email, all the information is available on the Mountaineering Scotland website. We are delighted to announce that outdoor adventurer and film maker Kevin Woods will be joining us at the AGM to give a talk about his love of the mountains and mountain culture in Scotland, and members are invited to join staff and volunteer board members for a walk to Loch of the Lowes in the afternoon.

Applications to take part in the 2025 International Winter Climbing Meet opened this month. We’re looking for experienced winter climbers who have the knowledge and experience of winter climbing in Scotland to team up with international climbers for the week from 1-8 March for a fantastic experience in the Scottish winter mountains. All the details and how to apply are on the Mountaineering Scotland website and the closing date is 5pm 22 November 2024.

The Mountain Weather Information Service delivered another fantastic weather workshop for members this month and the upcoming winter weather workshop in November has already sold out. We’ll be hosting more of these in 2025, so keep an eye on our website, ezine and socials for more information in the new year.

With day-length getting shorter and the clocks going back soon, we’ve been sharing some guidance for getting to know your headtorch along with a video produced by our colleagues at Glenmore Lodge – watch the video on Instagram here.

The month ended with the departure of our Communications Officer, Fiona McNicol. Fiona joined Mountaineering Scotland 2 years ago and has done a brilliant job of re-launching the new look Scottish Mountaineer magazine, introducing our digital only members publication Mountain Matters, breathing new life into our social media channels, and has been an important part of our It's Up to Us campaign, which has so far raised over £220,000 towards the £300,000 total. We wish Fiona all the best and look forward to welcoming Megan Murray into the role later this year.