Our Month: Mountaineering Scotland in September 2025

Catriona represented Mountaineering Scotland at a meeting of the National Access Forum on 17^th September. A number of important issues were discussed, including the ongoing review of guidance which supports the main Scottish Outdoor Access Code, the use of drones, and the ongoing lack of resources for outdoor access.

Catriona also joined the Upland Path Advisory Group (UPAG) on their annual site visit, which this year was to Glencoe on 23^rd September, to look at some of the impressive footpath building and repair carried out by the National Trust for Scotland’s footpath team. There was a great deal of interesting discussion on different techniques and the challenges of managing the needs of hillwalkers and climbers, tourists and day-trippers, and fragile mountain habitats.

At the end of the month, Catriona and Megan joined volunteers from Mountaineering Scotland, Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (OATS) and the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) to carry out some vital path maintenance in Glen Brittle on Skye as part of our It’s Up to Us campaign. Over three days, despite some very wet and windy weather, we cleared 122 cross drains on the paths leading up to Coire na Banachdich and Coire Laggan and planted 200 native trees close to the Fairy Pools car park. A huge thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work and relentlessly cheerful attitude and to Eva and Euan from OATS who showed us what to do, shared their skills and kept an eye on us all!

This month we were delighted to welcome Christina Skounti to the Member Services & Communications Team in a new role of Membership & Club Development Officer. Christina has worked in the environmental charity sector for 7 years and is a keen hill walker and trad climber. She brings a wide range of skills and experience in communications, community engagement and project management, and her role, which is funded by Sportscotland, will be focussed around the delivery of our membership strategy, supporting clubs to develop and grow their own membership, and working with staff, board and volunteers to achieve our equality, diversity and inclusion aims.

Christina joined Communications Officer Megan and Mountain Safety Adviser Kirsty on a filming day as part of a mini campaign with Scottish outdoor brand Keela which will be rolled out this autumn. Keep an eye on our socials from mid October to see the results!

With the start of the new academic year, student clubs have been keeping us busy with membership renewals and sending out information about our bespoke student training courses and partnership with St John Scotland, which allows student clubs to be accompanied by a qualified instructor on their meets over the autumn and winter terms. This year, we hosted a webinar specifically for student clubs at the start of September to highlight all the support that is available through Mountaineering Scotland and the ClimbScotland initiative, as well as providing information about insurance and membership support.

Issue 104 of Scottish Mountaineer magazine is now in progress and will be available to members in print and digital format in mid-late November.

Youth Climbing Series got underway in September with round 1 at Above Adventure in Kilmarnock on the 13^th and Round 2 taking place at The Ledge in Inverness. Both rounds were a sellout with 120 competitors in attendance. Well done to Heather, Euan, the route setters and our amazing volunteers for ensuring both competitions ran smoothly. Special thanks to both Above Adventure and The Ledge for hosting the competitions and looking after everyone in attendance.

We wrapped up this years RealRock programme in September. A successful year with an incredible year saw 74 young climbers hitting Scotland’s best crags for some RealRock action. 22 sessions visiting 12 venues across Scotland.

Robert has been busy in September with the launch of our new ‘Advance Belaying workshops’. These workshops will be run by experienced instructors at a 1:6 ratio, and will cover; What is considered “Best Practice” lead belaying skills, How to give the mythical “Soft-Catch” and provide the opportunity for attendees to explore and experience new belay devices and learn how each works. Find out more here. 

Jamie popped into the Brushworks in Glasgow to see the new bouldering venue and meet their team. Jamie said; ‘Lucy and I visited Brushworks back in March whilst it was still under construction, so it was great to see the venues door now open to the public and buzzing with climbers. The team at Brushworks have done an incredible job and it will be a great addition to Glasgow already thriving indoor bouldering scene.’