Friday 5th December 2025, 10:28am
Mountaineering Scotland members gathered at DCA Dundee on 29 November for the 2025 Annual General meeting. The event brought together over 80 hillwalkers, climbers, skiers, volunteers and staff for a morning full of inspiring talks, discussions, updates and future plans.
The event started with a highlight – hill runner Jamie Aarons, who smashed the record for a continuous round of Munros in 2023, gave an in depth talk and presentation about the experience. The talk included all the things most tantalising to hill baggers, like logistics, maps and contours and nutrition, along with insights on the things that kept Jamie ‘going’ when things got tough. Jamie’s feat inspired thousands and donations of over £25k will go to World Bike Relief, the charity Jamie chose to support. You can find out more about it here: Home - Jamie's Munro Challenge.
AGM & EGM
The AGM followed the standard agenda and was followed by an EGM to approve some small changes to the Articles of Association.
Members approved:
Across all areas of work—from membership to mountain safety— it has been a year of change, growth and renewed focus on supporting Scotland’s mountaineering community.
Read our Annual Report 2024-25 here.
Director Andrew Walker reported a productive year for the membership and communications team, strengthened by several new staff joining in 2024–25. Digital engagement continues to grow, particularly through improved email content and more active social media channels.
Membership numbers remain broadly steady, and early scoping work has begun on a refreshed Mountaineering Scotland website to improve accessibility and member experience.
Director of Clubs Stephen Johnson reflected on his first year in post, sharing how much he has enjoyed meeting club members across Scotland. Two new clubs joined this year, and student clubs continue to expand thanks to safety and first-aid training delivered in partnership with St Andrew’s Ambulance service. A new induction session for student club committees is already helping volunteers feel more confident in their roles.
With the retirement of long-serving Access Officer David Black, the organisation welcomed Catriona, who has quickly established herself in the role. The volume of access and planning work continues to rise sharply, driven by Scotland’s ongoing transition to renewable energy and the increasing number of large-scale proposals for wind farms, hydro schemes, battery sites and data centres.
Catriona and the team are also managing long-running access concerns; as visitor numbers grow and climate pressures increase, the connection between conservation and access is becoming increasingly important. The It’s Up to Us footpath campaign also continues to progress well, with the upgraded path on An Teallach expected to be completed in 2026.
Director Brendan Hughes emphasised that mountain safety remains central to Mountaineering Scotland’s work. Slips and falls, navigation errors and rapidly changing conditions continue to be the main causes of mountain rescue callouts. The mountain safety team delivered extensive training throughout the year, and work is progressing on a national mountain safety strategy developed with partners including police and mountain rescue teams.
ClimbScotland Director Hugo Allen highlighted a positive year for youth climbing, with record numbers entering competitions and continued growth in bouldering centres. Many young people now enter climbing through indoor walls rather than traditional outdoor pathways, creating exciting opportunities but also new challenges around progression and engagement with the wider mountaineering community.
In a rare win during a tight funding landscape, ClimbScotland secured an uplift from Sport Scotland, allowing the team to enhance its performance pathways for aspiring competition climbers while also maintaining support for outdoor youth development.
Snow Sports Director Alastair Todd reported early winter snow—welcome news after a difficult season last year. He shared positive progress in strengthening relationships with ski centres, particularly Cairngorm and Glenshee, around the shared use of slopes for ski touring. Work has also begun on new steep-skiing safety materials, and Mountaineering Scotland is reviewing whether current qualification pathways remain suitable and accessible for recreational ski tourers.
Director Ilona Turnbull outlined improvements in accessibility, digital engagement and youth outreach. A new digital-only membership for 18–25-year-olds has improved affordability, while women-only courses and better support for clubs strengthen inclusivity across the organisation.
CEO Stuart Younie presented the new 2025–29 Strategic Plan, focusing on financial sustainability, member priorities, community development and partnership working. Mountaineering Scotland was one of only two sports to receive an uplift from Sport Scotland during the recent investment review—an endorsement of the organisation’s direction.
The meeting closed with thanks to the staff, volunteers, partners and members who make Mountaineering Scotland’s work possible. Members were invited to join the always-popular President’s Walk along the River Tay—an informal chance to chat, share ideas and continue the conversations begun during the AGM.
With a refreshed strategy, new team structure, increased funding and a committed membership community, Mountaineering Scotland heads into 2025–26 with clarity, confidence and renewed ambition for the future of Scotland’s mountains.
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ClimbScotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
Mountaineering Scotland is a registered trademark of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland Limited
