Mountaineering Scotland is the nationalrepresentative body and membership organisation for hill walkers, mountaineers, climbers and snowsport tourers who live in Scotland or enjoy Scotland's mountains. With over 14,000 members, it encourages participation and progression in these activities, promotes safety and skills, campaigns to safeguard access rights and responsibilities, and seeks to protect Scotland's cherished mountain landscapes from insensitive development. The organisation is based in Perth and was formerly known as the Mountaineering Council of Scotland. As a not-for-profit organisation, it relies on funding from a combination of membership subscriptions, non-governmental grants and investment from .
Aims
To act as the representative body for hill walkers, climbers, mountaineers and snowsport tourers in Scotland
To cultivate a flourishing, diverse and sustainable mountaineering community in Scotland
To promote enjoyment, safety and risk awareness, leading to self-reliance in mountaineering related activities
To safeguard and secure responsible access to hill and crag
To protect the mountain environment from insensitive development
To co-operate with other organisations with common interests
To provide an excellent value benefits package to members, enabling them to get the most out of their mountaineering activities
What they do
Mountaineering Scotland has an authoritative which provides wide-ranging advice on getting started and developing your hill skills. It produces the only magazine dedicated to Scotland's hill walking, climbing and mountaineering community, "The Scottish Mountaineer", a quarterly publication received by members. It also has a large and active following on and . As well as their magazine subscription, , including a membership card giving discounts at outdoor shops, places to stay and other useful services; access to subsidised mountain skills courses, a network of mountaineering huts, eligibility to take part in climbing competitions and coaching, and liability insurance for mountaineering activities. Key areas of activity include encouraging safe practice on hill and crag; safeguarding access to upland areas following the introduction of the Land Reform Act 2003 and Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and campaigning on conservation of the mountain environment.
History
The MCofS was formed in 1970 by the Association of Scottish Climbing Clubs to represent the views of mountaineers in Scotland. In September 2015 it introduced the to encourage and support young people in Scotland to get climbing. In July 2016, the organisation announced a rebranding as "Mountaineering Scotland". it represents 150 member clubs with a total of 14,000 members.
