Mountaineering Council of Scotland
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is the national representative body in Scotland that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers. Its headquarters are in Perth.
History
The MCofS was formed in 1970 by the Association of Scottish Climbing Clubs to represent the views of mountaineers in Scotland. The MCofS currently (March 2012) represents 135 member clubs containing 6,500 members, as well as over 4,500 individual members.
Aims
Its aims are:
- To act as the representative body for mountaineers, including mountaineers on ski, climbers and hill walkers in Scotland
- To protect the ethos of mountaineering in Scotland
- To safeguard and secure access to hill and crag
- To protect the mountain environment
- To initiate and encourage safe practice in the mountains
- To promote the views and interests of its members
- To co-operate with other organisations with common interests
Responsibilities
The Council has an authoritative website and produces a quarterly magazine "The Scottish Mountaineer" and provides a range of benefits (including a members' discount scheme) to its members.
Key areas of activity include encouraging safe practice in the mountains; safeguarding access to upland areas following the introduction of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and a commitment to ensuring conservation of the upland environment.
Elected by the membership in September 2011, the President of the Council is Brian Linington.
See also
- The British Mountaineering Council (or BMC) is the national representative body for England and Wales.