Andy Nisbet (Photo: Dave McGimpsey)
This prestigious annual award recognises and celebrates achievements and accomplishments of one inspiring individual and their outstanding contribution to Scotland&Apos;s mountains, in the fields of sport, theatre, art, photography, film and literature.
Andy Nisbet was chosen as this year’s recipient because of his inspirational enthusiasm for the Scottish mountains and his invaluable contribution to climbing through his work in writing guidebooks. Over the decades Andy has gone to incredible lengths to bring climbers a highly accurate and detailed record of the tens of thousands of climbs across Scotland in the SMC’s climber’s guidebook series.
Known for his boundless enthusiasm, humour and pioneering attitude, Andy exemplifies the passion for mountain culture that this award celebrates.
Andy’s life’s passion has been exploring and opening hundreds of new routes on Scotland’s mountains and sharing his unparalleled knowledge of the Scottish cliffs in his guidebooks.
With almost 1,000 new winter routes to his name he has made far more first ascents in winter than any other Scottish climber. With these first ascents, he has introduced many climbers to new cliffs and corners of the country they might not otherwise have discovered.
Festival organisers said, “Every climber who has picked up a guidebook to inspire and inform them owes Andy a huge debt for his commitment and enthusiasm.”
The Fort William Mountain Festival will be held from 19-23 February.