Mark Beaumont who has cycled around the world, rowed the Arctic and has just returned from following The Queen’s Baton through 71 countries will give a talk at the Copthorne Hotel, Aberdeen on Thursday 11 Sep at 7.30 pm on his adventures, followed by a book signing. All proceeds in aid of Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team. Mark will share what it took to cycling around the world in record breaking time, to rowing the Arctic and of course, his adventures in the mountains. Mark has just returned from an 118,000 mile journey in the build up to Glasgow 2014, filming…

Flooding and gale force winds, and a forecast of sleet and snow on Scotland’s highest mountains, has prompted a mountaineering expert to warn hillwalkers to be prepared and wrap up warm. Temporary Mountain Safety Adviser with the MCofS, David ‘Monty’ Monteith advised: “Sleet has been forecast for the higher hills in the coming week, and we’ve just seen torrential rain which swept away two bridges in the Cairngorms and made many streams impassable for a period, as well as causing landslips and damage to footpaths. “Wind and rain are the classic combination for bringing on hypothermia. Once someone’s clothes are…

Writers with a taste for the high life are being sought by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) for its long-running literary competition. The competition was announced earlier this year, and now the August 31st deadline is looming. The MCofS Mountain Writing Competition 2014 (formerly the Mountain Article Competition) seeks out the best in mountain writing, whether fact or fiction, prose or poetry. Entries should have some connection with mountains and mountaineering, rock or ice climbing, walking or ski-mountaineering, and winners will receive a cash prize and the chance to see their entries in print in the Scottish Mountaineer, the…

The Isle of Harris Mountain Festival is taking place this year between Saturday 13th and Saturday 20th September 2014. Billed as “a week-long celebration of the mountains of Harris,” this is the fourth annual event run by the North Harris Trust. Organisers are promising that this year's festival will be bigger and more ambitious than ever. Last year’s festival was a big success, despite some unsettled weather. Events included a varied guided walks programme including a couple of superb hill walks and a golden eagle walk, culminating in an eleven mile hike through the heart of North Harris with great…