climbing, hillwalking and mountaineering and for disabled
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Climbing, Hillwalking and Mountaineering and for Disabled People in Scotland
This fact sheet provides an overview of how people with a disability can get involved in climbing, hillwalking or
mountaineering in Scotland. It highlights inspirational stories from other disabled participants and offers useful
contact details for your local club, climbing walls, outdoor activity providers and other organisations who may
be able to offer support with getting started or progressing in these activities.
Why mountaineering? In Scotland, we are lucky enough to have a fantastic natural environment on our doorstep, with a huge variety
of hills, mountains, crags and coastal cliffs. The chance to explore, be challenged by and just be a part of this
landscape gives physical and mental therapy to hundreds of thousands of Scots every year.
The mountaineering community also encompasses a fast-growing number of people who enjoy climbing
indoors at purpose-built all-weather climbing walls in towns and cities across the nation. Indoor climbing offers
a great opportunity to have-a-go in a more with expert advice on hand in a safe, controlled environment.
There is also a competitive strand to indoor climbing – with three main disciplines – lead, speed and
bouldering. It will feature in the Olympics for the first time at Tokyo 2020. Paraclimbing is the sport of indoor
climbing for people with disabilities – there is a GB Paraclimbing Team which competes around the world. It is
not yet an Olympic sport but we hope this will change in the future.
How to get involved
Mountaineering Scotland is the representative membership organisation for hillwalking, climbing,
mountaineering and ski-touring in Scotland. It is also the governing body for the sport of climbing. In 2015, it
set up the ClimbScotland team to help support clubs, parents, schools and other organisations to develop
participation in climbing.
Inspiration and advice
Both hillwalking and climbing are potentially high-risk activities, which can prove a test to anyone. People with
disabilities, may encounter additional complications, which will vary considerably depending on the nature of
someone’s impairment.
We've spoken to several people who have first-hand experience of facing up to, challenging, and overcoming
problems and difficulties to participate in mountaineering activities at different levels. We hope their inside
track on what disability means for hill-goers and climbers will help inspire and advise.
Read more:
www.mountaineering.scot/activities/disability-issues/inspiration-advice
Help is a vital part of the equation though, and besides making use of the help of willing friends, there are a
number of charities and organisations which offer assistance in outdoor activities.
Read more: www.mountaineering.scot/activities/disability-issues/disability-organisations
Climbing clubs
The ClimbScotland team are currently working with the Scottish Disability Sport branch network and local
authorities to develop new paraclimbing clubs.
The Scottish Paraclimbing Club based out of Edinburgh International Climbing
Arena is the first of its kind in the UK, providing opportunities for those with
additional support needs to get involved in climbing and progress in the sport.
Find out more: www.climbscotland.net/scottish-paraclimbing-club
If you are interested in developing a Paraclimbing club, please get in touch with us at:
Climbing Walls
A lot of climbing walls throughout Scotland are able to
offer taster sessions to those with additional support
needs. Get in touch with your local wall to see what they
can do for you.
Find your local climbing wall here:
www.climbscotland.net/where-to-go/find-an-
indoor-climbing-wall
Scottish Paraclimbing Festival Mountaineering Scotland organised the first paraclimbing competition in Scotland in 2014 hosted at the
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) at Ratho.
In 2016, the event was held alongside the Scottish Youth
Climbing Championships for an exciting day of inclusive
climbing.
The Paraclimb Festival is more than just a competition, with
different levels of participation possible, from simply getting
a taster of what paraclimbing is about to competing in the
British Paraclimbing Series. Many people simply come along
to enjoy a great day of climbing.
Find out more:
www.mountaineering.scot/activities/indoor-
climbing/competitions/paraclimb-festival
An example of our support
We work with Sense Scotland, which is a fantastic
organisation supporting thousands of disabled people
and their families, in projects and services throughout
Scotland.
For this project, we looked at how we could get
service users in Glasgow using their local wall, The
Climbing Academy.
The last word
Being able to walk and climb in Scotland’s
mountains is taken for granted by many people. The
challenge of getting involved if you live with a
disability may seem insuperable.
However, with willpower, ingenuity and the support
of others, making realistic plans and building up
with experience, many people who face seemingly
insuperable difficulties still manage to live an active
and fulfilling outdoor life.
Jamie Andrew is a mountaineer and indoor climber,
despite losing his hands and feet to frostbite. He’s
received a lot of help on the journey to where he is,
but the key factors he says are determination,
positivity, resilience, resourcefulness and patience –
all attributes learned in the outdoors.
Useful contacts
ClimbScotland – www.climbscotland.net
Mountaineering Scotland – www.mountaineering.scot
Mountain Training – coaching and instructing qualifications: www.mountain-training.org
GB Paraclimbing Team -www.gbclimbingteam.co.uk/paraclimbing
Equal Adventure – specialist outdoor adventure training for people with disabilities:
www.equaladventure.org
Paradventures – facilitate adventures and activities for disabled people: www.paradventures.org.uk
Walk-ability – organise guided walks for people with disabilities: www.walk-ability.co.uk
Backstrong Trust – online information and support: http://backstrong.org.uk
British Mountaineering Council (BMC) – our sister organisation for England and Wales:
www.thebmc.co.uk
Mountaineering Ireland – our sister organisation for Northern Ireland and Eire:
http://www.mountaineering.ie/
Mountaineering Scotland
The Granary, West Mill Street
Perth, PH1 5QP
Telephone: 01738 493942
Email us: [email protected] or [email protected]