Anne Butler, the two-time Full House compleatist, has become the first woman to hold the post of president of Mountaineering Scotland.
She said: “I’m extremely proud to be elected as president and honoured to be the first woman to hold the position.
“I fell in love with the mountains during a trip to Scotland in 1998 and I had no idea then how
hillwalking would shape my life over the next 25 years.
“Following a move to Aviemore in 2008, hillwalking has kept me physically and mentally strong and I
have developed a deep connection with the landscape and the natural environment.”
A member of The Munro Society since 2005, holding the posts of secretary and president, Anne is
well-known for her extensive hillwalking experience, including her recent compleation of two
Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) Full Houses. She is the the first-known woman to
achieve the feat of two full rounds of Munros, Munro Tops, Corbetts, Grahams, Donalds and Furths.
She said: “Using my own personal experience, I would like to show that women of any age and athletic ability
should not be deterred from accessing the hills. I am keen to encourage women of all ages to safely
explore and enjoy the Scottish mountains by advocating that the hills are a place to be shared by all.
“I believe that my passion and enthusiasm for the Scottish hills and my extensive hill walking
experience will be beneficial to Mountaineering Scotland.”
Stuart Younie, CEO of Mountaineering Scotland said: “I’m absolutely delighted that members have
voted to approve the appointment of Anne as the first female president of Mountaineering
Scotland.
“Anne’s achievements in the hillwalking community are second to none and she continues to be an
inspiration for both new and seasoned hill baggers alike.
“She brings a wealth of experience and
knowledge gained over many years traveling and walking all over Scotland and I look forward to
working with her to promote the work we do at Mountaineering Scotland to a wider and more
diverse audience.”
Anne takes over from Brian Shackleton, who stepped down as president after Saturday’s Mountaineering Scotland AGM.
Stuart added: “I would like to thank Brian personally for the wise counsel, support and guidance he
has provided to myself and the rest of the Mountaineering Scotland team over the last four years.
“His leadership of the board helped steer the organisation though the difficulties of the pandemic to
a strong recovery with our highest ever membership.”
Mountaineering Scotland is a not-for-profit national representative body and membership organisation for mountaineers, hillwalkers, climbers and ski tourers. The organisation offers skills courses, insurance, money-saving deals, a magazine and access to 120 club mountaineering huts.