A tribute to the rich history of mountaineering, this unique collection showcases equipment and stories from the golden age of the gentleman climber to the DIY spirit of post-war adventurers. Each item holds a story, reminding us of the ingenuity and passion that fueled mountaineers through the ages.
From the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, mountaineering gear has undergone countless transformations. The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection carefully curates these artifacts, representing eras when climbers improvised with military surplus or handmade gear. Each piece tells a tale of adventure, resilience, and innovation.
What started as a hobby of one man—gathering old primus stoves, ice axes, and skis—has evolved into something much greater. Thanks to the efforts of the Nevis Partnership and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the collection now enjoys charitable status, with funding helping to preserve and showcase these rare pieces for future generations.
Though the physical collection is currently not open to the public, our journey of preserving and documenting it continues. Browse our online catalog to explore these incredible artifacts and the stories they tell. Use one of our preset selections to explore some highlights.
Mick chooses his favourites and highlights items in the collection.
The Search looks for Keywords. If you enter Ice Axe the Search will find items with both words Ice or Axe. If you want to find only items that have the text Ice Axe then enter the text in inverted commas like: “Ice Axe”
Similarly you could use “Tom Weir’s Rucksack” if you wanted to find that particular item.
To limit the search to a particular category, select one from the drop down list then type in the search box.
To search for everything in a category leave the search empty and choose a category from the drop down list then click the Search icon.
Results will show below the search box as you type and you can browse through these and select one or click the blue search icon to see all results. You may find you have a preference for one of these search methods.
