The Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection is currently open to visitors for a brief period between 1st - 16th October as part of the Highland Archaeology Festival. Recently established as a charitable trust, the collection has received an array of mountaineering and climbing memorabilia thanks to donations from Mick Tighe, who is a trustee of the charity.

The museum - currently situated in Mick's barn and other outbuildings - is believed to be the largest collection of mountain artefacts, equipment, literature, photographs and other mountain memorabilia in the UK, from Scotland and around the world, consisting of over two thousand items.

Mick described the artefacts in the collection:

'There are lots of fascinating Scottish items including Tom Weir's bonnet, camera and ice-axe, Tom Patey's surgery desk and piton hammer, Harold Raeburn's altimeter, the full range of Hamish McInnes' legendary ice-axes and hammers plus a unique selection of 'home-made' items created in the living rooms, garden sheds and shipyards of Scotland. From further afield we have Everest oxygen sets, Antarctic Anoraks, Whillan's Whammers and loads of Alpine axes. Our ski collection is also probably the best in the UK, over one-hundred pairs of  wooden skis, with some dating way back to the 1890s, all stored and displayed in our custom built ski hut. To complement all this we have a wonderful selection of vintage clothing coupled with a  unique archive of photographic material from around Scotland and the UK which gives a story to the tale.'

The collection is located at 7 Bohuntin on the Glen Roy Road (about half a mile past the red telephone box). It is open to visitors between 10am - 4pm from 1st-16th October inclusive. Entry is free, but donations are welcomed. Space and parking are limited. Large parties or school groups are kindly asked to contact Mick in advance: 01397 712356.

View the collection online.

More information on David Whalley's blog.