Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture

THE Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture has been presented to Steph McKenna from Lochaber.

McKenna divides her time between local charity Lochaber Hope and local business Off Beat Bikes.

Last summer, she worked as a seasonal ranger with the John Muir Trust and ran a junior ranger scheme.

“We live in such an extraordinary place with its beauty and ability to support the health of our community,” McKenna said.

“Covid has shown us all the importance of nature as a refuge and healer, supporting us through hard times.

“We are part of our ecosystems and when we care for the land we live in it will care for us in return.”

The prize was presented at the Fort William Mountain Festival.

McKenna graduated recently from the University of the Highlands & Islands (UHI) with a degree in psychology.

Lydia Rohmer, principal and chief executive at UHI West Highland, said: “We are once again delighted to be sponsoring The Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture – and, of course, we are even more pleased to be presenting this to a recent UHI graduate.

“Stephanie McKenna’s academic achievements are outstanding – but, naturally, we at the School of Adventure Studies are particularly enthused by the links she has made through her research into the therapeutic landscape and wellbeing, especially at a time when so many of us turn to the outdoors and the outstanding natural beauty of the Outdoor Capital of the UK in Lochaber to enhance all aspects of our lives, but particularly our mental and physical health.

“Her activities in her local community supporting people to access and engage with a wide range of outdoor activities most clearly shows that she is invested in practicing what her studies have taught her.”

News of the presentation comes just days after the Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture was presented to mountain rescuer David “Heavy” Whalley.

Read more stories on Scottish Field’s outdoors pages.

Plus, don’t miss stunning landscape photographs in the March issue of Scottish Field magazine.