Irvine Butterfield's life will be commemorated next month

A gathering will be held next month in memory of one of Scotland’s mountaineering greats.

Although born in Yorkshire, Irvine Butterfield made his home in Scotland and much of his life was spent supporting the various organisations that have the Scottish hills and wilderness at their heart. Walkers are invited to a weekend of commemoration of the author in north-west Scotland, close to where his ashes are scattered.

Best known for his hillwalking ‘bible’ The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Butterfield, who died in May last year, was a tireless campaigner for the outdoors. He was a founding member of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, the Crochallan Mountaineering Club, the John Muir Trust, the Mountain Bothies Association, the Scottish Wild Land Group and the Munro Society.

Torridon Youth Hostel is the venue for the weekend, which will include a walk up Liathach or, for the less energetic, a stroll round Loch Clair, the site where his ashes were scattered. Organiser Roderick Manson also points out there are pubs in the area.

There are discounted rates at the youth hostel for those taking part in the weekend, which will be held between 26 and 28 February.

Anyone interested should email Mr Manson. Any money left over from the event will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.