Cameron McNeish. Photo: Richard Else

Writer and broadcaster Cameron McNeish has been recognised for his contribution to mountain culture.

The former magazine editor will receive the Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture later this month at the Fort William Mountain Festival.

Previous recipients include Hamish MacInnes, Adam Watson, Richard Else and Hamish Brown.

Mr McNeish said: “I’m thrilled that there is now a national recognition of the direct link between our hills and wild places and the social history, folklore, traditional music and culture of Scotland.

“And I’m delighted to be joining a very special group of people who have, in many different ways, contributed so much to all these aspects of our national heritage. I’m genuinely humbled.”

Through his television programmes, numerous books and magazine articles Cameron McNeish has become one of the most recognisable figures in the British outdoors scene.

Over the past 25 years he has been involved in several programmes for the BBC, ranging from mountaineering and rock-climbing films to his own highly personal accounts of long backpacking trips through the Highlands and Islands, routes that include the Sutherland Trail, the Skye Trail and the Scottish National Trail.

Mr McNeish is a former chairman of the Nevis Partnership and is an honorary fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and p0atron of Mountain Aid and Scottish Orienteering.

A festival spokesperson said: “Cameron McNeish embodies the passion and the excitement that exploring the wild Scottish landscape entails, and the great desire to share this sense of adventurous wonder with others.

“Although Cameron has travelled extensively throughout the world and has led numerous treks to Nepal, India, Morocco, Turkey, Russia and Jordan, it is for his passion and enthusiasm for the mountains and wild land areas of Scotland that he is best known.”

In 2010 Mr McNeish was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Periodical Publishers Association Scotland for his services to magazine publishing. Five years later he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Adventure Awards. In 2016 he was presented with the Oliver Brown Award by the Scots Independent newspaper for his work in showcasing Scotland.

Broadcaster Richard Else said: “Cameron’s award is richly deserved. He’s been, and remains, a passionate campaigner for our all-important wild places and through his BBC television programmes has shared that love and concern with thousands of people.”

The award will be presented at a special ceremony during the festival, which runs in and around Fort William and Lochaber from 21 to 25 February.