'Climb' Nevis on your lunch break with Step Up for Wild Places

John Muir Trust launches challenge aimed at organisations wanting to support wild places during their workweek. 

Step Up for Wild Places is a UK wide challenge aimed at organisations keen to keep their workplace active while at the same time supporting the environment.

The challenge, which was launched on 17 June, encourages organisations to set their employees the challenge of walking the height of some of the UK’s most iconic peaks during their workweek.  

Participants are able to choose between four mountains - Ben Nevis, Schiehallion, Blà Bheinn on Skye, or Helvellyn – and ‘climb’ their equivalent height in steps in order to raise money for wild places. 

The funds raised will go directly toward our vital conservation work in the area surrounding their chosen mountain, including peatland restoration, native tree planting, removal of invasive species and path repairs. 

As each mountain is of a different height, the initiative offers four different step counts representing the return journey from base to summit and back down again. 

Ben Nevis in Lochaber is the highest peak offered in the challenge with 30,000 steps marking a completed return journey to the summit and back.  

After signing up for the challenge, participating organisations will receive a starter pack which includes a tracker to log their teams steps, tips for fundraising, and information on how funds they raise will impact their chosen mountain.  

On completion each participating organisation will receive a bespoke John Muir Trust certificate to mark their achievement complete with the name of their chosen mountain, number of participants and fundraising total.  

Our Corporate Partnerships Manager Ailsa Colquhoun said “We’re thrilled to introduce Step Up for Wild Places, a nationwide challenge that we hope will not only promote health and wellbeing in the workplace but also support the vital conservation of some of the UK’s most beautiful wild landscapes. 

“Every step taken helps fund the vital work we do in mountain landscapes, ensuring these special wild places are protected for future generations.”