The UK Mountain Photo of the Year competition was founded by Trail magazine in 2014, inspiring thousands of photographers to get outdoors and crowning 10 hugely deserving winners over the past decade.
The standard of entries in the 2024 competition was as high as ever, making it incredibly tough for our four judges (see below) and the UK hillwalking community to crown the winner via the online public vote. But choose a winner they did, and this year's top prize goes to George Roberston for his unreal capture (above) of a waterfall of clouds spilling down to Loch Coruisk at the base of Skye's Black Cuillin peaks.
"The conditions were perfect"
“The image was taken in the twilight hours," said George, a Mountain Leader and former Mountain Rescue team member. "Very early on a summer morning, from the summit of Sgurr na Stri on Skye, looking over to the Cuillin Ridge.
"The weather forecast was looking good for a few days, with the possibility of an inversion, so I set off on a solo camping trip from Kilmarie to Camasunary and the climb to the summit camp.
"When I got out of the tent in the morning the conditions were perfect. A long exposure time helped to emphasise the motion of the clouds rolling down the slopes of Druim nan Ramh towards Loch Coruisk below. Just a few hours later everything was clouded in.”
2nd place – George Buttery, The Cantilever Stone
“The hike up Devil’s Kitchen to the Cantilever Stone is one of my all-time favourites in the area," said George. "a"And a bit of a leg buster when you’re carrying a 20kg overnight pack! I set my alarm, woke up around midnight, and was stunned at how clear it was and how many stars you could see.
“To get the photo I used a wireless shutter release, then my friend and I positioned ourselves on the Stone. We weren’t very good at staying still, and I had to take around 10 shots with a higher ISO and then stack them to reduce noise and produce a detailed image.
"When I look back at this photo, it instantly reminds me how peaceful and beautiful it is at the top of a mountain under the night sky. Seeing an arm of our own galaxy arc overhead will never cease to amaze me and sparks feelings of curiosity and wonder.”
3rd place – Padam Gurung, Striding Edge
“I always carry camera gear wherever I go. I know it’s a bit of extra weight at the back of the rucksack, but it means I can capture beautiful images and unforgettable memories. So photography and my passion for hillwalking go hand in hand.
“This photo was not planned, it just happened. When we arrived late evening to camp at the top of Helvellyn, the weather was a bit windy and foggy, so we didn’t see much of the view. We put our tents somewhere flat and slept.
"When I woke up early in the morning, I saw three tents near the cliff and the golden hour was just about to start. I took my camera, walked past these tents and started taking pictures. The lighting was beautiful, with breathtaking views, surrounded by nature and a sense of solitude and tranquility.”
Meet the judges
Your 2024 judges were Trail magazine photographer Tom Bailey, our 2022 winner Kat Lawman, acclaimed adventure photographer Nadir Khan, and Trail magazine art editor Louise Parker. We gave YOU the chance to vote for your favorite image once the final shortlist had been chosen, with the public vote counting as one of the five final votes alongside our four judges.
UK Mountain Photo of the Year 2024 prizes
1st place: Fujifilm X-T5 Kit with XF 16-50mm lens (or equivalent model)
2nd place: Fujifilm X-S20 with XF16-50mm F2.8-4.8 R LM WR (or equivalent model)
3rd place: FUJIFILM X-T30 II Kit with XC15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ Lens (or equivalent model)
FUJIFILM are makers of the most user-friendly, super-high-quality cameras, which come packed with presets that make capturing stunning walking memories a matter of spontaneous joy, not fiddliness and chance.
Each of Fuji's beautiful mirrorless cameras (think big-camera sophistication without the size) comes complete with manual options ready to grow with your confidence, and image quality to put any smartphone in the shade. fujifilm-x.com