In 1856, a gentleman, apparently a tourist, arrived at the Lochaber Agricultural Society’s dinner just as the party were to sit down to dine, "My name is Rae" he announced at the end of the evening "and you may have heard it associated with the Franklin Expedition." Read more
The Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean is back, running from 16th-25th September 2022. The charity is now calling for volunteers across the UK to join them at the coast for a week of beach cleaning and litter surveying. Read more
Branklyn Garden has been described as ‘the finest two acres of private garden in the country’. Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf wanted to find out more about the history of this beautiful garden, which is celebrating its centenary this year. Read more
Artist Michael Durning was inspired to celebrate Scottish explorers, and at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society HQ he found that Amundsen’s race to the South Pole began in Perth! Read more
Engaging stories, topical articles and fascinating insights from across the RSGS network.
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society was delighted to recently welcome over 90 members of the Bartholomew family to its headquarters, The Fair Maid’s House, in Perth. Read more
Please help us to build a Future Generations Fund to better resource the work we can do with and for young people. Read more
Our Chief Executive, Mike Robinson, was delighted to have been presented with an Honorary Doctorate by The University of Stirling, during their Summer 2022 graduations, as one of four individuals believed to be making a positive difference in their respective fields. Read more
On 9th January 2022, Kirsty Fisher set sail from Antigua on board the sailing yacht Intrepid, a 72ft Oyster yacht bound for a circumnavigation of the world. Read about Kirsty's adventures in part 1 of her travel blog. Read more
We share an article from the recent edition of The Geographer, about the sudden decrease of Ukraine's population due to the war, the short term impacts of this, and the long-term implications. Read more
Starting September, RSGS will be hosting live Inspiring People talks for the first time since the start of the pandemic, featuring a stellar line-up of speakers befitting of the best national talks programme in Scotland! Read more
We were delighted to present the Tivy Education Medal to a group of volunteers and inspirational teachers, for their collective work creating free geography lessons for Scottish secondary students forced to work and study at home during lockdown. Read more
We were delighted to present RSGS Honorary Fellowship to author and conservationist Clifton Bain, for his crucial work towards the conservation of peatlands, and promoting public awareness of their importance. Read more
In celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's 70 years of service (and 70 years as RSGS Patron), we explore connections between British monarchs, great explorers and RSGS. Read more
RSGS Tivy Medallist Kenneth MacLean looks at the inclusion of Ukraine as a topic in previous Higher exams. Read more
RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf marks the centenary of the 1922 British Mount Everest Expedition - which Mallory believed unlocked the route of a possible future ascent... Read more
RSGS were pleased to award Hugh Andrew, Managing Director of Birlinn Publishers Ltd, with its prestigious Shackleton Medal for his leadership and citizenship in Scottish publishing, and his role in exemplifying high-quality geographical works. Read more
Scottish Renewables Chief Executive, Claire Mack, talks about ScotWind Leasing- an exciting and significant milestone in Scotland’s renewable energy story, enabling the next generation of offshore wind farms to be developed. Read more
RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf investigates the life of Scottish Mountaineer Alexander Kellas, who was one of the most experienced Himalayan climbers in Britain, and the leading authority on the effects of altitude on the human body before his death on the 1921 Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. Read more
On Earth day, we share the opening address that Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, gave at the International Geographical Societies Gathering ahead of COP15. Read more
RSGS are delighted to announce that Jo Sharp, Professor of Geography at the University of St Andrews, has been appointed as Geographer Royal for Scotland, making her the sixth individual to hold the distinguished title. Read more
'Nature is in crisis, so humanity is in crisis, and we all need to do more to help’ so began RSGS CEO Mike Robinson at a recently convened, meeting of more than 50 geographical societies from all over the world in advance of COP15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming. Read more
'It was while he was dangling in mid-air, making painful progress towards a tiny ledge on the vertical rock face of Roraima, that Hamish MacInnes noticed his rope was badly frayed'... RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf reflects on Hamish MacInnes' expedition up Roraima by its hardest route. Read more
RSGS Writer-in-Residence Jo Woolf reflects on the journey of Sir Everard Im Thurn in leading the first successful expedition to the summit of Mount Roraima. Read more
Putin’s war in Ukraine is deplorable on every level and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine who need our compassion and practical support as a matter of urgency as do its neighbours and allies. Read more