The National Mountaineering Exhibition at Rheged in Cumbria is set to close on 24th December 2007.

The exhibition was opened in 2001 by the Prime Minister of the day, Tony Blair, to a fanfare of positive enthusiasm. At the start, visitor numbers were high. However, there has been a steady downward trend in visitor numbers in recent years. It is thought that one reason for this is that people have to pay to go into the exhibition.

The current owners of the exhibition, Westmorland Services Ltd, have tried to find ways of seeking funding so that the exhibition can be made free to visitors. However, it has not proved possible to do this. Consequently, they have decided to close the exhibition from 24th December with all that that entails. The artefacts that have been on display in the exhibition will now be returned to their owners.

The exhibition was supported by the Mountain heritage Trust (MHT). MHT is proud of what has been achieved through the exhibitions and lectures at Rheged. MHT continues to develop its database of the British archives of mountaineering, to advise clubs and individuals via its Archivist Maxine Willett and to expand its own collection.  To find out more about MHT please click here.

In 2008 the owners of Rheged propose to create a new free exhibition which will celebrate Cumbria and its culture, landscape and the outdoors alongside a 21st century visitor information facility.  Robin Ashcroft will be giving a series of lectures at Rheged.  For more details please click here.

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