Morag Skelton is living proof that the outdoors is for everyone: she doesn’t let being deaf limit her to what is possible on a mountainside, and is heading towards becoming a Mountaineering Climbing Instructor, the highest nationally recognised UK qualification in the field. “Lipreading while hanging on a rock is a challenge,” says the Scottish climber with a smile.
Not that it has been simple, getting to where she is today. “Often people forget to keep eye contact with me so that I can lipread,” she says. “I miss bits of information and can take a bit longer to understand what people are trying to explain to me. But physical demonstrations can help ensure I understand topics clearly.”