Walkers and climbers from Dumbarton and the Vale are being encouraged to take their litter home from the hills - and pick up other rubbish they find.

The move is part of a new campaign - Tak it Hame - launched by Mountaineering Scotland.

Directors, staff and members all took part in a hilltop litter-pick to mark the launch of the conservation strategy.

It followed the results of a survey of the organisation's 14,000 members in which 85 per cent of respondents gave a high priority to campaigning to protect the wildness of Scotland’s mountain areas.

The new policy looks at three main areas - land use and wildlife, wild land and development activity, and recreational activity.

Stuart Younie, chief executive officer of Mountaineering Scotland, said: “Our landscape provides us the environment in which to enjoy our recreational activities, so we need to do our part to help preserve and enhance it.

“Mountaineering Scotland already has a strong record of campaigning on issues that matter to its members.

"We will continue to do that and by launching this strategy we hope it sends a clear message to Government and other organisations about our commitment to the conservation agenda, and also our desire to take a strategic approach and engage with other organisations to help influence change in policy and legislation.”