Old mystery pro

NeviSport, Scotland

Founded in 1970 by a pair of highland climbers and outdoor instructors Ian A Sykes MBE and Ian D Sutherland, Nevisport (a ‘wee climbing shop’) started life with money saved by Sykes (a former member of the RAF Mountain Rescue Team) while serving as a base commander in the Falkland Islands on the British Antarctic Survey.

The first Nevisport occupied a small store at the west end of Fort William’s high street and was sustained financially during its first year by Sutherland, who continued to work full-time elsewhere while Sykes ran the shop day to day. Such was the success of the fledgling company it was soon forced to relocate to larger premises and subsequently opened a second store in Glasgow in 1974.

By the spring of 1982 Nevisport had moved its headquarters into a purpose built retail unit at the end of Fort William’s high street which remains the focal point of the town centre to this day and is still the company’s flagship store. Nevisport Fort William also incorporates a café and bar well used by walkers and climbers over the years as well as a gift shop catering for tourists. During the early 1990s the company moved into Edinburgh and also opened what is the UK’s highest outdoor shop on the western slopes of Aonach Mor at the top of the gondola at the Nevis Range ski centre. From the front door of what is arguably Britain’s only true ‘mountain’ shop, hardy visitors can ride one of the world’s best downhill mountain bike tracks, or ski Nevis Range’s fearsome Back Corries. Those looking for a slightly more sedate activity can also send a postcard from Britain’s highest post box!

In 1997 Nevisport continued its expansion by acquiring an English outdoor chain called Wilderness Ways and an independent store by the name of Nick Estcourts. Shortly afterwards Clive Rowland’s store in Aviemore and Marshall’s in Aberdeen were welcomed on board too, making Nevisport one of the biggest outdoor companies in the northern half of the UK.

Since those early days Nevisport has grown into one of the country’s leading outdoor retailers and in 2004 Sykes and Sutherland retired, leaving Nevisport as an established household name with stores stretching from Inverness in the north to Central England in the south.