Bell) (1896–1975) was arguably the leading Scots mountaineer in the period prior to World War II, going on to edit the SMC Journal for an unequalled 24 years from 1936 to 1959.
The words which he wrote in "Progress in Mountaineering":[5] "the head of the Fionn Loch would be a veritable paradise for the enthusiastic rock-climber, for I do not know any other corner in the Scottish Highlands with so much opportunity for exploration in grand and imposing surroundings.
It was the grandeur and beauty of the scene which held me spellbound", led indirectly to the development of climbing on Carnmore crag in the Fisherfield Forest by inspiring a young Mike O'Hara to visit and establish a string of first ascents there.
[6] Bell trained as an industrial chemist (DSc, Edinburgh, 1932),[7] and so (according to Murray) regarded food only as "fuel", mixing many courses together when preparing for a day on the hill.
Bell also revised the guidebook for the Island of Skye (originally produced by Steeple, Barlow & MacRobert in 1931) in 1954[8] and contributed the Scottish section for the book "British Hills & Mountains"[9]