Julie McElroy has achieved several mountaineering feats in Scotland, including being the first person in a wheelchair to ascend Ben Nevis. She has also worked on environmental and outdoor projects with disadvantaged children in India and disabled volunteers in Scotland through her Disabilities Wilderness Initiatives. These initiatives have included expeditions on Arran, in Kintail, on Ben Lomond, and at Mar Lodge between 2011-2013 to encourage disabled people to participate in outdoor activities. In 2011, she was awarded the John Muir Award for her work in meeting challenges in the outdoors, such as trekking in the Himalayas.