Arctic conditions are sweeping across much of the UK but, as far as birds are concerned, it’s nesting business as usual. If you do find a dry crag to climb on, remember to check that it hasn’t got any current climbing restrictions.

To help remind climbers nationwide, we’ve teamed up with ace Summit magazine artist Liam Dangerfield to produce a feathery new poster, being sent out to walls, shops and cafes around the country.

If you’re heading out, watch out for climbing restrictions on certain cliffs where rare species of bird are nesting. The BMC agrees climbing restrictions for rare crag-nesting birds across England and Wales, always on a case-by-case basis and following a principle of using the least restrictive option. This means that any climbing restriction agreed by the BMC will allow the birds space to successfully rear their young without unnecessarily affecting the climbing.

The BMC’s Regional Access Database (RAD) has full details of all nesting restrictions, as well as any other relevant access information, to crags across England and Wales. It’s the only definitive access resource for climbers and is kept up to date on a daily basis.

We know that even the best plans often change once you’re out climbing and if you make a spur of the moment decision to head to a different crag, you need to be able to check its access situation. Recently, we’ve been working hard to produce RAD apps for smartphones to enable climbers to check nesting restrictions and access information on the move.

An Android app is currently available and we’re working on an iPhone version which will hopefully be available by the start of May.

Fingers crossed that the current weather conditions are merely a minor blip on an otherwise stellar spring climbing season.

More info on climbing restrictions:

Check the BMC Regional Access Database (RAD)

Download the new RAD Android app

Watch our birds film:

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