With government rules, regulations and guidance changing regularly it can be difficult for clubs to keep up with what they are allowed to do. This article summarises the BMC’s understanding of the constraints on club meets and access to huts, based on information available at the time and date of publication. Please remember to check for local changes that may affect your club.

First produced: 21 October 2020

This version: 1 April, 15:40

Huts – England

• Club huts in England should be closed.
• When huts have been closured during recent lockdowns and/or local restrictions financial support has been made available.  Click here to check out what you may be able to access.  If your local council hasn’t already been in touch with you check out the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) and the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum).
• Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.
• Huts in England should be able to re-open for single household use at Step 2, which will be no earlier than Monday 12 April.

Huts – Wales

• Huts in Wales are able to re-open as a self-contained facility for single household use.  No shared kitchens, sleeping areas, bathrooms or indoor communal areas are permitted (“communal areas” does not include a reception area or corridors, lifts and staircases used to access other parts of the premises).  This is only for members living in Wales as travel from England is not currently permitted.  Click here for BMC guidance on the re-opening of huts.
• There is some financial support available for huts in Wales impacted by the recent forced closures – check out Covid-19 Support for Business.
• Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.   If public health conditions permit, this will be lifted on 12 April.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – England

• Club meets (day only, overnight stays not currently permitted) are able to resume if clubs follow the guidance produced by the BMC.
• The guidance from the government does not specify any limits to the number of people on the meet nor to the distance that is permitted to travel to meets.  The BMC encourages clubs to act responsibly and keep group sizes to a minimum wherever possible, consider avoiding popular venues as well as minimising travel.
• Car sharing, with anyone outside of your household, to attend meets is currently not permitted – click here for more details.  This is also important to consider in relation to the venue for the meet as no car sharing will lead to greater pressures on parking facilities.
• Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – Wales

• It is hoped that, if public health conditions permit, club meets for up to 30 people will be able to resume from Monday 3 May. Click here for more information.
• Club meets for young people (under 18-year olds) are permitted to resume, if the club is following the guidance produced by the BMC. 
• Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.  If public health conditions permit, this will be lifted on 12 April. Click here for more information.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – England

• Climbing walls are currently closed, therefore indoor club meets should be suspended.
• Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.
• Climbing walls are expected to be able to reopen at Step 2 (no earlier than Monday 12 April) but groups or household mixing will not be permitted, so club meets will need to remain suspended.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – Wales

• Climbing walls are currently closed, therefore indoor club meets should be suspended.
• Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.  If public health conditions permit, this will be lifted on 12 April. Click here for more information.
• It is hoped that, if public health conditions permit, indoor walls will be able to reopen from Monday 10 May. Click here for more information.
• It is hoped that, if public health conditions permit, indoor walls meets for adults (maximum of 15 people) will be able to resume from Monday 17 May. Click here for more information.

For the current position in Scotland please go to the Mountaineering Scotland website.

Useful links

What will change from 29^th March in England [England]
Roadmap out of the current lockdown [England]
Wales Lockdown Easing [Wales]
Welsh Government: Coronavirus control plan (alert levels in Wales)

* Mountaineering activities include rock climbing (trad & sport), bouldering, hill /fell / mountain walking, scrambling.  It does not include mountain biking, caving, kayaking and other such activities that are outside of the direct remit of the BMC.

Quick reference guide of what clubs currently can and can’t do

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