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 date of publication. Please remember to check for local changes that may affect your club.

First produced: 21^st October 2020
This version: 27^th November 2020, 11:00

Huts – England

• Club huts in England are currently closed.  Huts in Tier 1 or Tier 2 areas will be able to re-open on Wednesday 2 December when the English Lockdown ends.
• If your hut(s) had to close during the national lockdown, and/or needs to remain closed due to Tier 3 restrictions there is financial support available.  If your local council hasn’t already been in touch with you check out the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) for local restrictions  or the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum) for the national 4-week lockdown
• Future usage of the hut will depend on local Tier restrictions
  • Tier 1 – huts are able to open for groups of up to 6 people (Rule of 6) if social distancing is maintained and those staying at the hut reside in a Tier 1 area.  Members residing in a Tier 1 area can also stay at a hut in a Tier 2 area, but only with members of their own household or bubble.
  • Tier 2 – huts are only able to open for single households or bubbles, regardless of where those staying at the hut usual reside.  Members residing in a Tier 2 area can stay at a hut in a Tier 1 or 2 area, but only with members of their own household or bubble.
  • Tier 3 – huts must be closed if located in a Tier 3 area.  Members living in a Tier 3 area should not travel to a hut in any area.

Huts – Wales

• Club huts in Wales are able to reopen to single household/bubbles.  This is currently only available to club members who reside in Wales.
• There is some financial support available for huts in Wales covered by the small business rates relief scheme – please take note of the Economic Resilience Fund.
• Travel from England to Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.  The situation for travel between England and Wales from Wednesday 2 December is not yet known.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – England

• Until Wednesday 2 December the message is to exercise from home or within your local area.  Households/bubbles can only meet with a single individual from another household in an outdoor public space. Clubs meets should therefore currently be suspended for clubs based in England.  For more information about what is allowed in England click here. 
• Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.   Therefore, clubs based in Wales must not organise meets in England during the English lockdown (Thursday 5 November to Wednesday 2 December).
• From Wednesday 2 December outdoor club meets (in mountaineering activities) will be able to resume for up to 30 people if the club is following the BMC guidance.  Take note of local Tier restrictions and advice on travel into and out of Tier 3 areas.

Club Meets (Outdoor) - Wales

• Those residing in Wales are able to travel freely within Wales, and outdoor club meets are able to run with up to 30 people if the club is following the BMC guidance.
• Travel from England to Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.  Therefore, clubs based in England must currently not organise meets in Wales until at least the end of the English lockdown on Wednesday 2 December.  However, the situation for travel between England and Wales from Wednesday 2 December is not yet known.
• More information about what is currently allowed in Wales is here

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – England

• Climbing walls in England are not permitted to open during the English Lockdown and all clubs must suspend meets at indoor climbing walls in England until Wednesday 2 December.
• Walls will be able to reopen from Wednesday 2 December in Tier 1, 2 and 3 areas.
• Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.  This ban includes those residing in England travelling to a climbing wall in Wales.  The situation for travel between England and Wales from Wednesday 2 December is not yet known.
• When walls reopen the opportunity for club meets will depend on the local Tier restrictions.

Those living in Tier 3 areas:

• should avoid travel outside of the area and should only access indoor walls in that area.
• should not meet with other households indoors, therefore significantly reducing the opportunity for clubs to arrange indoor climbing meets.

Those living in Tier 2 areas, or attending a wall in a Tier 2 area:

• should avoid meets at a wall in a Tier 3 area.
• should not meet with other households indoors, therefore significantly reducing the opportunity for clubs to arrange indoor climbing meets.

Those living in Tier 1 areas:

• should avoid meets at a wall in a Tier 3 area.
• are still able to arrange indoor climbing wall meets if they following the guidance provided by the relevant wall and adhere to a maximum of 6 people in a group (the “Rule of 6”).

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) - Wales

• Indoor climbing walls in Wales are allowed to reopen.
• Clubs, based in Wales, are able to run meets at indoor climbing walls in Wales, although it is advisable to contact staff at the wall first to check what systems they have in place for groups.
• Travel from England to Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education, therefore clubs in England must not organise meets at indoor climbing walls in Wales.  The situation for travel between England and Wales from Wednesday 2 December is not yet known.

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

Useful links

BMC article about post-lockdown rules in Wales
Welsh Government regulation guidance about sport and outdoor activity
Details about the November lockdown in England
BMC article about the implications of Lockdown 2 for climbers and hill-walkers
List of Areas in England by Tier allocation, includes a link to what you can / can’t do in each Tier

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