A new chapter: BMC and Climbers’ Club collaborate on guidebooks
Since the publication of Rock Climbs on the Eastern Edges in 1960, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has been the custodian of definitive climbing guidebooks for the Peak District. For more than 60 years, these publications have provided climbers with accurate, community-led route information and trusted access advice.
The first BMC guidebook built on a much longer tradition, reaching back to 1913 when local volunteers and clubs began documenting routes and sharing knowledge of climbing in the area.
Now, the BMC and the Climbers’ Club are joining forces to produce the next generation of definitive Peak District guidebooks. The new series will be created in collaboration with local volunteers under the shared principle of ‘by climbers, for climbers’.
The first title in the new CC/BMC series will focus on Stanage Edge, one of the most popular and historically significant crags in the Peak District and arguably the centrepiece of the original 1960 guidebooks. The new Stanage Edge guidebook will be authored by two of the most experienced voices in British climbing guidebook writing: Niall Grimes and Ian Carr.
Climbers’ Club President, Paul Drew, said:
“The Climbers’ Club has a long history of publishing guidebooks, all the way back to the first pocket guide to Y Lliwedd in 1909 and currently have 26 titles in print covering most of Wales and the southern half of England.
“We are very pleased to be collaborating with the BMC on the next generation of Peak District guidebooks and look forward to seeing a fantastic new Stanage Guide authored by Niall Grimes and Ian Carr."
BMC President, Dominic Oughton, said:
“This collaboration is another great example of the BMC working closely with our affiliated clubs for the benefit of our members and the wider climbing community.
“It will ensure that the proud heritage and tradition of climbing in The Peak District is cherished and maintained for future generations of climbers, whilst continuing the BMC’s role as the source of trusted information on access and environmental issues in the climbing world.”
Any surplus from sales will be reinvested into the BMC’s Land and Property Trust - the BMC's charity arm that looks after 8 BMC-owned and managed crags - and the Climbers’ Club’s Crag and Environment Fund, supporting access, conservation and the long-term protection of climbing environments. The first titles from this collaboration are expected to be available in the summer of 2026.
The Climbers' Club is the UK's leading producer of authoritative 'definitive' guidebooks that detail all the known worthwhile climbs in an area. Click here to shop.
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