BMC News

Access and Conservation Latest

Access News

The future of wild camping on Dartmoor: Supreme Court to decide on historic right 

On Tuesday 8 October, the Supreme Court will consider whether the right to wild camp on Dartmoor continues to be a cherished freedom. The case, brought by Alexander Darwall, owner of 4,000-acre estate in southern Dartmoor, challenges the notion that wild camping (or backpack camping) should be considered an open-air recreation in its own right. 

03 Oct
8 min read

Mend Our Mountains Articles

14 reasons why we can't ignore footpath erosion

Did you know that the 140,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways we have access to in England and Wales are under serious threat? The footpaths you love the walk on are disappearing fast before our eyes due to erosion from increased footfall and more extreme weather conditions. Here are 14 reasons why we can't ignore footpath erosion.

27 Sep
5 min read

Access News

BMC volunteers remove 2,765 items of litter from Yr Wyddfa 

The Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Big Clean Up event marks an unprecedented effort to begin to rid the mountain of decades-old litter, including a misplaced Santa hat! Over two days, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September, dedicated volunteers and specialists undertook a challenging mission to clean one of Wales’ most iconic natural landmarks. 

26 Sep
4 min read

Hill Walking News

Meet your 2024 BMC Volunteer Award winners

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 BMC Volunteer Awards.

26 Sep
5 min read

Indoor Climbing Latest

Hill Walking News

Meet your 2024 BMC Volunteer Award winners

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 BMC Volunteer Awards.

26 Sep
5 min read

Indoor Climbing News

Zoe Peetermans and Sam Butterworth Crowned 2024 British Boulder Champions

Zoe Peetermans and Sam Butterworth claimed the 2024 British Boulder Champions titles on Sunday 25th August at Last Sun Dance in Leeds.

27 Aug
3 min read

Indoor Climbing News

Watch live: British Boulder Championships 2024

The British Mountaineering Council is proud to present the 2024 edition of the British Boulder Championships being held at Last Sun Dance in Leeds.

23 Aug
3 min read

Indoor Climbing News

British Boulder Championships heads to Last Sun Dance, Leeds

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) can today announce that the 2024 British Boulder Championships will be hosted at Last Sun Dance in Leeds.

03 Jul
2 min read

Indoor Climbing News

Bouldering upgrade starts at EICA:Ratho after sportscotland investment

Works on the upgrade of the bouldering facilities at Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho will begin on Monday 3rd June following a major funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund. There will be a steady schedule of works across the summer and autumn as the changes occur.

30 May
4 min read

Indoor Climbing News

RESULTS: British Lead, Speed & Paraclimbing Championships 2023

A weekend of action was kick-started with a new British Speed Climbing Record and culminated in a fantastic day seeing many athletes vie for the title of British Champion. Here are the results of the British Lead, Speed and Paraclimbing Championships 2023:

17 Sep
3 min read

Hill Walking Latest

Access News

The future of wild camping on Dartmoor: Supreme Court to decide on historic right 

On Tuesday 8 October, the Supreme Court will consider whether the right to wild camp on Dartmoor continues to be a cherished freedom. The case, brought by Alexander Darwall, owner of 4,000-acre estate in southern Dartmoor, challenges the notion that wild camping (or backpack camping) should be considered an open-air recreation in its own right. 

03 Oct
8 min read
30 Nov 2024

Hill Walking Events

BMC North West Area Hill Walk | Saturday 30th November

BMC members are invited to join a Social Hike in the High Peak delivered by Members of the Rucksack Club on Saturday 30th November 2024

Access Articles

5 things you didn’t know about hill walking’s most important plant

This unassuming, bright, green or red moss with lush, almost tentacle-like fronds is hiding five well-kept secrets.

04 Oct
2 min read
04 Nov 2024

Hill Walking Events

BMC Peak Area Hill Walk | Monday 4th November

Join us on November 4th for a peer-led walk organized by BMC Peak Area volunteers, in the beautiful Peak District.

Hill Walking News

Meet your 2024 BMC Volunteer Award winners

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 BMC Volunteer Awards.

26 Sep
5 min read

Access News

The BMC welcomes the new Skiddaw rewilding project in the Lake District

The BMC welcomes and supports the Cumbria Wildlife Trust who are set to rewild the bleak plateau of Skiddaw. This work aligns fully with BMC values - protecting the mountains for future climbers, hill-walkers and mountaineers and promoting environmental sustainability.

19 Sep
8 min read

Hill Walking Articles

Supporting your tendons, joints, and cartilage through the decades: a guide for hill walkers

For many hill walkers, the call of the wild is a lifelong passion. However, the demands placed on our bodies by these activities require thoughtful care, especially as we age.

12 Sep
5 min read

Access News

First ever litter pick on hard-to-reach Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) gullies

On Sat 21 September, 40 BMC volunteers will climb Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) to rid the mountain of as much litter as possible in The Big Clean Up event, including the 'waterfall' of trash which has been stuck for decades in the steep and hazardous Trinity Gullies.

05 Sep
8 min read

Rock Climbing Latest

Rock Climbing

Climbing ban lifted in Carn Gowla, Cornwall

A peregrine survey by boat with high-quality photography organised by local BMC Access Reps Iain Peters and James Mann has helped to identify peregrine nesting sites so that a blanket ban on climbing at the Cornish climbing site of Carn Cowla can be lifted. A temporary ban had been put in place by the National Trust covering the cliffs between Tubby Head and Bawden Cliff, including major route locations up to and beyond the America Buttress. The ban has now been lifted so all sections are open, with only crag- and area-specific restrictions in place when necessary.

04 Sep
3 min read

Rock Destinations

Five reasons why you need BMC Travel Insurance

Planning an adventure? Remember to pack BMC Travel Insurance. We’ve got your back: from bouldering in France to trekking in India, sport climbing in Kalymnos to new routes in the Himalaya. Here are five reasons why BMC Travel Insurance is built for the mountains.

27 Aug
2 min read

Rock Climbing

Unreasonable ban on climbing at Symonds Yat: climbers dismayed by ongoing climbing ban

A climbers’ meeting this week expressed their opposition to the continued ban on climbing at Symonds Yat, Herefordshire, imposed by Forestry England.

01 Aug
3 min read

News

28 stakes later: new belay anchors installed at Avon Gorge, Bristol

This weekend the BMC joined Avon Access Rep Ben Darby and his team of volunteers near Bristol to install 28 new belay stakes on Main Wall so that climbers no longer need to rely on the wobbly old iron fence as an anchor point. Vegetation was also cleared and a thorough litter pick was carried out.

23 Jul
4 min read

Get Climbing

Five steps to start climbing

Fancy giving climbing a go but don't know where to start? Follow these five easy steps to kick off a lifetime of vertical adventures.

17 Jul
4 min read

Rock Climbing Articles

Close calls: reporting incidents and near misses

The BMC Incident and Near Miss reporting system helps to promote reflection and effect behavioural change to reduce the potential for future incidents.

09 Jul
5 min read

Rock Climbing Articles

Youth Ready to Rock | Sport climbing courses

The Youth Ready to Rock Sport climbing course is designed to help young climbers (11-17 year olds) make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out, as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment, for both the participant and the parent/carer.

09 Jul
5 min read

Rock Climbing Skills

Rock climbing: what to do when it's wet

It’s Britain, it’s summer, and it’s wet. Why am I not surprised? But all is not lost! There are ways to circumvent the weather when you want to go climbing...

09 Jul
6 min read

Mountaineering Latest

Rock Destinations

Five reasons why you need BMC Travel Insurance

Planning an adventure? Remember to pack BMC Travel Insurance. We’ve got your back: from bouldering in France to trekking in India, sport climbing in Kalymnos to new routes in the Himalaya. Here are five reasons why BMC Travel Insurance is built for the mountains.

27 Aug
2 min read

Mountaineering Destinations

How to climb the Breithorn

Want to know everything you need to know about how to climb the Breithorn - one of the classic "4,000ers". Mountain Guide Andy Perkins offers his insider tips.

22 Aug
3 min read

Mountaineering Learn Skills

10 mistakes winter walkers make and how to avoid them

Here’s your heads-up to some of the most common winter walking mistakes and how to steer clear of them.

17 Jul
6 min read

Mountaineering Destinations

How to climb Cosmiques Arete

Get the inside knowledge: IFMGA Mountain Guide Caroline George offers some beta on route-finding, gear, and tackling the cruxes of Chamonix's classic AD alpine route, Cosmiques Arete.

09 Jul
2 min read

Mountaineering Destinations

Top 10 alpine peaks

Get your hands and feet on rocky slopes and snow, taluses and airy gendarme-studded ridges. Why not challenge yourself to reach the summit, or traverse one of our top 10 alpine peaks this summer?

09 Jul
5 min read

Mountaineering Destinations

How to climb the Matterhorn

The Matterhorn is surely the world’s most iconic peak. Its commanding, isolated position at the head of the valley is unique in the Alps and its claim to being one of the world’s most beautiful mountains is justified. Mountain Guide Tim Blakemore offers his top tips on reaching its summit successfully.

09 Jul
3 min read

Mountaineering Destinations

Five of the best alpine routes to aspire to

We asked five experienced climbers for their top pick of Europe's alpine routes to get you inspired...

09 Jul
10 min read

Hillwalking Skills

A guide to ice axes for winter walking and climbing

How to choose an ice axe for your next winter adventure

09 Jul
8 min read

Performance Latest

Performance News

Laura Needham appointed as Head of Performance at the British Mountaineering Council

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Laura Needham as its new Head of Performance.

09 Oct
4 min read

Performance News

Aggarwal, Losey Sail, and Musson Medal in Arco at IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup

The IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup 2024 series concluded with a spectacular finale in Arco, Italy, marking the end of a competitive series that also included events in Salt Lake City, USA, and Innsbruck, Austria.

30 Sep
2 min read

Performance News

Off the Wall: CCPG Update | June 2024

Here is the summary of Competition Climbing Performance Group (CCPG) meeting on the 12th June.

24 Sep
3 min read

Performance News

Toby Roberts Claims Bronze at IFSC Boulder World Cup in Prague

British climbing sensation Toby Roberts added another medal to his collection last weekend after securing a bronze medal at the IFSC Climbing Boulder World Cup in Prague last weekend.

23 Sep
5 min read

Indoor Climbing News

Zoe Peetermans and Sam Butterworth Crowned 2024 British Boulder Champions

Zoe Peetermans and Sam Butterworth claimed the 2024 British Boulder Champions titles on Sunday 25th August at Last Sun Dance in Leeds.

27 Aug
3 min read

Performance News

Medal success in Villars at the Paraclimbing European Championships

The IFSC Paraclimbing European Championships in Villars, Switzerland, this weekend saw 13 GB Climbing athletes clip into the Lead wall, delivering strong performances and personal bests across the board.

26 Aug
3 min read

Indoor Climbing News

Watch live: British Boulder Championships 2024

The British Mountaineering Council is proud to present the 2024 edition of the British Boulder Championships being held at Last Sun Dance in Leeds.

23 Aug
3 min read

Performance News

BMC announces GB Climbing Team for 2024 IFSC Youth World Championships in China

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) can today announce the 18 athletes who will represent the GB Climbing team at the 2024 IFSC Youth World Championships in Guiyang, China. The event is scheduled to take place from Thursday 22 August to Sunday 1 September at the Guizhou Bureau of Sports.

21 Aug
2 min read

ORGANISATION LATEST

Governance

CEO Update | September 2024

Regarding membership fee adjustments for 2025, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are asking for feedback ahead of the Board meeting on the 18th September 2024.

12 Sep
3 min read

Governance

Roger Murray to step down as BMC Chair in November 2024

Today, Roger Murray has announced that he will not seek re-election as Chair of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) following the conclusion of his term at the end of November 2024.

11 Sep
6 min read
01 Oct 2024

Governance

Safeguarding Surgery | Tuesday 1st October

This next session of BMC Safeguarding Surgeries is an online open meeting for anyone who has any general queries regarding safeguarding, guidance or support, or would like to share good practice with others.

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