What we’re about
Welcome to Sheffield Mountaineering. We are a long established and very friendly group for people who enjoy exploring mountains and hills in the UK without being solely focused on rock climbing (although we do plenty of that too). Being based in Sheffield we take full advantage of the Peak District as well as making regular trips away to Snowdonia, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands and the great mountain ranges of mainland Europe.
Our main activities include scrambling, rock climbing, winter climbing, hiking, caving, abseiling and indoor climbing. We cater for all levels of ability and experience so whether you’re a seasoned Alpinist, just a hill walker looking to move on to something a bit more adventurous or anything in between, you have come to the right place. All our outings take place under the guidance of an experienced mountain leader.
Membership of our group is absolutely free but at each of our events we do appreciate donations of £2.00 per person towards our substantial MeetUp fees and other operating costs. We do not wish to make any profit from our mission of facilitating mountain outings for like minded people under professional level guidance but if those benefiting from our activities can help out with our expenses in some small way it is always very welcome. Please see the notes below and hope to hear from you soon....
Important Notes:
This Meet Up group provides an informal means of meeting fellow mountain enthusiasts and enjoying what the great outdoors has to offer. Although there is always an element of knowledge sharing, it is not a Club or Training/Coaching group and therefore members of the group should not expect to receive any special training or instruction. While mountain safety is always our number one priority, at the end of the day as with any other voluntary activities, you remain responsible for your own Health, Safety and Well Being. For any of the Meet Up activities, please ensure you are comfortable with what you are doing and that you are fully informed of the risks. Any doubts at all then please ask. The group does not have any insurance and cannot accept responsibility for the actions of its members.
Please note the following BMC Participation Statement:
"The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are
activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these
activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for
their own actions and involvement."
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
You must bring an ice axe, crampons and crampon compatible boots. The boots are crucial. Without the right type of boots your crampons will not stay on. There is no alternative, bringing the right equipment is essential, things like micro spikes and walking poles just won’t do. Cheap crampons from China bought online will not be acceptable either.
THIS IS NOT A WINTER WALKING EVENT. It will be a bona fide mountaineering exercise. If the weather and conditions allow us to do the routes we are planning, there will be some exposure as well as technical scrambling on rock, snow and ice.
The Cairngorms (Aviemore)
Meet at: Aviemore. The plan is to travel up on Saturday 1st then meet for a pre expedition briefing in the evening before the week’s activities begin the following morning (the location for the briefing will be given to all attendees nearer the time). We will be leaving to travel back home on the morning of Saturday 8th. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.
While Ben Nevis is Britain’s highest individual mountain, the Cairngorms are undisputedly our highest mountain range. As well as boasting the largest concentration of towering peaks, it is the only place in the country where you can walk for miles in a straight line without ever dropping below 1,000 metres in altitude. Needless to say the possibilities for adventure in such a mountain range are endless.
The focus of the week will be on big mountain outings involving high quality easy grade technical winter climbing. We will be looking at reaching the summits of mountains such as Ben Macdui (the country’s second highest peak at 1,309 metres), the eponymous Cairn Gorm, Braeriach, Cairn Na Criche, Sgor An Lochain Uaine, Cairn Toul, Cairn Lochan and Stob Coire an t-Sneachda as well as, conditions permitting, doing the classic scramble of the Fiacaill Ridge which makes for a superb outing in winter.
Photos from our previous winter trip to the Cairngorms can be seen here:
https://4142298.xyz/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/34381289/
Difficulty: Mostly Grade I winter climbing with some Grade II on the Fiacaill Ridge. For more information on winter climbing grades see:
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/winter-climbing-grades
Experience Required: Some previous winter mountaineering/mountain scrambling/rock climbing experience with our group is an essential requirement for anybody who wants to come on this trip.
Ordnance Survey Map: OS Explorer OL57 Cairn Gorm and Aviemore, 1:25,000 scale.
Guidebooks: Scotland’s Mountain Ridges published by Cicerone Press, Highland Scrambles South published by the Scottish Mountaineering Council.
Accommodation: As usual we have booked luxury holiday cottage accommodation with wifi and all amenities. We have a limited number of places left in this accommodation. This will involve sharing a twin room (two single beds) with one other person of the same gender. We can offer this accommodation at the specially subsidised price of £150 per person for the week. If you want one of these places, contact me ASAP as they tend to go very quickly. We will require immediate payment to secure your place as the accommodation has already been paid for.
There are also many other options in the Aviemore area. As well as cottages there are youth hostels, bunkhouses, B&B's and campsites. If you need any help or advice finding something just let me know.
If everybody wants to contribute £10.00 towards our substantial Meet Up fees and the additional costs incurred in organising this trip that will be great, thanks.
Disclaimer: This is NOT a package holiday or guided tour and there is NO insurance provided. Mountaineering can be a dangerous activity and you attend entirely at your own risk. By signing up and coming to the event, you agree to all of this. We highly recommend that you take out your own insurance.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Dry-tooling @ Masson Lees QuarryMasson Lees Quarry, Matlock
Masson Lees Quarry is, apparently, possibly the premier dry-tooling venue in the Englishland. Thought we'd check it out. Dry-tooling in itself is a unique climbing sport but many of the skills used are also those used in some of the intermediate+ winter climbing grades. Dry tooling can also be done on wet rock, so much as much weather dependant.
NOTE: You must have had either some dry-tooling or ice climbing experience to attend this meet (see our indoor dry-tooling meets or have a trip to The Climbing Hub at Bradford on Thurs evenings for some intro stuff. Info HERE).
Fee: £2 (send it direct to Gerry or give to me pass on) - The £2 keeps us going.
What is dry-tooling: Climbing using ice axes but on rock.
What to bring: Harness, helmet, belay plate, footwear (see below). We have some climbing axes and mono-point crampons for people to use but if you have a pair of climbing axes and/or some mono-point crampons bring them along.
Footwear: There are a few routes you can wear climbing shoes but it'll be best to bring along some B2 or B3 mountaineering boots.
Parking and Meet: HERE
Grades: A good amount of lower grades for 1st timers but also plenty in the mid and some higher ones.
More info about Masson Lees from UK Climbing: HERE
- Mountain Scrambling in Great LangdaleNew Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, Great Langdale
An ideal Lake District mountain scrambling outing for the short days at this time of year.
Harrison Stickle via Pike Howe and the South East Ridge
Meet at: New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel car park, Great Langdale, postcode: LA22 9JX, OS map reference NY295064. As an environmentally conscious group, we actively encourage car sharing. Further details of car sharing arrangements from Sheffield, Manchester and elsewhere will appear in the comments section nearer the time.
This outing takes the most direct route from the Great Langdale valley floor to the summit of the highest of the Langdale Pikes, Harrison Stickle via two amenable scramble routes.
Ascending Pike Howe involves a steady hike up a path with optional scrambling sections at various points along the way. All difficulties including the initial buttress and summit headwall can either be tackled head on or completely avoided. The South East Ridge on Harrison Stickle is a delightfully easy and high quality scramble on excellent rock and leads to the summit via an interesting gully top out.
The full day will include a short walk in then a scrambling/hiking ascent to the summit of Pike Howe from where we will embark on a steep pull up grassy slopes before a scrambling ascent of the South East Ridge to take us to the summit of Harrison Stickle* before a descent via the dramatic and atmospheric Dungeon Ghyll path.
*If time/daylight permits we will take in a one or two more summits such as Pike Of Stickle and/or Loft Crag.
Difficulty: Grade 1 scrambling by the easiest line or Grade 2 if all the difficulties on Pike Howe are taken direct. For more information on scrambling grades see:
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades
Experience Required: Some previous scrambling experience is recommended.
Duration: Approx. 6 km with height gain of approx. 600 metres. Estimated time 5 hours.
Ordnance Survey Map: OS 90 Penrith & Keswick 1:50,000 scale.
Guidebooks: Scrambles in The Lake District Volume 1: Southern Lakes published by Cicerone Press.
As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.
- Scrambling and Hiking, Torside and BleaklowTorside Car Park - Peak District NP, Glossop
Route: Torside Clough, Bleaklow Head
Meet at: Torside Reservoir car park on the B6105 just off the A628 Woodhead Pass road. OS map reference SK068983.
Torside Clough is a long and entertaining scramble leading all the way from the valley floor to the Bleaklow summit plateau. The scrambling is easy enough for the most part but raised water levels and/or winter conditions can certainly add a bit of interest at this time of year.
The full day will include a short walk in along the Longenden Trail, a long pleasant easy Grade 1 scrambling ascent of Torside Clough and a hike to Bleaklow Head before returning via the Pennine Way, Clough Edge the Longenden Trail.
Photos of some of our previous outings to Torside and Bleaklow can be seen here:
https://4142298.xyz/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/31211890/494111327/
https://4142298.xyz/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/30661682/
Difficulty: Grade 1 Scrambling (suitable for beginners). For more information on scrambling grades see:
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades
Experience Required: Some hiking/hillwalking experience would be beneficial along with a sense of adventure and preparation for any weather.
Duration: Approx. 12 km with total height gain (from car park to Bleaklow summit plateau) of approx. 400 metres. Estimated time 5 hours.
Ordnance Survey Map: OS 110 Sheffield & Huddersfield Landranger 1:50 000 Scale.
Guidebook: Scrambles in the Dark Peak published by Cicerone Press.
As always, if everybody wants to contribute £2.00 towards our Meet Up site fees and other operating costs that will be great, thanks.
