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- Awesome Walls Indoor Climbing SheffieldAwesome Walls Climbing Centre, Sheffield, Sheffield
***You'll need to be able to belay safely to participate in this meetup
***If anyone is keen to learn the skills then please send me a message
Any problems with finding the group then ask for me (David Reeves)
Come join us for a bit of mid-week climbing fun with top rope & lead climb options. You will need to be registered with Awesome Walls, which includes being able to belay & tie a figure of 8 (see 'New to climbing' below).
Prices: £10 members / £12 non-members (paid to the venue on arrival)
Pricing options: HEREWhat to bring: Climbing shoes, harness, belay plate and rope (if you have one). NOTE: You can hire all these for a fee.
Already a climber: Register with Awesome Walls HERE
New to climbing: Get in touch if you're new to climbing. Awesome Walls also run taster sessions HERE
How to find us: Ask for myself, David Reeves, at reception and they will point you in the right direction
- Mountain Scrambing, Blencartha via Halls Fell RidgeThe Sally Inn, Threlkeld
A perfect Lake District mountain scramble for those short November days.
Route: Halls Fell Ridge
Meet at: Outside The Sally/Salutation pub in Threlkeld, postcode CA12 4SQ. There is a car park next to the pub but if it is full, just park anywhere in the village and make your way on foot to the pub to meet us. 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.
Blencartha is a shapely and iconic mountain rising to an altitude 868 metres at the northern end of the Lake District. Our route of ascent will be via Halls Fell Ridge, a long clean rocky spur with a series of pleasant outcrops and a smattering of genuine exposure. The route leads all the way to the mountain summit and provides plenty entertainment.
The full day will include a brisk walk in from Threlkeld and tough but worthwhile pull up the lower slopes, a Grade 1 scrambling ascent to the summit via Halls Fell Ridge then a hike over the mountain's famous "Saddleback" crest before a leisurely descent by the western flank and across fields to take us back to our starting point in the village.
Photos from the previous occasions we did this outing can be seen here:
https://4142298.xyz/sheffield-mountaineering-rock-climbing-meet/photos/32932566/
https://4142298.xyz/Sheffield-Mountaineering-Rock-Climbing-Meet/photos/32163438/
Difficulty: Grade 1 scrambling. For more information on grades see:
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades
Experience Required: Some previous mountaineering/scrambling experience with our group is recommended.
Duration: Approx. 7 km with height gain of approx. 750 metres. Estimated time 5 hours.
Ordnance Survey Map: OS 90 Penrith & Keswick 1:50,000 scale.
Guidebook: The Ridges Of England, Wales & Ireland 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.
