10 spaces booked by LMC group.

6 spaces available.

Celebrate Guy Fawks night at the club hut in Eryri.

We'll either go to a local fireworks display on the Saturday evening. Or if there's enough interest, we could put on our own display at the hut with participants chipping in to cover the cost of the fireworks.

A Whatsapp group for the meet will be added to the LMC Whatsapp Community so that participants can add themselves. A link to it cannot be added here for data security reasons.

A long weekend of bolt clipping in the sunshine.

We will be going to Calpe again staying at Villa Solpadel which is a short walk from the town centre (similar to Villa Perles). Most rooms are twins so booking will be on the basis of sharing a twin and it sleeps 16 people. The villa has a small pool too if weather permits!

Flights to Alicante are plentiful from a number of London airports. In order to co-ordinate car-shares, suggested approximate flights: Arrive Friday night, leave Wednesday night.

Villa 1 - Villa Solpadel
Villa 2 - Sunset Pool Villa (Reserve List)

UPDATE (6-Oct) - The meet is now expanded with a second villa. Please DO NOT book on to this meet unless you are on the manual reserve list. To be added to the reserve list please contact the meet steward. Failure to follow this process may result in your booking being cancelled.

Chance to sharpen your map reading and navigation skills - both by day and night. Suitable for novice navigators and wizard-like wanderers. This year with new helpers - and new ideas!

We will to focus on using maps, and then go out on the hill to practice navigation. We will all make use of traditional navigation (using a compass, the map and looking around!), and also discuss use of GPS-based devices.

Bookings open on 1 September, and will be limited to ten participants. We will organise a communal meal on the Saturday night (I'll be looking for a volunteer co-ordinator). The meet fees include an extra amount to pay for the communal meal.

Refunds in the case of participants cancelling are at discretion of meet steward.

BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISSAPOINTMENT. THERE ARE ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF SPACES AT THE HUT AND THEY WON'T HOLD THEM FOR US.

A weekend of Dry Tooling in Masson Lees Quarry. Arguably the UK's premier dry tooling venue (in a very relative sense!).

When people say: " it's grim up north", they're probably talking about Masson Lees; literally a muddy hole in the ground on the edge of an industrial estate in Matlock.

It is, however, an excellent place to prep for winter climbing. Not least becuase the routes are so steep! Savage Slit will feel like a slabby cruise in comparison. And, of course, it's a niche and 'engaging' climbing discipline in its own right.

Grading
As a crude indication of dry tooling grading, you add one to the D grade to get the equivalent scottish tech grade. So, e.g. D4 is equivalent to a grade 5 Scottish mixed route. As can be seen in the UKC link below, most of the routes at Masson Lees are D5 and above, except at Mount Chossmore, which, as the name suggests is loose and dusty (although not particularly dangerous). So it's a venue that's best suited to experienced climbers and especially those that have aspirations to climb mid and higher grade winter routes.

Accomodation
Staying at the Climber's Club R O Downes Hut in Froggart. Around 35 mins drive from Masson Lees. £15 pppn.

We need to specify exact numbers at the hut in advance so please secure your place by signing up to the meet and paying the hut fees. I'll then book the requisite number of places at the hut.

Guidebook: Dry Tooling Great Britain; Lina Arthur

UKC route list: https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/masson_lees_quarry-2975/#the_science_slab

Come and spend a long weekend climbing unpronounceable hills in indifferent weather - the annual Winter Munro Meet.

Bring maps, axe, crampons, warm clothes and your sense of adventure.

8 spaces are booked at the SMC's Raeburn Hut in Laggan. It’s well situated for the Cairngorms, the Drumochter Munros and the Creag Meagaidh range.

Hut fees are £20 pppn (£60 total) and are payable on sign-up.

To book on, please contact me and I’ll send more info and a payment link. This is being done to avoid no-shows, which happened last year and prevented others joining.

A whatsapp group for the meet will be added to the community in due course.

This meet is recommended for experienced winter walkers and wild campers only.

Winter backpacking in the Cairngorms

Braemar - Aviemore, 60km, tent and bothy accommodation.

Flight to Aberdeen, return by day train.

A Whatsapp group for the meet has been added to the LMC Whatsapp Community so that participants can add themselves.

Oh come all ye faithful! 'Tis that time of the year for high-altitude hilarity.

Calling all crag-conquerors, cliff-dwellers, and lovers of lofty heights

As the frost kisses the fells and the mince pies beckon, it is time to stow your ice axes, hang up your harnesses, and put on your finest festive fleece for an evening of jolly good cheer and moderately controlled revelry.

Let us gather, not to scale peaks, but to toast them—with good company, great tales, and enough holiday spirit to avalanche the Alps.

When: Wednesday 17th December
Where: The Wildwood Room at The Green Man W1

36 Riding House Street
W1W 7EP

How Much: £35 for food and drink

Book early to avoid dissapointment

Take advantage of the post Christmas bank holidays with a week's winter climbing and walking in the Northern Cairngorms.

NB: there is no Caledonian sleeper until Sunday 28/12, and none on New Year’s Eve either. There are day trains and flights to Inverness.

We’ll be staying at the Aviemore Youth Hostel which is warm, clean and spacious and arguably has the best drying room in the UK!

Winter Climbing
The Cairngorms, and in particular the Northern Corries, are the most popular early season winter climbing venue in Scotland and are often in condition this time of year.

The venue is ideal for novices and seasoned climbers alike with many classic routes across all grades.

Winter Walking
The Cairngorms boast many excellent winter walks and are home to 55 Munroes and numerous bothies.

Accommodation and booking
We’ll be staying at the Aviemore Youth Hostel https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/aviemore/
As well as booking onto the meet we ask participants to book themselves a bed in a dorm room at the hostel. They can do this either online at the website above, or by calling 01479 810345.
We’ve agreed with the hostel that they’ll try and put LMC members in the same rooms so please mention that you’re with the LMC if you book by phone. If you book online, follow this up with an email to aviemore@hostellingscotland.org.uk mentioning that you’re with the LMC.
Please book early to avoid disappointment as the hostel does book up in the winter, especially on weekends. Booking via a 3rd party website is not recommended as this will make it more difficult for the hostel to keep the group together.
At the time of writing a bed in a dorm room at the hostel was £26.50 per night.

Cancellation
The cancelation terms for people booking individually, directly with the hostel, are very generous and are the main reason we’re asking people to self-book their accommodation. Participants can cancel independently up until 12 noon on the day before they’re due to arrive and receive a 90% refund. This could be for any reason including if participants feel the weather or snow conditions are likely to make winter climbing/walking impossible.

Travel
Aviemore is roughly a 10 hour drive from London, but having a car on the meet is not strictly necessary as much of the winter climbing and walking can be accessed by public transport, short taxi rides, and even hitch hiking!
There are direct day trains from London.

Prerequisites
The cairngorms are a great venue for winter climbers and walkers of all levels, including novices. But we recommend that anyone that’s completely new to either of these activities do a course beforehand to familiarise themselves with the winter specific skills they need. A weekend course in the Cairngorms or Western Highlands should be sufficient. For winter climbing, summer trad climbing is also a very helpful (arguably essential) grounding.

Guidebooks
Winter Climbing – Scottish Winter Climbs (SMC)
Winter Walking - The Cairngorms & North-East Scotland (SMC) or https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ is pretty comprehensive and free.

Cogne – One of the World’s Best Ice Climbing Venues

Located in the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park in northern Italy, Cogne offers easy access to dozens of single- and multi-pitch routes across all grades, with generally reliable ice conditions and stable weather.

This meet is suitable for both experienced climbers and those with at least some prior ice or technical winter climbing experience. Ideally, participants will have completed an introductory course with a qualified guide.

That said, climbers will get much more out of the trip if they’re comfortable leading multi-pitch trad routes and have general winter mountaineering experience.

Beyond the ice climbing, the area also offers excellent opportunities for skiing—piste, cross-country, and ski mountaineering.

Some of us may also attempt a summit between 3,000–4,000 metres, which would involve an overnight stay in a winter room of a mountain refuge. These are unmanned but provide shelter, beds, and blankets—offering refuge from snow and wind. This will suit those with winter mountaineering experience and familiarity with snowshoeing or skiing. Possible objectives include:
- Gran Paradiso (4,061m)
- Gran Serra (3,552m)
- Punta Rossa della Grivola (3,630m)

Accommodation
The club has booked 18 spaces at Residence Château Royal, https://www.residencechateauroyal.com/en, located in the centre of Cogne. We’ll be staying in four apartments: three for four people each and one larger flat for six.
Cost: £275 per person for 8 nights.
Accommodation will be allocated in order of booking. Members are welcome to swap among themselves afterwards. Full payment is required on sign-up and accommodation fees are non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel your place, you're welcome to try and find someone to replace you (or if the meet fills up, there may be a waiting list to draw from).

Travel
Fly to Turin or Milan, then hire a car to reach Cogne.

Guidebook
Cogne Selected Climbs – Oxford Alpine Club.

More Info
For a detailed overview of ice climbing in the area, check out:
UKC article – Cogne: Icefall Climbing in the Italian Alps

Coordination
To help you find a climbing partner, share a rental car, and give an overview of everyone’s plans, I will circulate to the attendees a spreadsheet to fill in your itinerary, realistic ice climbing level, and any other relevant info.

Zoom Call – December
I’d also like to propose a Zoom call in December to go over plans, answer any questions, and give everyone a chance to connect before the trip.

A week of winter climbing and winter walking in the Cairngorms.

We’ll be staying at the Aviemore Youth Hostel which is warm, clean and spacious and arguably has the best drying room in the UK!

Winter Climbing
The Cairngorms, and in particular the Northern Corries, are a Scottish winter climbing Mecca with some of the most reliable winter conditions in the Highlands. The venue is ideal for novices and seasoned climbers alike with many classic routes across all grades.

Winter Walking
The Cairngorms boast many excellent winter walks and are home to 55 Munroes and numerous bothies.

Accommodation and booking
We’ll be staying at the Aviemore Youth Hostel https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/aviemore/
As well as booking onto the meet we ask participants to book themselves a bed in a dorm room at the hostel. They can do this either online at the website above, or by calling 01479 810345.
We’ve agreed with the hostel that they’ll try and put LMC members in the same rooms so please mention that you’re with the LMC if you book by phone. If you book online, follow this up with an email to aviemore@hostellingscotland.org.uk mentioning that you’re with the LMC.
Please book early to avoid disappointment as the hostel does book up in the winter, especially on weekends. Booking via a 3rd party website is not recommended as this will make it more difficult for the hostel to keep the group together.
At the time of writing a bed in a dorm room at the hostel was £26.00 per night for weeknights and £28.00 for weekend nights.

Cancellation
The cancelation terms for people booking individually, directly with the hostel, are very generous and are the main reason we’re asking people to self-book their accommodation. Participants can cancel independently up until 12 noon on the day before they’re due to arrive and receive a 90% refund. This could be for any reason including if participants feel the weather or snow conditions are likely to make winter climbing/walking impossible.

Travel
Aviemore is roughly a 10 hour drive from London, but having a car on the meet is not strictly necessary as much of the winter climbing and walking can be accessed by public transport, short taxi rides, and even hitch hiking!
The Caledonian Sleeper operates a direct service from London Euston to Aviemore and seats are very reasonable (especially if bought in pairs with a two together railcard).
There are also direct day trains from London.

Prerequisites
The cairngorms are a great venue for winter climbers and walkers of all levels, including novices. But we recommend that anyone that’s completely new to either of these activities do a course beforehand to familiarise themselves with the winter specific skills they need. A weekend course in the Cairngorms or Western Highlands should be sufficient. For winter climbing, summer trad climbing is also a very helpful (arguably essential) grounding.

Guidebooks
Winter Climbing – Scottish Winter Climbs (SMC)
Winter Walking - The Cairngorms & North-East Scotland (SMC) or https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ is pretty comprehensive and free.

This meet it best suited to experienced winter climbers.

5 Nights at the CIC hut situated at the foot of the North Face of Ben Nevis. The UK's premier winter climbing crag and home to a huge range of routes including many classics!

The hut is booked from the Sunday to the Friday morning so it's recommended to travel up on the Saturday, stay at the Fort William Backpackers' hostel, and then use Sunday to walk up to the hut with food and gear for the week and ideally do a climb that day as well. Every year there's talk of staying on after the Friday, but in recent memory this has never actually happened. 5 days straight of climbing and staying at the hut is normally enough to sate the rat.

The CIC hut is basic. It has a kitchen, toilets, running water and drying room, but no shower. For details on facilities, and the hut more generally, see https://www.smc.org.uk/huts/cic.

All gear and food needs to be taken up on foot from the Ben Nevis North Face Car Park which takes around 2hrs 30 mins and is a real slog. But once you're there, there are relatively short walk-ins to all the climbs on the North Face.

Early march is typically a good time for ice routes on Ben Nevis so you're likely to get more out of this meet if you're happy on this surface and can climb at least Scottish grade III, but there are enough easier routes to fill a week also. This meet is not recommended for those that favour winter walking as options for that activity are very limited.

The cost of a bed in the hut is £26 p.p.p.n. The full cost of £130 is payable on sign up. Unfortunately due to high demand for the CIC hut in the winter season the Scottish Mountaineering Club cannot offer refunds in the event of cancellation. If you need to cancel your place then please find someone else to take it and transfer you the money.

Guidebook: Scottish Winter Climbs - SMC (available in paperback or to download on the Rockfax app)

Scottish Winter Climbs West - Scottish Mountaineering Club

Travel to Ben Nevis: The drive is about 10 hours from London and can easily be done in a day.

Our annual meet at the Kelynack campsite with the affable Francis. Twinkling granite in the sunshine above a turquoise ocean, climbs steeped in history and stature, clifftop paths and white sand beaches, Cornish pasties, palm trees, and maybe the occasional pirate. 18 spaces booked in the caravans and unlimited camping as usual.

Bank holiday climbing on the sea cliffs of the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast — finest limestone in the country.

Pembroke is an excellent destination for climbers of all skill levels, and offers a good opportunity to those looking to develop their skills or just get back to form.

For those new to Pembroke, there is a good introduction to the area on UKC — https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/destinations/beginners_pembroke-10261.

Campsite TBC

Staying at our club hut in Eryri which has 16 spaces and we've also booked 12 spaces at the Vagabonds' Mountaineering Club hut 2 mins walk up the road.

The first 16 people to sign up will be in Fronwydyr, the rest in the Vagabonds' hut.

The Vagabonds hut has alpine style sleeping platforms, a living room, and well equipped kitchen and bathroom

There'll be plenty of BBQs and charcoal at Fronwydyr for everyone to use ( including the honorary Vagabonds! ). Just bring some food to cook and whatever you want to drink.

Hut fees can be paid after the meet in the following ways:
Fronwydyr - via the payments page on the LMC website.
Vagabonds hut (£10 pppn) - via bank transfer to the Vagabonds club account. Details are in the sign-in book in their hut.

The Misty Isle beckons for another LMC adventure, our 3rd in a row.

The first 9 beds reserved are now gone, so participants will now have to reserve their own bed at the hostel or find alternative accommodation. There’s also the Glenbrittle Memorial Hut a minute’s drive away, and the Glenbrittle campsite at the end of the valley. Just remember your midge nets!

The youth hostel is well situated with a beach and the famous Fairy Pools nearby, and has parking and a drying room on site.

There will be opportunities for walking into famous sites such as Corrie Lagan, as well as fantastic climbs on the Cioch as well as the Cuillin Ridge itself.

Cost of accommodation is £28 pppn. The full cost (£168) is payable on sign up.

Book early to avoid disappointment - and don’t forget your midge nets!

CANCELLATION TERMS

Although the hostel does offer refunds for individual bookings as long as cancelled 24h or more before arrival, due to the charge this incurs, we strongly recommend finding someone to take your place on the meet instead.

Our annual endurance challenge at Fronwydyr. Returning for its 31st year!

Start and finish from the hut, climbing all 14 peaks over 3,000ft in North Wales. It is a monster day out, but there should be plenty of daylight. The moon phase in Wales will be a Waxing Crescent. Complete the challenge in under 15 hours, and you'll get a bottle of champers.

A successful Champagne Challenge also requires team support to rescue the exhausted. Anyone interested in assisting, please let the meet steward know.

Fingers crossed for good weather and maximum daylight during the longest day of the year.

Some insights on the challenge can be viewed here.

Staying at the Alpine Club's George Starkey Hut in Patterdale, at the foot of Helvellyn.

22 bunks booked for Friday 28th to Monday 31st August

£21 per person per night.

Bookings are non-refundable, but if you need to drop out you're welcome to find someone else to take your place and reimburse you the hut fees directly.

Participants are welcome to stay an extra day or so either side of the meet if they want. Please let the meet steward know if you do this and we can arrange an additional payment to the Alpine Club for any extra nights.

Activities: Climbing, Scrambling, Bouldering, Hiking, Swimming,

Guidebooks:

Trad: Rockfax - Lake District Climbs
Sport: Rockfax - Northern Limestone

Travel Notes: Possible to take a direct train from London Euston to Penrith. It takes 3 to 4 hours one way depending on the service.

A Whatsapp group for the meet will be added to the LMC Whatsapp Community in due course so that participants can add themselves. We can't add a link here for data security reasons.

This meet it best suited to experienced winter climbers.

5 Nights at the CIC hut situated at the foot of the North Face of Ben Nevis. The UK's premier winter climbing crag and home to a huge range of routes including many classics!

The hut is booked from the Sunday to the Friday morning so it's recommended to travel up on the Saturday (15th Feb) and then use Sunday to walk up to the hut with food and gear for the week and ideally do a climb that day as well

The CIC hut is basic. It has a kitchen, toilets, running water and drying room, but no shower. For details on facilities, and the hut more generally, see https://www.smc.org.uk/huts/cic.

All gear and food needs to be taken up on foot from the Ben Nevis North Face Car Park which takes around 2hrs 30 mins and is a real slog. But once you're there, there are relatively short walk-ins to all the climbs on the North Face.

Late Feb is slightly earlier that previous years, however the hut is in high demand and already booked out. This time of year is typically a good time for ice routes on Ben Nevis so you're likely to get more out of this meet if you're happy on this surface and can climb at least Scottish grade III. This meet is not recommended for those that favour winter walking as options for that activity are very limited.

The cost of a bed in the hut is £28 p.p.p.n. The full cost of £140 is payable on sign up. Unfortunately due to high demand for the CIC hut in the winter season the Scottish Mountaineering Club cannot offer refunds in the event of cancellation. If you need to cancel your place then please let the meet steward know asap. They can help find someone else to take your place (who will transfer you the money), though replacements aren't guaranteed and you will be liable for the costs if replacements can't be found.

Guidebook: Scottish Winter Climbs - SMC (available in paperback or to download on the Rockfax app)

Scottish Winter Climbs West - Scottish Mountaineering Club

Travel to Ben Nevis: The drive is about 10 hours from London and can easily be done in a day.

Please reach out to the meet steward (Will Osborn) if you have any questions prior to signing up.