Sheffield Mountaineering

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About us

Welcome to Sheffield Mountaineering. We are a long established and very friendly group for people who enjoy adventures in the mountains and hills of the UK and beyond. 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.

We are best known for our scrambling activities and we also have a vibrant rock climbing scene. Other pursuits we offer include winter mountaineering, 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 experienced and knowledgeable leaders.

Our activities happen with a relaxed friendly vibe and we like to see ourselves as a big happy family rather than a group of strangers thrown together. Many lasting friendships have been formed through people meeting at our events. We welcome new members and first timers and always try to make our group a safe and comfortable space for anybody who is socially awkward or vulnerable in any way.

Though very experienced and accomplished mountaineers, our organisers are all modest, easy going and very approachable. We take great pleasure in helping beginners improve and develop their mountaineering skills.

We are a proudly diverse, inclusive and multi cultural group and welcome people of every race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity etc etc.

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 such as unpaid time off work for those of us organisers who are self employed. Running this group and facilitating quality mountain outings for people with a shared interest is quite a money pit so if those benefiting from our activities can help out in some small way it is always very welcome. Any money paid is merely a donation towards our costs in bringing like minded people together. You are NOT purchasing any product or service such as guidance, insurance or an experience etc. Please read the notes below and we 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. We will do everything possible to keep you safe but we are NOT responsible for any accidents you may have. By signing up and coming to any of our events, you agree to all of this.

Please also 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."

Featured event

Mountaineering in Scotland, Cairngorms and Ben Nevis

Sat, Sep 12 · 7:00 PM BST

Nevisport, 100 Grampian Road, Aviemore, GB

After three fabulous winter trips to The Cairngorms with Sheffield Mountaineering, it’s now time to leave the axes and crampons at home and enjoy everything these magnificent mountains have to offer in summer conditions. As an added bonus there will also be the option of a trip to Ben Nevis to scale the mountain by the North Face Ledge Route.

The Cairngorms (Aviemore)

Meet at: Outside the Nevisport shop, 100 Grampian Road, Aviemore PH22 1RH. The plan is to travel up on Saturday 12th then meet socially for an hour or two in the evening before the week’s activities begin the following morning. We will be leaving to travel back home on the morning of Saturday 19th. 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 1000 metres in altitude. The range contains five of the six highest peaks in the UK namely Ben Macdui (the second highest at 1309 metres), the mighty Braeriach (1296 metres), Cairn Toul (1291 metres), Sgor An Lochain Uaine (1258 metres) and the eponymous Cairn Gorm (1245 metres).

If all that isn’t enough, The Cairngorms also offer a plethora of classic scrambles and high quality, easy grade, multi pitch rock climbs. Superb routes such as Fiacaill Ridge, Angel’s Ridge, Ptarmigan Ridge, Afterthought Arete, Pygmy Ridge and Lairig Ridge can all be found here along with many more rocky delights. The area also boasts some of the finest scenery in the British Isles along with a myriad of flora and fauna. Even in poor weather, lower level walks in the vicinity still provide plenty entertainment.

All activities will be on offer, peak bagging hikes, scrambling, rock climbing and anything else you might prefer.

As the aforementioned highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis needs no introduction. Tens of thousands of pilgrims reach its 1345 metre summit every year and virtually all of them do so by the Pony Track (the main tourist path). Very few venture round to the other side of the mountain and on to its imposing North Face but that is exactly what we plan to do. Our route of ascent will be via The Ledge Route, which follows an implausibly amenable line up that towering North Face. It is a long and sustained scramble with some dramatic positions but is never overly technical. (This one will be weather dependent and will require a 7am departure from our base in Aviemore).

Feel free to do what ever you want on any given day. It is common practice on these trips to split into smaller groups/pairs so everybody gets the chance to do something they are happy with.

Difficulty: Strenuous but non technical Hiking, Scrambling of mostly Grade 1 and Grade 2 (Fiacaill Ridge/Ledge Route), possibly some Grade 3. Rock climbing of Moderate and Diff grades, possibly harder if people fancy it.

For more information on scrambling grades see:

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/understanding-scrambling-grades

Experience Required: Some previous climbing or mountain scrambling experience with our group is essential.

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: A few of us have already booked a holiday cottage just outside Aviemore. If you haven't already paid for a place in this cottage you will need to arrange your own accommodation.
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 £12.00 (£7.00 for Premium Members) towards our Meet Up site fees and other costs of organising this trip that will be great, thanks.