Meet FAQs
The Club organises simple accommodation, with the aim of getting a group of members in one place for a weekend of climbing and some socialising, hopefully with a group meal (where possible).
The meet description will highlight the experience level required for the area, however most meets are open to all skill levels and there are usually a good range routes suitable for all abilities.
If you have not climbed outdoors, please get in touch with the committee or other members. We run a series of training events each year for all levels of experience.
Climbing huts provide basic accommodation and could be described as filling the gap between a bothy and a hostel.
They usually have one or two shared sleeping areas and vary from cosy with hot showers to “off grid” - we will describe the facilities available in the meet description so that you’ll know what you’re signing up for!
On some meets we stay at a campsite instead of in a hut. Different campsites have different booking systems; some require group bookings to be made in advance in which case the club will make the booking. Others can be booked directly by members, in which case we contact the campsite to let them know a group is coming so that they can put us in the same area, then put the details of the campsite on the meet page so members can book with them directly. It is important to still sign up on the club website, as this lets us know who is coming and ensures that we have emergency contact details.
As with hut meets, we will provide information on campsite facilities on the meet description so that you’ll know what you’re signing up for! Please remember that we are sharing the campsite with other people and behave accordingly.
If you can no longer attend a meet, please let the meet secretary know so we know not to expect you. If the meet is full, the meet secretary can also check if there is a waitlist or help you publicise this with the rest of the club.
Please note – the club cannot offer refunds (you can find more information on the club’s policy on refunds and the reasons for these policies here: Club Policies & Guidance) and it is ultimately your responsibility to ‘sell’ your ticket to another club member if you’re no longer able to make a meet.
The UKC website lists all the crags in the area, and the majority around the UK. They also have a crag locator.
It is recommended to check the BMC Regional Access Directory (RAD) before climbing, this will have information on bird bans and other access information for your chosen crag.
We travel to most meets by car, as the parking is often limited at huts and crags, we ask members to share transport as much as possible.
If you need a lift or can offer spaces in your own car, please use the Facebook group or Discord channel to arrange this. (Details on how to join both of these forums can be found under My Membership.) Ultimately how the travel cost is shared is up to the driver of the car, but it’s usual to divide the cost evenly between the occupants.
If you don’t have a climbing partner - no problem! We organise meets to get people together and climb, there are several options: come to the wall (or the pub after), post a message on the club Facebook page or Discord channel - we usually have a dedicated one for each meet, or (if these don’t work) let us know so we can pair you up or make a threesome.
We don’t want people without a climbing partner to be put off, so if you are unsure that you have the necessary experience please get in touch with other members or the committee. Whilst we do not offer organised training at all meets, the more experienced climbers are often happy to pair up or make a threesome. “Seconding” routes is a great way of gaining experience, and the way a lot of us progress through the grades. If you’ve not climbed outside before, we organise beginners’ meets with training which are a great first step outside, and a good way to meet potential climbing partners.
Some of our meets may also include training events that are bookable separately - you must be booked onto a meet first though.
If this is your first trad meet then there are a few nice to have items that will make your life easier on your first meet. We have put together a handy quick-reference for some of the most important bits of gear - What to bring to your first trad meet - this isn't an exhaustive list and the club has gear that can be loaned.
If this is your first sport climbing meet then there are a few nice to have items that will make your life easier on your first meet. We have put together a handy quick-reference for some of the most important bits of gear - What to bring to a Sport meet - this isn't an exhaustive list and the club has gear that can be loaned.
Usually you will need to bring a sleeping bag, although do bear in mind that some huts are warmer than others! We will post on the meet description if bedding is provided. Most huts provide a foam mattress.
Some Huts have alpine style bunks (one big bunk), others have single bunk beds. Some have a mixture.
Members are generally required to provide their own food for meets, unless otherwise specified. Meet descriptions will provide information on nearby shops and cooking facilities.
Meet descriptions will also provide information on local pubs and we usually have at least one night eating out together.
Most of the huts and campsites we stay at have showers (although they are not necessarily hot) and flushing toilets, although you will need to bring your own towel etc.
Some huts do not have mains water or electricity, so filling a few bottles of drinking water before arrival is a good idea. We will make sure that this is clear on the meet page on the website where possible, if this is the case.
If the above doesn't answer your questions or you need further clarification on any issues then please get in touch and we will do our best to help. For specific meets, we may direct your question to the people leading that event so please bear with us if we don't get back to you immediately.
Whether you were involved directly or witnessed a near-miss or incident involving an SCC member, you are encouraged to report this to us using our near-miss and incident reporting form. This includes incidents which occurred during or outside of official club meets and events.
This allows us to identify themes and areas where we may need to offer more support or training to our members. Individual submissions are kept confidential and will be reviewed by committee members to support our evolution as a mature and safe climbing club.