- Enjoy hiking and want to get out more?
- Experienced hill walker?
- Complete beginner and not sure where to start?
- Ticking off Munros, Wainrights, Corbetts, Hewitts, Ethels etc ?
- We have something for you! – click events to see what’s going on.
Friendly, national club runs hiking and mountaineering trips in the UK and abroad. Complete beginners to experienced mountaineers welcome.
- What we do
- Where we go
- Where we stay
- What happens on a trip?
- Join us!
- Review from a new member
- FAQs
- Contact Us
“Just wanted to say thank you all very much for making me feel so welcome…thoroughly enjoyed it and will be joining you all again” Jayne W.
What we do
We normally meet up once a month. Our activities include:
Where we go
We regularly visit Snowdonia/Eryri, the Lake District, Brecon Beacons, the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales. We also go to Dartmoor, the Shropshire Hills, the Gower Peninsula and the Long Mynd.
Scotland is covered with a Winter week in February and a Spring week in May. Areas visited include Glencoe, Skye, Arran, the Cairngorms and Knoydart.
There is also an annual trip abroad. In previous years we’ve visited Mallorca, the French Alps, Austrian Alps, Pyrenees and the Costa Blanca.
Click Club events to see what’s going on.
Where we stay
We book a very wide range of accommodation. At one end of the spectrum we use remote ‘huts’ with basic facilities. At the other end, we visit luxury lodges with twin rooms, wifi and ensuites. Most accommodation is somewhere in the middle. Full details of the accommodation and cost are always given on the programme.
What happens on a trip?
Most trips are for a weekend although we run day walks and week long trips as well. A couple of weeks before a trip members will receive details of how to get to the accommodation, what to bring etc. There will also be a list of who else is going so that car share can be arranged and a contact number for any questions. A WhatsApp group will be set up to share plans and photos. You can join this or not as you wish.
A typical weekend then starts with everyone arriving on Friday evening. Members often get together to cook a meal at the accommodation or book tables at a nearby pub.
Unlike many clubs we cater together and eat as a group during the weekend. This is not only more sociable but saves queues for the cookers and gets us out quicker.
On Saturday morning we all have breakfast together followed by a short meeting. Members who have offered to coordinate a route describe their plans and other members sign up as they wish. On any trip there is usually a choice of groups to go with. Whatever the route, the aim is to have a sociable day on the hills and no-one gets left behind!
At the end of the day we have a meal together cooked by volunteers. There is a vegetarian and non-veg option with starter and dessert. There’s wine and beer as well. Saturday evening is a great opportunity for a chat about the day’s walks or to catch up on other news. Sunday proceeds in the same way and we generally leave late afternoon.
That just leaves planning for the next time to go away with the Club!
Join us!
Some of the questions we’ve had from people checking out the Club can be found here at FAQs but feel free to send any new ones.
We pride ourselves on being a friendly and welcoming club. You can come along on your own without worrying about it. We have couples, many single members and some members whose partners are not interested in hills and mountains. You can come to every event or just one. Each time you will be welcomed by like-minded people.
You must be over 18 to join. Click subscription rates to see the current cost for new members.
We’re a very friendly and welcoming club but if you decide we’re not what you’re looking for within three months we’ll refund your membership fee in full. We want you to be happy!
As well as the opportunity to get out with a group of like-minded people, membership includes affiliation to the BMC (British Mountaineering Council) which gives a number of benefits:
- subsidized training courses;
- £10 million Civil Liability insurance;
- discounts with outdoor retailers
Review from a new member
“What an absolutely awesome week in the Vanoise Alps region with the Gentian Mountaineering & Hill Walking Club . . .
The accommodation had superb mountain views and was quite luxurious and it was quite unexpected and a very nice surprise.
As a new member I was a bit apprehensive to spend an entire week with strangers, but upon arrival l was well received, and immediately felt a part of the club. The whole week was exceptionally well planned in all respects.
All the walking routes were also well planned and gave great consideration for all levels of walkers.
I was very happy to be able to get to 3000 mtrs on my final walk. That is the highest I have ever been and was a great experience.
I would not hesitate to go again on another weeks adventure with the Gentian Mountaineering & Hill Walking Club.
So for any potential new prospective members, then what are you waiting for? Get your boots on and give them a try like I did. Remember nothing happens until you do something!”
Carol A.
Contact Us
All pictures by Club members.