British Mountaineering Council announces 2027 membership fee update

As part of our commitment to transparency, we review membership fees annually and inform members of any changes by the end of September for the following year.

We know that many people continue to face financial pressures, so this year the BMC Board has taken the decision to use the lower Consumer Prices Index (CPI) figure, rather than the Retail Prices Index (RPI) figure we would normally use, when reviewing membership fees for 2027. This helps us to keep any increase as low as possible while continuing to manage rising operating costs and invest in the services and support we provide for members.

From 1 January 2027, the annual Individual Membership fee will increase by £1.63, from £56.04 to £57.67.

We are also pleased to confirm that Family Membership fees will remain unchanged for 2027, helping to keep membership as accessible as possible for families.

A small increase has been applied to the other membership categories to help us manage rising operating costs while continuing to invest in the services, support and work that members value.

Membership fees are reviewed annually to ensure we can continue delivering value for members while protecting the long-term sustainability of the BMC.

WHAT YOUR MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS

Every membership directly supports the work we do on behalf of hill walkers, climbers and mountaineers across England and Wales, including:

• Campaigning for access to the places we love
• Protecting and restoring our natural environment
• Supporting climbing, hill walking and mountaineering communities
• Developing skills, training and safety standards
• Introducing more people to adventure activities
• Supporting the future success of competition climbing
• Giving a strong voice to our community nationally and locally

YOUR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

As a BMC member, you receive a range of valuable benefits, including:

• £15 million combined liability insurance
• £10,000 personal accident cover including physio and counselling cover
• Access to and support for national climbing competitions
• Outdoor retail discounts with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock, Lifesystems, Grangers, Rockfax, Cicerone, Pongoose Clipsticks – explore the full range of discount benefits here.
• Regular issues of Summit magazine
• Priority information about BMC events, campaigns and opportunities
• The knowledge that you are helping to protect access to wild places for future generations

Alongside member benefits, the BMC continues to provide a wide range of free resources for the wider outdoor community. Through our website, social channels and YouTube content, we share expert advice, inspiring stories, skills articles and route ideas to help people enjoy adventure safely and confidently.

As Paul Ratcliffe, BMC CEO, says:

"We're very grateful to those who continue to support us, particularly our members, who are at the heart of the British Mountaineering Council. Your membership supports activity across the organisation, introducing more people to hill walking, mountaineering and climbing, promoting safe practices, protecting our places, raising training standards and supporting our national competition climbing team."

If you have any questions about your membership or would like to learn more about the benefits available to you, please contact the Membership Services team.

Thank you for your continued support of the British Mountaineering Council.