How to support novice club members | Club training weekend

This popular training weekend, returning June 2026, is aimed at experienced BMC club members who support their less-experienced members whilst they gain experience, develop skills, and become competent climbers, walkers and mountaineers in their own right. This weekend event takes place at Plas y Brenin in Eryri (Snowdonia), and it's only £95 to attend including accommodation, instruction and most meals.

When and where?

When: Friday 19th June - Sunday 21st June 2026

Where: Plas y Brenin, Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0ET

What is covered over the training weekend?

The weekend will include theory sessions on the principles of teaching and learning skills in the outdoors, issues around duty of care, insurance implications and good practice all delivered by experts in their field.  The majority of the weekend will consist of practical sessions on the teaching of climbing, hill walking, scrambling and navigation skills.

The course fee includes shared accommodation at Plas y Brenin for the weekend, breakfast on Saturday & Sunday mornings, three-course meal on the Saturday evening, all group kit and all instruction.

When booking your place you will need to choose which practical sessions you wish to participate in.  The four choices are:

Saturday afternoon: Single pitch rock climbing, & Sunday: Single pitch rock climbing

Saturday afternoon: Single pitch rock climbing, & Sunday: Scrambling

Saturday afternoon: Hill walking, & Sunday: Scrambling

Saturday afternoon: Hill walking, & Sunday: Hill walking

On Saturday morning everyone will be together doing indoor sessions. The content of the practical sessions will be tailored to the needs of the participants, but you can expect it to cover

Saturday (afternoon)
Single Pitch Rock Climbing - teaching movement skills, footwork, balance, crag safety, wall to rock
Hill-walking - teaching navigation skills

Sunday (all day)
Single Pitch Rock Climbing - teaching safe belaying, supervising lead climbers, crag choice
Hill-walking - more advanced navigation, group management, route choice, safety
Scrambling - route choice, group management, safety

What's included in the price of the weekend?

The price includes:

• All instruction

• Group equipment

• Bunkhouse-style accommodation on site on Friday and Saturday nights

• Breakfast on Saturday & Sunday mornings

• Tea and cakes after the practical sessions on Saturday & Sunday

• Evening meal on the Saturday evening.

• Free parking on site

Not included:

• Personal kit – it is expected that you will provide your own kit appropriate for the practical sessions out on the hills/crags.

• Evening meal on Friday - meals can be purchased from the PyB Bar (use your BMC member discount!).

• Lunches – packed lunches can be purchased from PyB

Total cost for the weekend is £95. This rate is significantly subsidised by the BMC. All prices include all instruction, group equipment, tea and cakes after the practical session on Saturday & Sunday plus a three-course meal on the Saturday evening.  The accommodation is for Friday and Saturday night on a self-catering basis in the bunkhouse.

En-suite rooms may be available in the main house for you to book if you would prefer private accommodation - please contact PyB directly to do this (www.pyb.co.uk / 01690 720214) and remember to ask about the BMC member discount! The weekend fee is the same regardless of whether you chose overnight accommodation elsewhere.

Some feedback from course participants

"An excellent course - interesting and informative. Great staff"

"A very well presented and useful course.  Holding it at PyB using their instructors was the icing on the cake.  Very good."

"All round this was an excellent event that far exceeded my expectations.  We can return to the club with new levels of optimism.  Many thanks for organising it."

Please note

• It is expected that all participants are competent in the skills appropriate to the practical session options that they have chosen.
• You must be a current member of a BMC-affiliated club to attend this course
• Places on this course are not guaranteed until payment has been received.
• Cancellations within 14 days of the course starting will not be eligible for a refund.
• Cancellations 15-28 days prior to the course starting will get a 50% refund.
• Cancellations more than 28 days prior to the course starting get a full refund.
• In case of cancellation we can sometimes transfer your booking to another course if you wish and there is space.
• If the course is cancelled by the BMC a full refund will be offered or the option to transfer your booking on to another course, whichever you prefer.
• For queries about this programme contact Jane Thompson via email or phone: jane@thebmc.co.uk / 07885 910606