Description
(Click on the 'Events' button to see upcoming events and trips.)
We are Bristol University's oldest and most experienced club dedicated to all pursuits of climbing!
UBMC caters to climbers of all abilities.
'Outdoor Land Adventure Society of the Year' 22/23
Never climbed before?
Climbing is an exhilarating sport that takes many different forms - there's something for everyone to fall in love with. Meet us at the gorge for our beginner sessions where you can learn the very basics of roped climbing, then build your skill with our weekly Redpoint sessions, where you will be given support and guidance from our experienced committee. Climbing is unique in allowing you to problem solve and compete against yourself and with friends - all whilst enjoying the great outdoors (or our local gyms!)
Climbed before?
Join the club and you will gain access to a large community of keen and psyched climbers. Come to our socials and meet friends who you can climb regularly with. This can really help to push your climbing grade. Throughout the year we have regular casual climbing sessions as well as training sessions, you also have the opportunity to compete for the club in BUCS.
What else do we offer?
- Weekend trips across the country to outdoor climbing locations, including the Lake District, the Peak District, and Portland.
- Loads of social events, including multiple bar crawls. We also offer sober socials regularly! Our socials are generally held on Thursdays.
- No Gear, No Problem! Gain access to a large gear store catering to all climbing disciplines.
- Free roped climbing instruction from trained committee members on Wednesdays.
- Try the whole range of climbing pursuits, we embrace bouldering, sport climbing, trad climbing, deep water soloing and mountaineering.
- Summer trips to Europe (with the chance to finally do some sport climbing!)
- Meet motivated climbers to help you improve.
- Casual climbing sessions throughout the week. No commitment necessary - come to as much or as little as you want.
- Climb for the UBMC! Each year the club competes in BUCS against university clubs across the UK, in Varsity against UWE, and participates in other bouldering competitions.
- Membership to the British Mountaineering Council (Usually costing £25). This gives you access to insurance so you can climb outdoors with peace of mind as well as discounts to Cotswold, Snow and Rock, and many more! Remember to fill out the BMC sign up form to ensure you have access, otherwise you will not be covered.
- Support from the club to help access financial aid (Activity hardship fund, Spen fund and help to access subsidised courses like Brownhill Memorial Fund and Conville course).
- Receive weekly emails with information on events to come.
All this for just £39…
Meet the 2025/2026 Committee!
- Joe Bidie (President) - Talk to me about membership or any general queries.
- Erin Leathers (Vice President + Equality and Diversity) - Talk to me if you'd like to know how to get access to climbing, if you have any concerns or suggestions for how we can make the club more inclusive!
- Zaid Muna (Secretary) - Talk to me about BMC insurance.
- Zac Wood (Treasurer) - Talk to me about any money-related inquiries including grants and financial aid.
- James Ridley (Gear Secretary) - Talk to me about loaning out gear from our comprehensive gear store.
- Eliot McCambridge (Indoor Training Secretary) - Talk to me about indoor training and queries about Redpoint Wednesdays + TCA/ Flashpoint Mondays.
- Leo Donaldson (Outdoor Training Secretary) - Talk to me about training and skills relating to outdoor climbing (bouldering, sport and trad).
- Jojo Stopford (Competition Secretary) - Talk to me about getting involved in Varsity or BUCS.
- Tom Headington (Social Secretary) - Talk to me about UBMC socials!
- Kate Wells (Social Secretary) - Talk to me about UBMC socials!
- Seb McCarten (Outreach Secretary) - Talk to me if you'd like to sponsor our club (or know someone who would!)
- Matt Cairns (Trip Secretary) - Talk to me about any questions you have about our weekend and day trips.
- Tom Rapley (Webmaster) - Talk to me if you have any queries or suggestions for our website.
- Evie Jordan (Freshers Secretary) - Talk to me if you have any questions about getting involved with the society as a frehser.
- Ben Morgan (Postgrad Secretary) - Talk to me if you have any questions about getting involved with the society as a PHD or masters student.
- George Lawson (Alumni Secretary) - Talk to me if you have any questions about getting involved with the society as an alumni.
How to get in touch!
If you'd like to find out more about who we are and what we do, follow our Instagram and our Facebook page, join our WhatsApp group or send us an Email!
UBMC, UBES or Both!
UBMC and UBES are Bristol uni's two mountaineering clubs, each with slightly different focuses. UBMC does scrambling and winter mountaineering, but the main focus of our club and our trips is rock climbing. Other than the outdoor focus of our weekend trips, a lot of energy goes into training and climbing competitions. UBES also engages in activities such as hillwalking, scrambling, rock climbing, and winter mountaineering, with most of their trips being hiking and scrambling oriented. You don't have to choose, though! Plenty of people join both societies.
Remember that you only need to pay for BMC (British Mountaineering Council) membership once and this gives you insurance for all outdoor activities - so contact our Secretary or Treasurer if you already have BMC membership through another club!
Terms and conditions
Click here to view terms and conditions
Membership Fee Inclusions
The membership fee includes BMC Club Membership, which can be upgraded to full BMC membership for a reduced fee. In order to provide this membership, UBMC shares data with the BMC.
Club trips are run on a just-about-profit basis to cover the costs of replacing old gear. Depending on where we're going and for how long, a trip can cost anywhere from £5 to £50 including: transportation, accommodation, breakfasts and a dinner on the Saturday.
Sessions at Bristol walls typically require membership for the wall alongside an entry fee. These fees vary depending on the wall. Typically about £10 for the yearly membership / registration (though some have lifetime registration), and £5 for entry each session. Any gear required can be borrowed from the club though our resources do tend to be stretched at the beginning of terms.
Service Standards
All Club or Society members can expect to receive:
- The opportunity to attend regular meetings, events, activities, trips and socials as arranged.
- The opportunity to stand for a committee position or vote in their elections (Bristol students only).
- For Sports Club – to attend regular training sessions and have the opportunity to be selected for the teams.
Code of Conduct
When joining a club or society you are agreeing to abide by the constitution, general rules, regulations and policies of University of Bristol Students’ Union and also the Club or Society Code of Conduct which sets out the level of behaviour & discipline expected of all Club & Society members.
Refund Policy
Any customer who pays for a membership subscription to a Bristol SU Society, Sports Club, Student Media and initiatives has a 14 day cooling off period from the time and date of purchase during which they have the right to cancel the subscription and receive a full refund. If you do decide to cancel within the 14 days, Bristol SU will refund your payment within a further 30 days of the cancellation. To request a refund please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk
Data sharing (Sports Club members only)
Please be aware that Bristol SU may share data relating to the members of its sports clubs with the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health (a department of the University). This information may be used for the purposes of communicating direct with these members and/or to cross-reference against SEH's Sports Pass membership records.
As part of Bristol SU's membership of British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Bristol SU may have to share data on to its sports clubs members so BUCS can, from time to time, communicate with these members.
Data sharing (Societies members only)
If you're joining one of the societies listed below please be aware that your name and email address will be shared with Bristol Hub for the purpose of keeping you up to date with their activities through their email “The Week”:
AIESEC Bristol, AMICUS Bristol, Anti-Slavery Society, Bristol Feminists, Bristol Friends of MSF, Bristol Marrow, Bristol Social Enterprise Society, Bristol Student Action for Refugees, Bristol University Amnesty International, Conservation Group, Bristol University Oxfam Group, Bristol University Sustainability Team, Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad, Engineers Without Borders, Howard League for Penal Reform Student Society, International Affairs Society, Medsin Bristol, Model United Nations, and Vegetarian and Vegan Society.
For more information on Bristol Hub visit: http://www.bristolhub.org.
If you do not want your details shared with the Hub please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk.
These terms shall be governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. Nothing in these terms shall exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.
