About Us
This page contains all the essential stuff you need to know about us. If you have other questions, you might find the answers in our FAQ, or you can contact us.
Membership
BMC Affiliation
Mountaineering and Hill Walking
Climbing
Mountain Biking
How to book on a trip
What to expect...
The club was founded in 1991 when a group of friends decided that there were enough like-minded people in the area to sustain a club dedicated to mountain activities.
Click here for our Constitution (PDF format).
Click here for the Club rules (PDF format).
A wide range of trips is organised for the year's programme, covering a variety of outdoor pursuits (usually uphill against the wind). Events are mostly organised and run by members of the committee, who book up the accommodation, find out who wants to go, and collect any money.
Membership
Membership of NMC is £20. This cost covers affiliated BMC membership, and you'll receive the BMC magazine ‘Summit’ if you join in January.
You’ll also make some brilliant friends and get out more!
Membership is for 12 months starting 1st January. A reduction in the subscription is offered to those joining later in the year.
You can join on a Tuesday evening - you just have to fill in a form. Prospective members are welcome to come along to a Tuesday evening meet and/or a weekend trip before deciding if they wish to join.
Download a membership application form (Word format).
BMC Affiliation
Cadir Idris, 2003
The club has been affiliated to the British Mountaineering Council since its inception. The BMC represents climbers, hillwalkers and mountaineers and are actively promoting and protecting these activities. BMC membership provides liability and personal accident insurance cover whilst out in the hills. In addition to this cover, travel insurance specifically tailored to mountain activities is available from the BMC.
As an affiliated member of the BMC you are entitled to discounts at various gear shops - usually 10% (take your NMC membership card with you!). The club also has a 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor, which you get when you join.
Mountaineering and Hill Walking
From stretches of coastal path to winter mountaineering in Scotland and the Alps, there's something to suit every owner of a pair of walking boots. Check out the meets list to find out what's available on weekend trips, and also watch out for ad-hoc evening and Sunday walks.
Climbing
Climbing at the Waterside Centre, 2008
The drip of sweat, the burn of lactic, the gasp of fatigue, the scream of falling... NMC includes a number of climbers ranging from rookies to, dare we say, veterans (they'd probably prefer the description "elite"...). Unfortunately no-one from NMC is suitably qualified to teach beginners, but there are courses available at The Link in Swindon.
Wednesday is climbing night at Swindon Link Centre or Brookes Uni, and some climbers also go to the Waterside Centre in Newbury on Monday nights. In the summer months, weather, war, famine, pestilence etc. permitting, fresh air climbs are organised on an ad hoc basis, usually via email.
Mountain Biking
Summer cycle rides, on road and off, are planned occasionally in the local area. The format of the rides is to cycle for a couple of hours, then have a refreshing glass of beer in a pub not too far from Newbury.
Petite Aiguille Verte, 2005
How to book on a trip
Trip details are are posted in the Meets section of the website, and also on the bulletin board. There is also a monthly newsletter sent out by email, which lists what's coming up and gives you the opportunity to email trip organisers for more information.
You can book either by replying to the bulletin board post, or by talking to the trip organiser on a Tuesday. Note that some trips need to be booked up well in advance, i.e. foreign trips or huts.
The organiser will take deposits (if required) and coordinate lift sharing for the group.
What to expect...
Portland, 2005
Trips start on a Friday evening, when we run the gauntlet of the British motorway system to get to our destination (which is usually the nearest pub to our accommodation). Saturday's activities are sorted out on Friday night - depending what's on offer in the area, there might be one or more walks, an excursion to scale the best local climbing routes on offer, mountain biking... you get the idea. It's entirely up to you what you do. Sunday is then organised along the same lines, before we make our way back to Newbury.
Catering arrangements on the trips are flexible. Summer time is normally camp stove and barbecue season, whilst the bunkhouse, YHA or cottage trips occasionally feature a communal meal or pub food. Bring food for breakfast and packed lunches though.