Do I need to have any climbing experience to join the CMC?

No, you do not need to have climbed before. To climb at the indoor wall however you do need to pass a safety test which includes tying-in and belaying. If this is something you need to learn please see The Lock’s ‘Learn to Climb’ courses. More information on this can be found on the New Members page.

Can my child (under-18) join the club?

We accept members of all ages however those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian member at all club activities. If your child is interested in learning to climb we recommend the National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes (NICAS) which is run at many climbing walls including The Lock, Harlow.

How much are club fees?

Club fees are £32 paid annually which includes a club membership to the BMC. If joining after July a reduced fee applies and there are reduced rates for concessions - please speak to us for details.

Do you run any trips that are not climbing oriented?

Throughout the year we run a few trips that are dedicated for hillwalking or mountaineering, these are normally at the beginning or end of the year. A large percentage of our members are keen climbers, so many of our trips are to areas with good climbing - but where there is good climbing you can bet you’ll find great hiking! Take a look at our upcoming meets page to see what we have planned.

What if the weather means we can’t go climbing on a club trip?

Unfortunately living in the UK means the weather doesn’t always play ball on our pre-planned club trips however, unless a weather warning is issued the trip will usually still go ahead! We’ll always strive to make the most of what we have available, whether that’s a soggy scramble, a moody walk or a more chill day at a new climbing wall with a coffee and a cake.