The Wessex Mountaineering Club welcomes all climbers, mountaineers and hill-walkers. We have over 200 members, mostly from the Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire area. The club caters for all levels of ability, from beginners to experienced Alpinists.

The WMC has been established for fifty years. Following an informal meeting of five gentlemen in the Rose and Crown, Salisbury in December 1960, an inaugural walk took place on January 29th 1961 when 35 people walked, in bad weather conditions, along the cliffs from Durlston Head to St. Aldhelms Head and back. They were the nucleus of the club which was officially formed at Bishop Wordsworth′s School, Salisbury on February 16th.

It is a very active club with an extensive programme of meets, including:

• over 20 weekend meets a year, in areas such as North Wales and Pembrokeshire, Cornwall, the Lake District and the Peak District;
• local rock climbing in Swanage or Portland and walking meets throughout the area;
• weekly climbing wall meets in Wimborne and Southampton;
• annual meets in Scotland and the Alps.

The club has its own hut in North Wales, which is always available for use by club members. We also publish a newsletter, every few months, with details of upcoming meets as well as reports and pictures from previous club activities.

We are affiliated to the British Mountaineering Council. BMC benefits include third-party insurance, a free magazine and access to the huts of other affiliated clubs.

Congratulations to long term member and ex-president of the WMC, Scott Titt, on being elected President of the BMC in April this year.

Our FAQ has more information about the club.