Ticked off the easy classics and want to take your scrambling skills up a notch? Supported by DMM and the Association of Mountaineering Instructors, our new video series aims to give you the knowledge you need.

Watch the new BMC TV scrambling channel

Often defined as the hazy middle ground between hill walking and rock climbing, scrambling is the art of moving among spiky, steep or exposed terrain. While scrambling usually doesn’t present big technical difficulties, it may still come with a sizeable dollop of potential peril.

Some of the most popular days out in the British mountains are ‘easy’ Grade 1 scrambles. Despite some knee-trembling sections, the likes of Striding Edge, Sharp Edge, Crib Goch or Jack’s Rake can typically be attempted without ropes and protection.

Above this, for Grade 2 and 3 scrambles, the line between scrambling and rock climbing becomes a lot more blurred, and the use of protection becomes more advisable. There is a popular misconception that scrambling is a milder and less dangerous version of rock climbing - ‘climbing-lite’. But scrambling can be actually be the more serious activity, particularly in the higher grades, mainly because people typically attempt it with less protection than rock climbing or none at all.

So to give you an insight into the skills and equipment you need, we have teamed up with DMM and the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) to bring you this brand-new series of video tutorials.

In six parts, instructor Rob Johnson will take you through all the potentially daunting stuff you need to know about ropes, racks, and how to strike the right balance between speed and safety.

Steve Long, Development Officer for AMI said: “We want to empower people to make their own judgements on when and where to get a rope out when scrambling. It’s great to team up with the BMC and DMM on this series which gives the tools to help people have fun safely under their own steam and make decisions for themselves. We’re hoping to make more films in the future including a series of winter mountaineering skills.”

Happy scrambling!

A very big thanks to DMM and AMI for their help producing these new films. 

Watch our series of scrambling skills videos:

READ MORE: Tips and safety guidance for scrambling

• Hill Skills: Scrambling: BMC tips for scrambling, including guidance on grades, equipment and hazards

• Aim High: Four tips to fight your fear of heights: Are you a hill walker wanting to tackle steeper terrain, but nervous about heights? Here are some steps you can take to fight the fear.
   
• View the BMC TV scrambling channel

GO ON A COURSE: Learn scrambling from professionals

• BMC Active Outdoors: The BMC's Active Outdoors courses include  affordable scrambling weekends for beginners at the famous Plas y Brenin mountain centre in Snowdonia. A great way to learn about the skills and equipment you need.

JOIN THE BMC: 5 reasons hill walkers should join the BMC

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WATCH: What does the BMC do for hill walkers?

GET THE KNOWLEDGE: BMC resources for hill walkers

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