Open Mountains – Mountain Days for Community Groups

Open Mountains is something we're introducing at BHW Mountaineering because we want to make it a little easier for more people to experience a day in the mountains. Every other month, we're going to set aside one of our days and gift it to a community group, charity, voluntary organisation or other group that works with people who may not normally get the opportunity to spend time in the mountains. It's really as simple as that.

We spend a lot of our lives outdoors, and we know how much a day in the hills can give us. Sometimes it's the challenge of getting somewhere you weren't sure you could reach. Sometimes it's learning something new. Sometimes it's the conversations you have while you're walking and sometimes it's just being somewhere completely different for a few hours.

We also know that getting into the mountains isn't equally straightforward for everybody. There can be practical barriers. Cost can be one. Transport can be another. Not having the right equipment, not knowing where to go or simply never having had somebody around who spends time in the mountains can all make the outdoors feel much less accessible than it actually is.

Confidence can be a barrier too. If you've never walked into the mountains before, it's quite a big thing to decide to do for the first time.

Why are we doing it?

Because BHW Mountaineering isn't just about running courses and adventure days. We started BHW because we genuinely love being outdoors and we love introducing other people to it.

And as the business grows, we want sharing that opportunity to be part of what we do from the beginning, not something we decide to add years down the line. Importantly, we're not expecting Open Mountains to change the world - it's one day, every other month, but for the people who come with us, we hope it might be a really good one.

Maybe somebody discovers that they love walking. Maybe somebody finds out they're much more capable than they thought. Maybe a group goes home wanting to come back under their own steam. Or maybe everyone gets wet, eats far too many biscuits, laughs a lot and goes home tired.

All of those sound like pretty good outcomes to us.

What will we actually do?

Every other month, we'll work with a group or organisation to put together a day outdoors in North Wales.

There isn't a fixed Open Mountains itinerary because we don't think there should be.
We'll talk to the organisation about the people coming, what they'd enjoy, what they'd like to experience and what would be appropriate for them.

For one group, that might mean a beautiful valley walk and learning a little navigation along the way. Another might want to reach their first mountain summit. It could include some scrambling or outdoor skills, or it might simply be a chance to walk, explore, talk, laugh and spend a day somewhere spectacular.

It doesn't matter whether anybody has been in the mountains before. We'll provide the mountain knowledge and experience. They just need to come along.

How do groups get involved?

We'll be talking to community groups, charities and organisations across North Wales and beyond, but we'd also really like people to approach us.

There isn't a complicated application process and we're not interested in asking organisations to justify why their group is worthy of a day outdoors.
Just tell us who you are, a little about the people you work with and why you think they'd enjoy an Open Mountains day. Then we'll have a chat and see what we can put together.

That's Open Mountains. One day, every other month, set aside to share a little more of the outdoors with people who might not otherwise get the opportunity.

Because we think the mountains are worth sharing!