This year, 2026, marks fifty years since Gwent Mountaineering Club was founded to foster mountaineering in Southeast Wales. Today, gwentmc offers runs a year‑round programme of hill days, mountain days and climbing meets across South and mid‑Wales, with regular trips further afield. Members pursue walking and climbing ambitions across the UK and beyond.
Peak‑bagging remains a favourite pastime. Many members work steadily through the Munros, Corbetts, Nuttalls, and even the Alps 4000s. Climbers chase classic Welsh trad routes, new South Wales sport climbs and long‑imagined lines abroad. So when someone asked how to celebrate the 50th anniversary, one voice said: “Organise 50 walks.” Another said: “Organise 50 climbs.” We agreed.
Those fifty walks became the 50 Peaks Grand Weekend: “Fifty peaks for fifty years”. The list covered big northern summits such as Yr Wyddfa, Cadair Idris, the Glyders, the Carneddau, the Rhinogs and the Nantlle Ridge. Also, it included southern favourites like Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Bannau Sir Gâr, the Llanbedr Horseshoe, Mynydd Maen, Twmbarlwm, Skirrid, Sugarloaf and Blorenge. Additionally, remote mid‑Wales added Pumlumon and Radnor Forest.
Members geared up. With one rule: take a summit selfie. Teams formed and claimed their peaks. Campsites were booked. Two members chose to wild‑camp. Anticipation grew. We hoped for decent weather.
The weekend arrived with high winds, rain and low cloud. For safety, we extended the event by several days. The extension ended in a heatwave. Typical Welsh weather!
The Club includes all ages and all types of mountaineers, so it was great to see two of the original founders join our youngest members, as well as a strong group of climbers. One climber joked: “Not too shabby us climbers showing we can walk — even where there’s no crag!”
Camaraderie shaped the whole event. Our WhatsApp thread buzzed with support, shared successes and good‑natured acceptance of tough decisions as bad weather swept across Wales.
In total, 54 members took part. They summited the 50 chosen peaks and several extras. Together, gwentmc walked 370 km (230 miles) and climbed 18,640 m (61,150 feet).
The 50 climbs? That idea became 50@50: Best Rock Climbs Across South Wales.