The Pinnacle Club Centenary Project, supported by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and in partnership with the Mountain Heritage Trust and the British Library, aims to preserve and share the rich history of the Pinnacle Club through voices, images, films, events and this website.
The project provides the opportunity for the women of the Pinnacle Club to tell their stories to a wider audience, rebalancing a narrative which is primarily about men, and spotlighting women’s longstanding involvement in climbing and mountaineering. We hope it will inspire people of all backgrounds and ages, particularly women, to see how climbing and the outdoors can bring physical and mental health benefits.
Film trailer: “A Woman’s Place”, a funny, heartwarming and honest conversation with The Pinnacle Club. Winner of the People's Choice Award at the 2021 Kendal Mountain Festival.
Short film: “100 Years of the Pinnacle Club.” Extracts of interviews conducted with members of the Pinnacle Club during 2020, combined with archive footage and photos.
Explore our history
The Pinnacle Club – the UK’s only national rock-climbing club for women – was founded in 1921 to “foster the independent development of rock climbing amongst women and bring together those interested in the pursuit”.
A summary of notable moments from the Pinnacle Club’s first century, from the club’s inauguration through to the present day.
Since the founding of the Club in 1921, Pinnacle Club members have been making first and first female ascents around world.
The 100 years of the Club has seen women of all abilities and backgrounds enjoy all sorts of climbing and mountaineering,
![PC-Bosigran-Jessie_Leong-[IMG_0152]a.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e30984cd4be6126d4f602a7/1614717961831-WOXW04O8VOG2Z2Q6O37Z/PC-Bosigran-Jessie_Leong-%5BIMG_0152%5Da.jpg)
The connection between climbers and their environment has been there from the start. Climbing gets us close to nature.
When the Pinnacle Club was founded, women were very much a minority in the outdoors, let alone climbing. Then as now, the club provided an opportunity for women to develop skills in the mountains and in life.
Our members are what have always made the Pinnacle Club special. We profile some of the women we’ve most admired over the last century.
The hut at Cwm Dyli, nestled beneath Snowdon, has been the Pinnacle Club’s mountain getaway since 1932.
Some of the challenges to balancing climbing and life haven’t changed much over the last century – eg. juggling work or family . Others — finding the right clothing, having good transport — have become significantly easier.
How does anyone ever get started in rock climbing? It's a good question, and the answer has changed over the last century.
Listen to Pinnacle Club members describe their experiences with climbing, the Club and more.
What’s next
The Pinnacle Club has never stood still. Learn about our vision for the future.
The Pinnacle Club on Instagram
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund