Annual membership costs £39.75 / reduced rate £33.25, however you can join as a free ‘interim’ member which lasts for up to 6 months for free. You must be 18 to join. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Membership Benefits
- Access to our events every month throughout the year
- Use of our club hut Muir Cottage, reciprocal club hut access
- Reduced cost training events and subsidised external training
- Membership of Mountaineering Scotland (additional benefits including insurance, magazine etc)
- Club newsletter (3x annually) and journal (every other year)
- Use of the Club Library at University of Aberdeen
- Discounted physiotherapy
- Outdoor equipment shop discounts
- Club Nation Trust membership card use
Types of Membership
Interim member
If you wish to attend a few meets (max 4) to see whether this is the club for you, you can join, for up to 6 months, as an Interim (guest) member. No subscription is required, just the normal fee for meet(s) that you attend. You can later progress to become an Associate or Ordinary member. Interim Members can stay at Muir Cottage and attend weekend meets and training courses but do not qualify for any member subsidies.
Associate member
This is for most people without extensive mountain experience joining. We encourage Associate members to gain experience and transfer to Ordinary membership. Those joining with substantial experience in the mountains may wish to consider Ordinary membership.
Ordinary member
For Ordinary membership, you need to have, in general terms, the experience and ability to look after yourself and lead one or two others in all conditions normally encountered on the Scottish hills. You should set out your experience on the application form, and be proposed and seconded by two Ordinary members who know you.
Club Subscriptions
The Club’s subscription year is the same as the Club’s financial year and runs from 1st October to 30th September each year.
The Club pays an affiliation fee to the MS for each active member. This fee includes the cost of Civil Liability Insurance (CLI) which covers the Club members, the Club Committee members and the Club itself.
Subscription rates to be collected on 1st October for the next year can be seen here 2025/2026.
Reduced Rates
Reductions are available for the following:
- Over 65
- Under 21
- In full time education
- Resident and working over 80km from Aberdeen
Note that our subscriptions contain club membership of Mountaineering Scotland – if you are already a member of another Mountaineering Scotland affiliated club, our rate will be reduced by the amount allocated to that.
Disclaimer
The Cairngorm Club and Mountaineering Scotland recognise that climbing and mountaineering are activities with risks of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Members and others participate in Club activities at their own risk; the Club accepts no liability.