Achille Ratti Climbing Club
Ambleside · Westmorland and Furness · England
Directory location matched to the published postcode
Achille Ratti Climbing Club combines climbing, fell running and other mountain activities, with huts in the Lake District and North Wales and roots dating to 1942.
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About Achille Ratti Climbing Club
Achille Ratti Climbing Club began in 1942 when Bishop Thomas Bernard Pearson and fellow enthusiasts from the Blackpool Catholic Boys' Association formed a mountaineering club. Founder member Arnold Lunn suggested its later name, honouring the climber who became Pope Pius XI. The club's Lake District history centres on Great Langdale, near Ambleside in Cumbria, England, where Bishop's Scale opened in 1957.
Three huts now provide bases in Great Langdale, Wasdale and North Wales. Members climb, walk, run on the fells, cycle and kayak, with organised meets throughout the year. The fell-running section promotes Dungeon Ghyll, the Grisedale Horseshoe and Old County Tops, a long mountain race run in pairs over Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and Coniston Old Man.
Membership applications are open to adults aged 18 and over. Applicants usually need two existing members to propose them; newcomers without those connections can enquire about attending meets as guests. New members begin with a probationary year and are expected to contribute to activities such as hut maintenance or race volunteering. Use the public contact form to discuss joining before arranging a hut visit.
Established 1942
Notable members, past and present
Thomas Bernard Pearson
Founder president
The bishop helped establish the club in 1942 and secure its Bishop's Scale hut.
Arnold Lunn
Founder member
The club history credits him with proposing the Achille Ratti name.
Club history and information sources
Profile reviewed 2026-10-14. Training arrangements can change; check with the club before attending.
Athletes at this club
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