In reply to gingerkate:
I hope I didn't suggest that John's question was anything other than pertinent or worthy of respectful treatment, just that a little self-reliant effort in researching the matter might endear him more to his peer group than the way he asked the question.
The Right to Roam Act is avaiable at
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00037--a.htm#2
Under Section 2(1) "Any person is entitled by virtue of this subsection to enter and remain on any access land for the purposes of open-air recreation, if and so long as-
(a) he does so without breaking or damaging any wall, fence, hedge, stile or gate, and
(b) he observes the general restrictions in Schedule 2 and any other restrictions imposed in relation to the land under Chapter II."
The key phrase for this discussion is "for the purposes of open-air recreation", which is defined only by reference to the list of specifically restricted activities outlined in Schedule 2, which reads as follows:
1. Section 2(1) does not entitle a person to be on any land if, in or on that land, he-
(a) drives or rides any vehicle other than an invalid carriage as defined by section 20(2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970,
(b) uses a vessel or sailboard on any non-tidal water,
(c) has with him any animal other than a dog,
(d) commits any criminal offence,
(e) lights or tends a fire or does any act which is likely to cause a fire,
(f) intentionally or recklessly takes, kills, injures or disturbs any animal, bird or fish,
(g) intentionally or recklessly takes, damages or destroys any eggs or nests,
(h) feeds any livestock,
(i) bathes in any non-tidal water,
(j) engages in any operations of or connected with hunting, shooting, fishing, trapping, snaring, taking or destroying of animals, birds or fish or has with him any engine, instrument or apparatus used for hunting, shooting, fishing, trapping, snaring, taking or destroying animals, birds or fish,
(k) uses or has with him any metal detector,
(l) intentionally removes, damages or destroys any plant, shrub, tree or root or any part of a plant, shrub, tree or root,
(m) obstructs the flow of any drain or watercourse, or opens, shuts or otherwise interferes with any sluice-gate or other apparatus,
(n) without reasonable excuse, interferes with any fence, barrier or other device designed to prevent accidents to people or to enclose livestock,
(o) neglects to shut any gate or to fasten it where any means of doing so is provided, except where it is reasonable to assume that a gate is intended to be left open,
(p) affixes or writes any advertisement, bill, placard or notice,
(q) in relation to any lawful activity which persons are engaging in or are about to engage in on that or adjoining land, does anything which is intended by him to have the effect-
(i) of intimidating those persons so as to deter them or any of them from engaging in that activity,
(ii) of obstructing that activity, or
(iii) of disrupting that activity,
(r) without reasonable excuse, does anything which (whether or not intended by him to have the effect mentioned in paragraph (q)) disturbs, annoys or obstructs any persons engaged in a lawful activity on the land,
(s) engages in any organised games, or in camping, hang-gliding or para-gliding, or
(t) engages in any activity which is organised or undertaken (whether by him or another) for any commercial purpose.
No mention of climbing there. Therefore climbing is not a restricted activity, therefore it is classed as "open-air recreation" for the purposes of this legislation, and you are free to go and climb on open access land.
Sorry, no I can't explain "why some senior BMC people have recently been heard to mouth off against the Ramblers Association because of the perceived negative effects of the legislation". I could speculate that they were envious of the RA's informative website, or hacked off that that the RA has taken such a high profile, positive lead in supporting this issue. Otherwise, no idea. Are the "rumblings" published in any document presenting the BMC's considered view? Or are they just hearsay?