Incoming: Fort Bill Mountain Festival

A quick diary heads-up on the dates for the 2010 Fort William Mountain Festival which takes place from 11-15 February with a 'five day feast of lectures, workshops and films' during the best walking and climbing conditions of the year.

The event is 'edicated to celebrating mountains and the culture that surrounds them'. It all kicks off with the Party at Nevis Range', the official opening ceilidh at the top of the Nevis Range mountain gondola, which will launch the programme including lectures and film screenings from cutting-edge outdoor athletes and adventurers.

Top draws include big-wall climber Andy Kirkpatrick - right - multi-award-winning film-maker Paul Diffley and Jimmy Marshall, the architect of modern Scottish climbing.  The festival will close with The Best of Banff Mountain Film Festival film night, a selection of top features from Banff.

In addition, the winner of the 2010 Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture will be announced during the festival.  There will also be plenty of opportunity for both novices and experts to hone their skills at workshops in mountain skills, including avalanche awareness, winter walking and winter climbing in Fort William, as well as both indoor rock and ice climbing at Kinlochleven's Ice Factor Climbing Centre.

More information at www.mountainfestival.co.uk and www.outdoorcapital.co.uk