Keswick Mountain Festival Starts Wednesday

The first Keswick Mountain Festival kicks off this Wednesday 16 May with patron Sir Chris Bonington set to give a welcome address at an informal opening ceremony.

The event - the first ever - runs from 16-20 May and, as you may have guessed, is centred on the north Lakes town of Keswick, which is easily accessibly from the M6 via the A66 and it's looking good with a whole raft of attractions on offer.

Some of the top draws include guided walks to Lakeland summits led by experienced leaders for those who aren't quite confident enough to go it alone yet. There are chances to try rock climbing, fell-running, canoeing, Nordic walking, mountain biking or GPS navigation for the first time or improve your skills.

Then there are a selection of seminars, in-store kit demonstrations, talks, films, special interest walks and more. And of course you can also shop till you drop in Keswick's numerous outdoor shops, many of which will be running special festival promotions for the duration.

We could go on, but the easiest way to find out exactly what's happening is to visit the Keswick Mountain Festival web site at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk. Also see our previous Keswick Mountain Festival stories linked to below.

And don't forget, we now have an events calendar where you can find details of all upcoming opportunities to get your boots muddy and your gear cheap:-)