The organisers of Keswick Mountain Festival in May have confirmed what we on the busy Active Traveller stand already knew: that the 2015 Keswick Mountain Festival was the biggest and busiest ever. Although the final footfall figures have yet to be released, the festival saw increased participation in the sporting and outdoor events, and a greater total audience for the speaker programme and live music. The official festival campsite and the sporting events sold out and doubled in size compared to 2014. In addition, the Festival Village on Crow Park attracted thousands of people from 15-17 May, with more exhibitors and attractions than in previous years. Now in its ninth year, Keswick Mountain Festival is sponsored by Hi-Tec, and by Garmin and Ordnance Survey.
Almost 2,000 competitors tackled triathlons, trail runs, open water swims and cycling events, while other festival goers tried a variety of outdoor activities, including guided walks, climbing, ghyll scrambling, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing and catamaran sailing. Visitors to the Festival Village were able to make mud pies and climb trees with the National Trust, enjoy family yoga, meet outdoor heroes such as Ray Mears, Sir Chris Bonington, Leo Houlding and Bonita Norris, and find out about the latest innovations in outdoor kit from the likes of Hi-Tec, Ordnance Survey and Garmin.
Features such as the Wild Alaska Wigwams, Adventure Talks Tipi and Berghaus Adventure Hub proved to be popular throughout the weekend and hundreds of visitors made a grand entrance onto the site via a giant zip line. Those people with tickets for the live music were entertained by a mixture of big names, with performers such as Badly Drawn Boy, Seth Lakeman, Dodgy and Peatbog Faeries, along with local acts like Annemarie Quinn and Jack & Paddy.
Meanwhile, the Theatre by the Lake was packed out on three nights for speakers such as Ray Mears, Jonny Brownlee, Doug Scott, Leo Houlding, Andy Kirkpatrick and Cumbrian fell running legends Joss Naylor and Steve Birkinshaw - due to huge demand, organisers arranged a second session with Naylor and Birkinshaw. Over 800 visitors used the dedicated festival campsite, within walking distance of the Festival Village, and Keswick Tourism Association reported that other local campsites and guest houses were all fully booked.
Lucy Scrase, Keswick Mountain Festival director, comments:
“Once again, the scale and breadth of Keswick Mountain Festival has stepped up a level, without the event losing any of its essential character. This festival has always been family friendly and delivered what we believe is the right balance of sports and outdoor activities, high profile speakers, and great exhibitors and event partners. We added live music last year and that was really well received, and I think we managed to follow that up with an even stronger overall line up in 2015.
“We’re very grateful to our sponsors and everyone else who made the event possible, to the people of Keswick for being such fantastic hosts, and of course to everyone who visited the festival and contributed to the great atmosphere.”
Helen Durant, UK & Ireland marketing director for Hi-Tec, adds:
“On behalf of team Hi-Tec we were extremely proud to be headline sponsors of this year’s Keswick Mountain Festival. The event is truly unique, offering something for everyone and a perfect match for Hi-Tec, our consumers and our products. Whether you enjoy walking the hills, running the valleys or simply dancing like no one is watching, the festival will undoubtedly continue to grow its audience and appeal across the UK. Hi-Tec has thoroughly enjoyed working with our retailers to support the event with some fantastic in store displays and digital support. We really do look forward to further supporting this tremendous event in 2016.”
Linda Furness, tourism manager at Keswick Tourism Association, comments:
“When we first spoke about launching a festival to showcase the outdoor activities and the adventures to be had in Keswick, this weekend’s Keswick Mountain Festival was exactly our vision of how it should be. A packed town with a festival feel, a showground on Crow Park and visitors enjoying themselves in beautiful surroundings. You could not ask for more. With many guests already booking repeat visits, it is exactly the festival the area needs.”
To find out more about Keswick Mountain Festival, visit keswickmountainfestival.co.uk, email
