When: February 11 – 13
Where: Fort William Mountain, Scotland
Details: As the Fort William Mountain Festival, presented by the Outdoor Capital of the UK, moves into Lochaber for its tenth anniversary organisers have promised a feast of lectures, workshops and films for residents and visitors who want to learn about and celebrate mountain culture; during the best winter walking and climbing conditions of the year.
Mike Pescod, Chairman of the Highland Mountain Culture Association, organisers of the Festival, said: ‘Above all the inspirational and entertaining five-day Fort William Mountain Festival programme for 2011 promotes the mountains as an attractive, accessible and enjoyable place to be. It includes a superb line up of top climbers, mountain filmmakers, cutting edge outdoor athletes and adventurers.’
‘The varied and entertaining programme of new events and old favourites being staged in and around Fort William caters for everyone of all ages from elite climbers, hill walkers and outdoor enthusiasts to sea and white water kayakers and budding cycling aerialists.’
A few highlights of the 2011 Festival include:
‘A drop in the ocean, and aware of it’: Sea and White Water Kayaking Evening with sea kayak adventurer Patrick Winterton followed by awesome extreme white water paddling films.
Jump Jam – biking aerial skills workshop – It’s time to get airborne with theAirBag.net, a safe, painless and addictive means of increasing biking aerial confidence and skill.
Mammoth Descent – A ski / snowboarding and running event at Nevis Range – a mass start ski/board race from the summit to the bar! For everyone able to ski or snowboard competently.
Mike Pescod added: ‘This celebration of mountain culture, showcasing the huge range of outdoor activity opportunities available to visitors to Fort William and Locahaber, is the vision of The Outdoor Capital of the UK and will position the area firmly at the forefront of Scotland’s events programme in February.’
Children and adults will have the opportunity to try out new activities and learn new skills through inspirational daily mountain skills workshops during the Festival. Highly experienced and fully qualified guides from Abacus Mountaineering, in conjunction with Nevis Range, will lead full day day courses in avalanche awareness, winter walking and winter climbing.
More information: For full details of the Fort William Mountain Festival programme and to book tickets go to – http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk
