The volunteer organising team behind the Fort William Mountain Festival is delighted to announce the jam-packed programme for the four-day event being staged in Fort William and across Lochaber, the Outdoor Capital of the UK, from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 February 2023.
Festival Overview
The Fort William Mountain Festival 2023 line-up is full of daily guided outdoor activities, inspirational speakers, thought-provoking films, competitions and awards, and an interactive, adventure-themed exhibition, all perfectly timed to coincide with the best winter walking, climbing and snowsports conditions of the year in the region.
Full programme on the website
To discover the full evening programme go to https://mountainfestival.co.uk/tickets/events
To discover the full Fringe Events go to https://mountainfestival.co.uk/tickets/fringeevents
Daily Activities
During the day festival goers will be able to participate in a varied programme of Fringe Events enabling them to get out and discover the amazing landscapes of Lochaber under the guidance of local experts. The festival is extremely proud to be able to work with such a diverse range of specialist activity providers to showcase everything that the area offers for outdoor enthusiasts. Activities include mindful walking, nature writing, wild swimming, trail running, mountain biking, paddle boarding and, of course, winter walking, mountaineering, skiing and snowboarding. Many of these events are free to participate in and all are sure to fuel that burgeoning sense of adventure.
Evening Events
By night visitors will be able to choose from inspiring speakers and internationally renowned films at one of three Festival venues across Fort William. For 2023 we are excited to team up with Patagonia to bring their world-class team to the stage. The Climbing night will feature Patagonia athlete, Robbie Phillips, one of the UK’s top all-round climbers and adventurers. Tales from the Trails will be a unique celebration of the world-famous long-distance trails that start and end in Fort William, an event sure to get many planning their next big adventure. The Scottish Mountaineering Press will be hosting a Winter Climbing Forum where people will be able to quiz the experts on how to get the best out of their icy exploits. Alongside many other speakers and fantastic line-ups of biking, snow-sports and paddle-sports films, as well as the Banff Centre Mountain Festival World Tour. On Sunday afternoon there will be a very special Family Film event featuring local families which will be free to attend thanks to sponsorship from Stramash Outdoor Nursery.
Competitions and Awards
No Festival would be complete without competitions and awards recognising the phenomenal effort and talent that goes into adventure filmmaking and photography. For 2023 organisers have announced a brand-new short film competition, The ‘Golden Axe’ Award. This has been established in memory of Rob Brown. Rob was a leader, an ideas man and a truly valued member of the festival committee. This summer, Lochaber sadly lost him to the mountains and his great character will be very much missed at Mountain Festival meetings and beyond. Rob was a proud and avid maker of films and this competition will be a very special way to remember him. Entries are invited from filmmakers of every kind and the only rules are the film must be no longer than two minutes and must include bright colours, outdoor adventure and food!
The specially curated International Film night will showcase the best entries to the festival’s own film competition, together with the award presentations. The prestigious Scottish Awards for Excellence in Mountain Culture, recognising the achievements of inspiring individuals and their outstanding contributions to Scotland’s outdoor culture, are making a welcome return with the winners of the adult and youth awards being announced in early February 2023.
Quotes from the Festival organising committee:
Anna Danby, Co-ordinator of the 2023 Fort William Mountain Festival, said: “It is a privilege to be part of organising such a diverse programme, bringing together everyday adventurers, elite athletes, mountain professionals and local residents on the same stage. There are opportunities for everyone to get involved whatever your passion and experience.
“Our hope is that we have curated a programme that truly offers people from all walks of life the opportunity to come along and get involved. The overriding aims of the festival are to encourage everyone to be inspired by, respect and protect our natural landscape and we are confident that or festival visitors will leave feeling motivated to do just that.
“When I first attended the festival back in 2015, I never imagined I would one day be helping to organise it. The people and adventures shared on its stage shaped my own journey into the mountains and now I get to help inspire others in the same way. So come along and get involved, you never know where it might take you!”
Hannah Francis, Content Creator and Co-ordinator for the Festival, said: “I’m really excited about the festival this year. It’s diverse, its special, it celebrates everything we love about the outdoors and Fort William.
“In particular, I’m thrilled to announce a brand new, totally inclusive film competition called the Golden Axe Award. We’re looking for bright colours, mountain snacking and adventure. All you need is your phone! We can’t wait to see your entries and we’ll see you there at the festival in February”
Lily Fearne, Manager of Fort William Runners Need, said: “We are delighted to be part of this year’s Fringe Event Programme for Fort William Mountain Festival. Our shared passion with the festival for enjoying the outdoors with like-minded people is something we are so excited to be part of and we can’t wait to share time on the trails with both locals and visitors to Fort William alike!”
Sponsors & Supporters
The Fort William Mountain Festival is made possible thanks to the support of the event sponsors:
Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, Ellis Brigham, Fatmap, Patagonia, Jahama Highland Estates, Sungod, Geo Rope, Stramash, John Muir Trust, UHI West Highland, and Gin Bothy; and the festival’s friends and supporters: Nevis Range, The Highland Council, Highland Cinema, The Highland Bookshop, Nevis Centre, GFG Alliance, Nevis Landscape Partnership, Rare Breed Productions, Limelights, Strathmore Hotels, Scottish Mountaineering Press, Lamont Design, and Three Wise Monkeys.
Ends
Media contacts: Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected] | M: 07913 951717
Anna Danby | Fort William Mountain Festival | E: [email protected] | M: 07720 398 642
Media Trips
If you are keen to attend activities and events at the 2023 Fort William Mountain Festival for a commissioned travel feature, or for an adventure and activity feature in the Outdoor Capital of the UK, please contact Paddy Cuthbert.
Images attached see filename for caption and credits.
For further downloadable Festival 23 images and logos go to: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/236rwvxdufeflbh2gd0cu/h?dl=0&rlkey=base7gfg4r6h6thydfd8c99mk
The Fort William Mountain Festival on digital:
- Website – https://mountainfestival.co.uk
- Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mountainfestival @mountainfestival
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/fort.william.mountain.festival @mountainfestival
- YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz3PaWPZFUyFli_gChEO–Q @fortwilliammountainfestival7043
Notes to Editors:
The Fort William Mountain Festival 2023 runs from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 February 2023 at venues in and around the bustling Highland town of Fort William, at the heart of the Outdoor Capital of the UK. The main presentations and film nights take place in the Nevis Centre, The Highland Cinema, the Highland Bookshop and 3 Wise Monkeys indoor climbing centre. The Festival Launch Night will take place at the Highland Cinema.
Main event venues:
- Nevis Centre, An Aird, Fort William PH33 6AN – T: 01397 700707 | W: https://www.neviscentre.co.uk
- Highland Cinema, Cameron Square, Fort William PH33 6AJ – T: 01397 609696 | E: [email protected] | W: https://highlandcinema.co.uk/
- 3 Wise Monkeys Climbing, Fassifern Road, Fort William, PH33 6QX – T: 01397 600200 | E: [email protected] | W: https://www.threewisemonkeysclimbing.com/
- The Highland Bookshop, 60 High Street, Fort William, PH33 6AH – T: 01397 705 931 | E: [email protected] | W: https://www.highlandbookshop.com
- Alexandra Hotel, The Parade, Fort William PH33 6AZ – T: 01397 702 241 | E: [email protected] | W: https://strathmorehotels-thealexandra.com
Festival tickets can sell out in advance particularly for the popular nights.
The Festival attracts approaching 1500 people over the 4 days and takes place each February in and around the town of Fort William.
Festival organisers – The Highland Mountain Culture Association Limited, is a not-for-profit organisation, whose aim is to promote the understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places and people, by creating opportunities for people of all ages to share their mountain experiences, ideas and visions. To showcase these ideals, it stages annually a programme of events within the Lochaber area, called The Fort William Mountain Festival. The Festival is organised by a dynamic Organising Committee, all volunteers, made up of a team of hard working local outdoor enthusiasts.
The Outdoor Capital of the UK is Lochaber Chamber of Commerce’s tourism brand, promoting adventure for all! The Chamber publicises, sponsors and promotes Fort William and Lochaber as the best place in the UK for everyone to experience the outdoors; with a view to developing local jobs and wealth and encouraging sustainable economic growth.
This is done through a range of collaborative marketing initiatives and activities. The organisation currently has a wide range of member businesses ranging from accommodation, food and drink and activity providers to non-tourism focused businesses who support the aims of the Lochaber Chamber of Commerce and acknowledge that tourism is crucial to the local economy. Many of these businesses are SMEs and by pulling resources and working as a team the Lochaber Chamber of Commerce achieves the positive results that individually the members couldn’t otherwise reach. The Chamber also produces the Outdoor Capital of the UK website, the go to site for local events, outdoor activities and visitor accommodation in the area. www.outdoorcapital.co.uk / www.lochaberchamber.co.uk.
The prestigious Scottish Awards for Excellence in Mountain Culture recognise the achievements of inspiring individuals and their outstanding contributions to Scotland’s outdoor culture. In 2022 The Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture was presented to Karen Darke MBE, FRSGS, Paralympian and ambitious adventurer who has inspired many, especially those who have suffered sudden disability. The Scottish Youth Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture was presented to Kirsty Muir, 18, from Aberdeen, described as a ‘one in a generation athlete’, rising to the top of the International freestyle skiing circuit through her grit, passion and focused, dogged determination.
