The volunteers of the Fort William Mountain Festival organising committee are delighted to announce the line-up for 2024, a very special programme, bigger than ever before, to celebrate 20 years of bringing the best in Scottish, UK and International adventure to the northwest Highlands.
From Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 February 2024, they look forward to welcoming both adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life to Fort William and Lochaber, the Outdoor Capital of the UK, for an action-packed programme full to the brim with inspiring speakers, creative workshops, guided outdoor activities, thought-provoking films, and an interactive festival hub.
Fort William Mountain Festival Programme 2024
Headline Events
Headline Events fill the evenings with more in-depth explorations through discussion, film, and legendary speakers. Highlights include wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin, record-breaking mountain runner Jamie Aarons, adventure photographers and filmmakers Emma Crome and Hamish Frost, Mountain Biking team Aneela and Andy McKenna, brand new content from the Scottish Mountaineering Press, and the hugely popular BANFF mountain film festival world tour.
Discovery Sessions
Discovery Sessions have been specially curated to bring festival goers a wide variety of content across all outdoor disciplines. Drop in to hear from world-renowned base jumper Tim Howell; explore long-distance running with Jenny Tough; discover Scottish Winter with Mountaineering Scotland and rock climbing-inspired creativity with Anna Fleming; and get an insight into extreme documentary making with Joe French and watery exploits of both paddler Nick Ray and white water paddleboarders Sam Garthwaite and Cameron Hopkin.
The full programme of Headline Events and Discovery Sessions can be viewed here https://mountainfestival.co.uk/tickets/events/
Explore Events
Explore Events are your opportunity for some hands-on learning with the experts. The activities take place indoors at the festival hub, as well as enabling festivalgoers to get out and discover the amazing landscapes of Lochaber. The festival is extremely proud to be able to work with such a diverse range of activity providers to showcase everything that gives Lochaber its deserved reputation as a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Outdoor events include mountain illustration, nature writing, wild swimming, trail running, mountain biking and, of course, winter walking, mountaineering, and skiing. Indoor events include mountain weather with the Mountain Weather Information Service, adventure filmmaking and Yoga.
The Explore Events can be viewed here https://mountainfestival.co.uk/tickets/exploreevents
Awards
No Festival would be complete without awards recognising the phenomenal effort and talent that goes into adventure filmmaking and photography. The specially curated International Film Night will showcase the best entries to the festival’s own competition as well as award presentations.
Anna Danby, Co-ordinator for the Fort William Mountain Festival 2024, said: “It is a privilege to be part of organising the 20th anniversary festival and bringing together everyday adventurers, elite athletes, mountain professionals and local residents to share stories under the same roof.
“Our hope is that we have curated an ambitious programme, not only with more events and a greater diversity, but also full of inspiring entertainment that truly encourages everyone, from all walks of life, to fill their days and evenings with adventures of all shapes and sizes wherever their interests lie.
“The overriding aim of the festival is to encourage everyone to be inspired by, respect and protect our natural landscape and, with our 2024 programme we are confident that all our visitors will leave feeling motivated to do just that.”
The Nevis Centre in Fort William will be transformed into the Festival Hub, packed with a diverse range of outdoor organisations, brands and creators ready to share their inspirational stories, expert information and quality outdoor kit and goodies. Alongside this festival goers will be able to grab a coffee and some delicious grub before heading into one of the inspiring talks, film sessions and workshops happening each day between 14:00 and 22:00.
Anna Danby, added: I’m particularly looking forward to generating a real buzz around our Festival Hub 2024 with more people than ever coming along to be inspired and to learn from each other.’
Supporters
The Fort William Mountain Festival is made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors: Outdoor Capital of the UK, Ellis Brigham, Patagonia, Nevis Landscape Partnership, Jahama Highland Estates, John Muir Trust, UHI North, West and Hebrides, Burns Pet Food, Gin Bothy, Stramash and The Highland Council.
Quotes from other members of the Fort William Mountain Festival organising committee and event partners:
Rob Lovell, General Manager of the Scottish Mountaineering Press, said: “The Scottish Mountaineering Press are absolutely delighted to be at the Fort William Mountain Festival again this year bringing with us a series of presentations and workshops – the opportunity to be alongside so many other brilliant looking events is a real privilege.
“As well as presentations on new and future books, and with thanks to the Festival, Wild Roots Highland Guiding and The Highland Bookshop, our fledgling project Creatives will be showcasing the work of our Creators, the winners of our flash contest series, work from our Gaelic writing project – Mèinn – and taking people out on writing and drawing workshops. The festival is a brilliant launch–pad for the project and we’re really excited to see what the weekend brings!”
Siobhan Isobel, Explore Events Co-ordinator for Fort William Mountain Festival 2024 said: “After spending the last couple of years as a festival go-er, I am so excited to be a volunteer this year. It’s going to be an incredible festival, I can’t wait!
“The Explore Events are all about giving people the opportunity to get out and experience Lochaber as well as gaining new skills and experience to fuel their own adventures. This year we have more variety on offer than ever before so come along and try something new.”
Bill Scott, Chair of the Highland Mountain Culture Association said: “I’m looking forward to the 2024 Festival. The programme is packed with a variety of amazing speakers, workshops and films, something for everyone”.
Media contacts:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected] | M: 07913 951717
If you are keen to attend activities and events at the 2024 Fort William Mountain Festival for a commissioned festival-focused travel feature, or for an adventure/activity feature, please contact Paddy Cuthbert to discuss.
The Fort William Mountain Festival on digital:
Website for up-to-date programme information and tickets – https://mountainfestival.co.uk
Instagram – @mountainfestival – https://www.instagram.com/mountainfestival/
Facebook – @mountainfestival – https://www.facebook.com/fort.william.mountain.festival/
YouTube – @fortwilliammountainfestival704 – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz3PaWPZFUyFli_gChEO–Q
Notes to Editors:
The Fort William Mountain Festival 2024 runs from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 February 2024. Most events take place at The Nevis Centre, An Aird, Fort William PH33 6AN, as well as some satellite venues in and around the bustling Highland town of Fort William, at the heart of the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’.
Satellite venues include The Highland Cinema and Three Wise Monkeys indoor climbing centre.
The Festival Launch Night will take place at the Nevis Centre. Venues for Explore events can be found on the website.
The Fort William Mountain Festival 2024 is sponsored by The Outdoor Capital of the UK, Ellis Brigham, Patagonia, Jahama Highland Estates, University Highland & Islands West Highland College, the John Muir Trust, Gin Bothy, GeoRope, Highland Council, and many local friends and supporters.
Festival tickets can sell out in advance, particularly for the popular nights. Please book early.
The festival attracts approaching 1500 people over the four days and takes place each February in and around the town of Fort William at the heart of the Outdoor Capital of the UK.
Festival organisers – The Highland Mountain Culture Association Limited – Inspire, Respect, Protect – 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 including the Fort William Mountain Festival and the Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture. 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 that 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.
