Keswick Mountain Festival | Back O’Skiddaw 72K

Outdoor sports

16 sports events to choose from!

• Trail runs
• Hikes
• Open water swims
• Cycle rides
• Triathlon
• Adventure Races
• Junior sports events (age 10+)
   

Live music experience

The live music experience will have two live music stages for you to enjoy – as well as a DJ Bar.

The open air stage on the lakeside will allow all our festival goers to enjoy the evening music as well as take in the magnificent view at the same time. Please note this stage will not be the exact same one many of you remember from previous years, it will be slightly smaller. But we will be putting on a real show with some brilliant bands and famous headline DJs until 10pm in the evening!

There will be also be live musicians located in the heart of the reimagined food and drink zone. So, expect acoustic sets there, while you unwind after your sporting exertions.

Inspirational speakers

Once again there will be a packed programme of quality speakers taking place on Crow Park.

They will keep you thoroughly entertained over the weekend and we will be confirming the speaker programme in the coming months. Watch this space for further details.

Festival village

Loads to enjoy in the Festival Village!

Some activities will be free at the point of access; others will be pay-as-you-go.

Brand expo

Once again there will be a superb brand expo with outdoor and travel brands who will be offering unique festival activities, as well as showcasing their marvellous merch.

Event HQ

Lakeside
Lake Road
Keswick
Cumbria
CA12 5DJ
UK

Keswick is located in the heart of the Lake District and is the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the UK. Keswick is very accessible by all means of transport, meaning that you can consider the environment when planning your route to Keswick Mountain Festival.

Festival campsite

The KMF campsite is located at Springs Farm, Springs Road, Keswick CA12 4AN, only a 15 minute walk away from the Festival Village on Crow Park.

Camping is the best way to enjoy the festival, getting back to nature and sleeping in the fields, wake up to the view of Skiddaw – it doesn’t get much better. Facilities include showers, toilets, cafe serving hot food/drinks every day. Tents only, no campervans/motorhomes.

A weekend camping ticket includes 3 nights camping from 10am Thursday to 5pm Sunday and a car parking space.

By car

From the M6 (traveling both North or South) take Junction 40 at Penrith for the North Lakes. From J40, follow the A66 West for approximately 17 miles to Keswick.

By bus

With a timetable, and a little planning, you can reach Keswick Mountain Festival and many other beautiful Lake District places by bus. If you are a walker, you can use the bus to complete a linear walk without the necessity of having to return to where you left the car.

These are the services to consider:

• Penrith to Workington – Service X4, X5
• Lakeslink – Service 554, 555
• The Honister Rambler – Service 77, 77A
• The Caldbeck Rambler – Service 73, 73A
• The Borrowdale Rambler – Service 78
• Keswick to Patterdale Ullswater Connexion – Service 208

By rail

Penrith, Carlisle and Kendal (via Oxenholme) are served by the West Coast Main Line – a fast, frequent and easily accessible service from all over the country. The nearest railway station to Keswick is Penrith, a distance of 17 miles. A bus service (journey of approx 40 minutes) connects Penrith railway station with Keswick Bus Station. Alternatively you can pre-book a taxi from Penrith train station to Keswick.

The historic Settle to Carlisle line brings passengers from Yorkshire via the Eden Valley.

The West Coast line is operated by Virgin Trains.

By plane

Manchester Airport and Newcastle Airport both offer convenient access to the North of the UK. Manchester serves more domestic destinations than any UK airport which, together with its first class road and rail link make it an ideal gateway to Cumbria.

Manchester Airport has its own railway station, with direct links to Oxenholme – the Lake District, Kendal, Windermere and the West Coast Main Line. Newcastle Airport also has good road links to Cumbria and the Lake District.

Local taxis

• Davies Taxis – 01768 772 676
• Iain’s Taxis – 01768 736 333
• Derwent Taxis – 01768 775 585
• Keswick Cab Co – 07961 589 003

Event location

The Festival Village is located adjacent to The Theatre By The Lake close to Derwentwater.

Route description

The Back O’Skiddaw 72K sportive is graded as 2 out of 5 in the British Cycling sportive grading system, making it a moderately hilly half-day road ride in the Lake District. This ride has approximately 650 metres of ascent with an expected completion time of between 2.5 and 5 hours.

The course is fully tarmac, ranging from steeply undulating narrow single track, gated farm roads, to the quieter B and A roads in the area. If you’re new to cycling events then this is a great place to start but this sportive can also be enjoyed by cycling enthusiasts looking for a great day out.

Please note there are 6 gates on route that may require opening and closing. 

Bike type

This ride is open to electric and adapted bikes.

Ability

As a potential participant you must study the ride information carefully and be confident that you can complete this ride comfortably before entering.

Doing good

KMF is on a mission to do some good. A mission to make the festival more sustainable, accessible, inclusive and diverse, as well delivering a positive impact for the people of Keswick.

Alongside National Trust, the charity partner, a new sustainable legacy project with Fix the Fells. Everyone who is coming to the Festival is invited to help on that journey. The aim is to raise £10,000 per year, which will cover the annual cost for the Catbells conservation work. You’ll be able to donate at checkout on the website when buying your tickets. Please do so if you can. Catbells provides the stunning festival backdrop and helping to preserve this national, natural treasure is a wonderful thing to be part of.

The Festival works with venues and stakeholders in Keswick, to integrate aspects of the festival into the town, especially the evening programme, boosting the benefits for the local economy.

Included

• Free digital photograph
• Electronic chip timing
• 1 x feed station
• Torq hydration drinks will be available at the feed station – you must have your own cup or bottle
• Event t-shirt (unless you choose to donate cost of T Shirt to our Catbells Conservation project with Fix the Fells)
• Evening live music and daytime Tent Talks ALL WEEKEND (Friday to Sunday). Note: Festival Village general access is free for all to roam before 5pm. After 5pm requires a sports ticket or festival ticket – all non ticket holders will then be required to vacate the festival village.

Your athlete guide will be emailed to you approximately 2 weeks before the event date.

Entry fees

Had a ball. Thank you all. Be there next year. Yipeeeee. Jenny

We had an absolute blast this weekend. So well organised, friendly people, amazing setting, just perfect thank you. Yoga

Such a great festival, superbly organised - wonderful atmosphere. Joanne

Had an awesome weekend - already looking forward to the next. Thanks to all involved. James

Awesome event! Will definitely be back. Joanne

We met lots of lovely people in a beautiful part of the world. We did the Back O Skiddaw which was clearly marked and marshalled with the medic man just around the corner. Thank you. Eugenia

Our first Keswick Mountain Festival and we all had a fab weekend! Thank you! Claire

It's been worth the wait, BRILLIANT weekend. Rick

Brilliant festival. Thank you! Campsite was great and point to point swim really well organised. Carl

Had a fab time, thank you! See you next year! Sue

A message from the Festival Director:

It was a big call to take a break from the full multi-sport festival, but it gave us the ideal opportunity to take a deep look at what we want this event to be in the longer term. Keswick Mountain Festival is very special to us and to many of you who share our love of this wonderful part of the world and the outdoors in general. We took the time to reflect on all of that and on the changing nature of big events.

There are now new and very different challenges involved in delivering a festival like ours in a responsible and sustainable way. We’re really excited about how we’re tackling those head on, in a way that still offers all of the aspects that our regular visitors tell us they love so much, and more. It’s going to be a vibrant, multi-faceted and inclusive event for everyone, and we can’t wait to welcome you all back in May. Nicola Meadley