Keswick Mountain Festival 3 Peaks

Outdoor sports

• Trail runs
• Cycle sportives
• Triathlon
• Open water swimming
• Hikes
• Adventure race
• Junior sports events (age 10+)
   

Live and unleashed

Big Top Marquee

Vacant Weekend | Steel Foxes | Bossyking | Foxtrap | The Northern Threads | State of Satta | Delagrave | Thieving Magpies

Band Stand

Joel Gardner | Clara Pople | Hang Dimension | Ewan Scarlett | Stoney Broke | Jordan Worsfold | J Lewis | Chloe Jane Hirst | Open Folk Session

Each of these stages will see a showcase of incredibly talented, local music acts. Importantly, having two stages will also enable a more continuous live music experience to be delivered from early afternoon till dusk, plus offer protection against any adverse Cumbrian weather. And for the first time, there will also be live music during the day on Sunday at the Band Stand which will be located in the heart of the reimagined food and drink zone.

So, expect chilled out vibes and acoustic sets there, while you unwind after your sporting exertions. Or if you’re feeling the adrenaline, head into the Big Top for some electric performances.

Inspirational speakers

Chrissie Wellington | 3 Dads Walking | Timmy Mallet | Sean Conway | Louise Minchin | James Forrest | Cameron McNeish | Jamie Aarons | Nicky Spinks | Alan Hinkes | Black Trail Runners | Alastair Humphreys | and more

Not only will 3 Dads Walking be leading out the Keswick 3 Peaks Hike, they will also feature in an enhanced, packed programme of speakers which will take place both on Crow Park and in Theatre by the Lake.

Inspiring speakers who will keep you thoroughly entertained over the weekend include Timmy Mallett, Louise Minchin, Sean Conway, Chrissie Wellington, Mel Nicholls, Cameron McNeish, Alan Hinkes, James Forrest, Jamie Aarons, Nicky Spinks, Alastair Humphries, and Black Trail Runners. And that’s not all! There will be more compelling headline speakers added in the coming months.

Festival village

Pump track | Axe Throwing | Caving | Bike Stunt Show | Orienteering | Maze | Climbing Wall | Canoeing | Segway | Standup Paddleboarding | Army Assault Course | Birds of Prey | Treasure Hunt | Yoga | Balance Bike Racing

Party Games | Boules | Space Hopper Racing | Hoopla | Bean Bag Toss | Giant Connect 4 | Giant Jenga | Giant Skittle Alley | Giant Tin Can Alley

Outdoor and Travel Brands Expo | Food and Drink Stalls | Exhibitors

So, if you live in the area, come on down. There is going to be plenty to keep you entertained. Why not have a go at axe throwing, space hopper racing, or even get up close to birds of prey? And there'll be more outdoor and travel brands such as adidas, Acai Outdoorwear, and Craghoppers 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 overview

This is a mid-level, circular hike over the three peaks surrounding Derwentwater Catbells, Walla Crag, and Latrigg. The route takes in a distance of 18 miles, with 1,050m ascent.

Completion time

Your expected completion time is between 7-10 hours.

Ability

Suitable for novice walkers through to experienced hikers.

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. So, when the live music stops on Crow Park at 9:00pm on the Friday and Saturday, the ‘after party’ can continue in restaurants and bars throughout Keswick, boosting the benefits for the local economy.

Included

• This event entry includes Full Weekend Festival Ticket in the price! That's access to Big Top Live Music, daytime Tent Talks, and all activities ALL WEEKEND (Friday to Sunday)
• FREE photograph
• Digital map of the route (please print and bring with you!)
• Electronic Chip timing
• GPX file of the route to download
• Event t-shirt (unless you choose to donate cost of T Shirt to our Catbells Conservation project with Fix the Fells)

3 Dads Walking

Mike, Tim and Andy. Three ordinary dads from normal homes in different parts of the country who would never have met if suicide had not united them in one cause.

Their beloved daughters Beth, Emily and Sophie all took their own lives. All so young.

Very individual, their girls’ stories are completely different, however they all fell into despair and their acts of suicide were final.

Mike came up with an idea to do a challenge walk between their houses to raise funds for PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide. The challenge? Andy lives near Penrith in Cumbria, Mike in Manchester and Tim lives near to Kings Lynn in Norfolk! In 2021 they completed this 300-mile walk and raised over £600,000 for the charity. Along the way they met many other suicide-bereaved parents who shared their stories. Like them, they hadn’t realised that suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK, and many asked “why aren’t we talking about this?”

The 3 Dads were inspired to walk again, this time the focus was getting suicide prevention added to the school curriculum as a compulsory subject. In 2022 they walked between all 4 Parliament buildings of the UK (over 600 miles) and asked people to sign their petition asking Government to make suicide prevention a compulsory part of the school curriculum – it received over 160,000 signatures and was debated in parliament.

Subsequently the 3 Dads were invited to meet the Prime Minister at Downing Street and Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education. They are now working with the team at the DfE to help them embed suicide prevention into the curriculum.

They continue to talk about their girls, the walks and their campaign. Talking about suicide and suicide prevention helps break the stigma around the subject and encourages people to talk to their own children about their concerns.

They are determined to do what we can to prevent other families suffer the same devastating loss and crushing grief.

Talking about suicide saves lives. 

Please donate what you can at checkout when you enter. 

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

Junior entries | ages 12-17.

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