http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk/

Fort William Mountain Festival, Fort William (2026)

25/09/2026

🎨 Explore Events 🧭

From weaving the mountains and tree planting workshops to guided mountain walks and outdoor yoga sessions and everything in-between.

Explore events are participatory events that get people energised, outdoors, moving, learning and having fun. They are an important part of bringing people into the festival and being able to work with incredible local providers.

There are many different ways of appreciating and enjoying the mountains and mountain culture is much bigger than simply being on the big summits!

At this year’s festival we had a wonderfully wide range of explorer events to suit a diverse audience. We are excited for this to continue into next year’s festival and the events are already shaping up nicely.

Some highlights from last year includes:
🔦 An evening head torch sociable run around Cow Hill above the twinkly lights of bustling Fort William
🏊‍♀️ A refreshing morning wake up with an icey dip in Loch Leven
⛏️ A bluebird day in the mountains learning winter skills getting to grips with spiky tools
🚴‍♀️ Family fun day at the bike park where a bit of rain doesn’t stop play in Lochaber
🌱 Winter foraging fun around Glen Nevis finding hidden gems even in the cold dark months

There is still time to submit an application to deliver an explore event, with the deadline of 30 September. Pop an email to [email protected] for the application form and for more information.

Keep an eye out for the release of the full festival program this autumn to get your explore events tickets booked, as many of these events have limited numbers and book up very quickly!

📷 by Elly Lucas

18/09/2026

🏆THE GOLDEN AXE AWARD 2027 🏆

The Golden Axe Award was launched in 2023 in memory of much-loved Festival committee member Rob Brown.

Rob was a proud and avid filmmaker, with a real passion for capturing the people, places and adventures that make the outdoors so special. He was also a much-valued part of the Fort William Mountain Festival team, so it feels particularly fitting that we celebrate his memory each year through this very special film competition.

🎬 The challenge? Create a film of no more than two minutes featuring three essential ingredients: bright colours, outdoor adventure and food!

There are just two simple rules:

1. Your film must be no longer than two minutes and include bright colours, outdoor adventure and food. 2. Entries close on Sunday 31 January 2027.
The winner will be announced at Climbing Night on Saturday 13 February 2027.

Ready to get creative? 🎥✨
Submit your entry via our website.

08/09/2026

What does it really mean to live? 🏔️❄️

After two near-death experiences, major surgery and years of physical challenges, Lake District writer and cold-water swimmer Sara Barnes has learned not just how to survive — but how to choose to live.

From discovering cold water swimming after losing her ability to walk freely, to writing books, embracing adventure and refusing to let ageing or uncertainty define what comes next, Sara’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the route changes — but the adventure doesn’t have to end.

As Sara puts it: “Make the most of it.”

Read the full story and discover why her mantra is Older, Bolder, Colder.

📖 Read the article via the link in bio and sign up to our newsletter to hear stories like Sara’s

11/08/2026

From ancient Gaelic songs and stories carried through mountains to the musicians, poets and storytellers keeping those traditions alive today, Highland culture is inseparable from the landscape that shaped it.

Our latest article explores music, memory and belonging, and why, sometimes, the mountains are there to be listened to, not just climbed. 🎻✨

Read “Where the Mountains Sing: Music, Memory and the Living Voice of the Highlands” by following the link in our bio and discover the stories behind the songs. In the article you can also find out how to sign up for next year’s Mountain Voices event.

📷 Elly Lucas

04/08/2026

📣 Call for Explore Events – Fort William Mountain Festival 2027

The Fort William Mountain Festival returns 11th–14th February 2027, and we’re now inviting applications for our Explore events programme.

Explore events are hands-on, participatory sessions where attendees get stuck in – think drawing workshops, guided walks, yoga classes and foraging workshops. We’re after events that get people moving, learning, creating and having fun.

For 2027 we’ve introduced an application process to keep our volunteer-run festival sustainable and give every provider good visibility. Submit a proposal and our committee will review it, aiming for a varied programme of workshops that complement one another.

Applications to run an explore event should be made by the 30th September 2026, visit https://mountainfestival.co.uk/programme/ or check out our bio for more information.

21/07/2026

Alex Staniforth is an adventurer who has spent more than a decade chasing ambitious endurance challenges, from running the National Three Peaks to settings records across Britain’s mountains. Yet when we spoke a few months after his appearance at The Fort William Mountain Festival, it quickly became clear that Alex is entering a different, albeit no less fulfilling, chapter.

After a year disrupted by post-viral fatigue, the record-breaking athlete who once measured success by summits and finish lines is instead talking about coaching, connection and the importance of simply being well.

Head to the link in our bio to sign up to our newsletter, to read more when it comes out this week.

14/02/2026

Saturday at Fort William Mountain Festival is packed. Here’s a taste of today’s adventures and talks.

🌅 Morning Explore & Workshops
08:00–17:00 – Winter Skills 101 (two‑day full course)
08:30–17:00 – One Day Winter Skills Course
09:00–10:00 – Blue Mind Open Water Swim
09:00–13:00 – Aim High: Crafting & Pitching Outdoor Stories
09:00–13:00 – Drawing the Mountains with Jack Spowart
09:00–13:00 – Painting the Mountains with Phoebe Sleath
09:00–15:00 – Winter Run
10:00–14:00 – Lochaber Dig Day
10:00–15:15 – Try Climbing!
10:00–11:00 – Adventures in Publishing
10:00–11:00 – Technical Trail Run with Altra
10:00–14:30 – The Power of Ice & Water – Lochaber’s Glacial Lakes
10:00–12:00 – Guided Rainforest Exploration
10:00–12:00 – Winter Foraging with The Wild Cooke
10:30–13:30 – FWMF26 International Film Night Redux
10:30–13:00 – Weave the Mountain View
11:00–14:00 – Lochaber Environmental’s Repair Café
11:00–12:30 – Our Seas Seaful: A Line in the Sound
12:00–13:00 – Downhill Running Workshop with Altra
12:30–14:00 – Scotland The Big Picture – Riverwoods Film Screening
12:30–14:00 – Tribute to David “Heavy” Whalley
13:00–15:00 – Creative Rainforest Exploration

🗣️ Afternoon Panels & Talks
14:00–15:00 – Altra Athlete Panel
14:30–15:30 – Behind the Lens: Scottish Adventure Film & Photography
15:00–17:00 – Champions of the Golden Valley + Compass Collective
15:30–16:00 – The Great Mixed Climbs of Scotland: Book Signing
15:30–16:30 – The Pine Hunters screening + Q&A
16:00–17:00 – Ultra Women: Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport

🌇 Evening Sessions
17:00–18:30 – Bothy Session
17:00–18:30 – Risk, Reward and Extremes
17:30–18:30 – More Than Mountains: Masa: 居場所

⭐ Night Highlights
19:00–22:00 – Your Hills (evening adventure tales)
19:00–22:00 – Climbing Night (stories & awards)

🕺 Late Night
22:00–00:00 – Festival Ceilidh at the Alexandre Hotel

We can’t wait to enjoy it all with you!

13/02/2026

Fort William Mountain Festival is in full swing — here’s what’s happening today:

10:00 – 11:00
Explore: Flat Trail Run with Altra — A social run with Connor Smith and Sarah Thi on easy trails around Fort William.

10:30 – 12:30
Explore: Training With Your Hormones — Hands-on workshop on how hormones affect climbing and somatic awareness.

11:00 – 11:30
Explore: Swim with Saz — Progress your outdoor swimming in a fun, supportive session.

11:00 – 12:30
Explore: Introduction to Bike Maintenance — Hands-on bike maintenance with Lochaber Environmental.

13:00 – 14:00
Explore: Navigation for Runners Workshop with Altra — Learn navigation skills with Nathan Lawson and Hugh Chatfield.

13:00 – 14:30
Explore: Gears Set Up and Problem Solving — Gear setup and troubleshooting with Lochaber Environmental.

13:00 – 15:00
Explore: Winter Foraging Workshop with The Wild Cooke — Introduction to seasonal foraging in Glen Nevis.

13:30 – 16:00
Explore: MWIS Inversion Hunters — Classroom session on weather inversions for better mountain planning.

13:30 – 15:00
Explore: Mobility Workshop — Improve movement freedom through guided joint mobility.

14:30 – 15:30
Explore: Foot Health with Altra — Foot and lower-limb strength session to boost mobility and performance.

15:00 – 16:30
Explore: Brakes, Set Up and Problem Solving — Brake setup and troubleshooting with Lochaber Environmental.

16:00 – 17:00
Holly Wootten: Breaking the Dragons Back — Holly shares her story from the 2025 Dragon’s Back Race.

17:00 – 18:30
Bothy Session — Celebrate Scotland’s bothy culture through shared stories.

17:00 – 18:30
Explore: Petzl Night Run — Torch-lit run on Cow Hill above Fort William.

17:00 – 22:00 (Fri–Sun)
The Shape of Summits: Mountain Exhibition — Artists inspired by mountains and wild places.

17:00 – 19:00
Shape of Summits: Opening Night — Exhibition opening at the Nevis Centre.

17:30 – 18:30
Skiing the Highlands — Al Todd presents a visual journey through the Scottish Highlands.

19:00 – 22:00
FWMF26 International Film Night & Awards — Adventure films and International Film Competition awards.

19:00 – 22:00
People Power — Three speakers share the motivations behind their biggest achievements.

19:00 – 22:00
Mountain Voices: Stories & Song — Music, storytelling, and creativity inspired by mountain culture.

Can’t wait to welcome you all for an amazing weekend!

12/02/2026

Join us for an inspiring evening of adventure, endurance, and extraordinary stories at ‘People Power’ Fort William Mountain Festival!
Three incredible speakers will dive into their motivations behind their biggest athletic accomplishments yet:
Alex Stainforth: Record-breaking adventurer. Ultra-runner. Mental health advocate.
By 19, Alex Staniforth had survived the two biggest disasters in Everest history. He’s since climbed all 100 UK county tops in 72 days, run the National 3 Peaks (452 miles in 9 days 12 hours), and completed all 446 Nuttalls - 3,000km and 100,000m of ascent in just 45 days - raising awareness of su***de in young people on his 30th birthday.
Founder of Mind Over Mountains.

Katie Mackay: Climber. Mountaineer. Endurance-driven.
Katie Mackay has climbed across the UK, Patagonia and the Alps, and was the first woman to complete the Lake District Classic Rock challenge in under 24 hours.
With Kirsty Gillan, she linked 100 climbing routes across the UK, travelling 1,600km by bike and climbing 10,000m in 32 days. A huge effort driven by grief, fuelled by friendship, and grounded in the belief that hard things are worth doing simply to prove they’re possible.

Markus Stitz: Ultra-endurance racer. Explorer. Route designer. Storyteller.
Markus Stitz cycled 34,000km unsupported around the world on a single-speed mountain bike. He’s since founded Bikepacking Scotland, Dirt Dash events, and the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol, and designed countless bikepacking and gravel routes across Scotland.
An author and filmmaker, Markus has written Great British Gravel Rides, Bikepacking Scotland, Gravel Rides Cairngorms & Perthshire and Gravel Rides Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, and co-edited Big Rides: Great Britain & Ireland. His adventures have taken him from Norway to Canada, the US, and Spain.

11/02/2026

Who are the Cholita Climbers? Why do they climb in skirts? How is climbing changing their lives?

In 2024, Anna went on expedition to Bolivia to meet and climb with the amazing Cholita Climbers, a group of Indigenous Andean women who climb high-altitude peaks in huge colourful skirts. Be inspired by these remarkable Bolivian women and discover their astonishing journey into alpinism and the tops of the world.

This talk by traveller, climber and writer Anna Fleming, will take you up Pequeno Alpayamo – a 5370 metre glaciated peak – in the company of 4 women: 2 Scottish winter climbers and 2 Bolivian Cholita Escaladoras in their full skirts and petticoats.

Fort William Mountain Festival

25/09/2026

18/09/2026

08/09/2026

11/08/2026

04/08/2026

21/07/2026

14/02/2026

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12/02/2026

11/02/2026

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