The Fort William Mountain Festival marks its 20th anniversary with a bigger-than-before programme from Thursday February 15 to Sunday February 18, 2024.
Volunteers in the organising committee are looking forward to welcoming adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life to Fort William and Lochaber, the Outdoor Capital of the UK, for the action-packed long weekend.
Packed programme of events
The line-up includes inspiring speakers, creative workshops, guided outdoor activities, thought-provoking films and an interactive festival hub. In the evenings there will be more in-depth explorations through discussion, film and legendary speakers.
Highlights of Fort William Mountain Festival 2024
Highlights include:
- Wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin
- Record-breaking Munro bagger Jamie Aarons
- Adventure photographers and filmmakers Emma Crome and Hamish Frost
- Mountain Biking team Aneela and Andy McKenna
- New content from the Scottish Mountaineering Press
- BANFF mountain film festival world tour.
In addition, Discovery Sessions have been 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.
See Discover Events.
Explore Events offer hands-on learning with the experts. The activities take place indoors at the festival hub, as well as enabling festival-goers to get out and discover the landscapes of Lochaber.
The festival is proud to be able to work with a diverse range of activity providers. Outdoor events include mountain illustration, nature writing, wild swimming, trail running, mountain biking, winter walking, mountaineering and skiing. Indoor events include mountain weather with the Mountain Weather Information Service, adventure filmmaking and yoga.
See Explore Events.
The festival will also include a number of awards for adventure filmmaking and photography.
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 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.”
Festival Hub
The Nevis Centre in Fort William will be transformed into the Festival Hub, where a range of outdoor organisations, brands and creators will share their stories, expert information and outdoor kit.
Anna added: “I’m particularly looking forward to generating a real buzz around our Festival Hub 2024 with people coming along to be inspired and to learn from each other.”
Thanks to sponsors
The Fort William Mountain Festival is made possible thanks to the support of many sponsors, including 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.
To find out more see: Fort William Mountain Festival 2024.