The Kendal Mountain Festival is the biggest gathering of outdoor enthusiasts in the UK and takes place in Kendal, Cumbria in November every year.

Festival Dates

The festival will run from 16th – 19th of November 2023 featuring a brilliant mix of both ticketed and free events.

Anyone on any budget can come and enjoy the Festival and have a great time.

Due to the nature of the event spaces, spread out around Kendal, tickets for different events need to be purchased separately online via the website.

However, the amazing Basecamp in Abbot Hall Park is free to enter and hosts a huge variety of free talks as well as the event brand partner stalls.

The Festival runs Thursday afternoon through to all day Sunday – so why not stay overnight and take Monday off!

Speakers

Listen to talks and presentations from over 50 speakers, covering

Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, SnowAdventure and Exploration, Running Hiking Cycling, Water, Nature and Environment, Music, Art, Photography and Poetry.

Festival events

There is something for everyone at the Festival with massive programme of events covering:
Speaker events
World Premieres, Feature Films and Short Film Collections
Our huge Basecamp Festival Village
Book Festival
Arts events
Live music and Parties
Secret Sessions
10K Trail Run
Family friendly events
Environmental Films and Talks
Yoga
Free Events

10K Trail Run

Taking part in the 10K trail run this year will help the event support the crucial voluntary work of Kendal Mountain Rescue Team.

Take part in a rip-roaring trail run visiting the local landmarks used by the local running community.

The route is pure trail running, strewn with natural obstacles (no haybales, no mud-baths, no obstacles required) just lots of great ascents, jaw dropping vistas, some hard packed and grassy trails and a great town centre finish.

The adidas TERREX Kendal Mountain Festival 10K Trail Run starts on closed roads climbing out of the town centre up Beast Banks.

Its steep start utilises the same roads that the Tour of Britain cycle race finishes up.

After 3km the route starts weaving along the limestone escarpment of Scout Scar with amazing views across Morecambe Bay and the Lyth Valley.

The run along the escarpment is punctuated by crossing Underbarrow Road, where there will be a simple water station then continues towards Cunswick Scar before turning back across Kendal golf course and descending the steep streets and Ginnels back into the centre of Kendal.