The organisers of a popular Cumbrian festival have announced ways they intend to promote ‘accessible adventure’.
This year’s Keswick Mountain Festival (KMF) will have its usual schedule of talks from adventurers and live music, and KMF announced it’s planned an extensive programme of outdoor activities suitable for visitors with disabilities, along with an accessible zone in the festival village.
This year’s festival, which takes place from May 17 to 19, will place its ‘Accessible Adventure Zone’ next to the main entrance.
It will feature numerous exhibitors to share information about what they do to make adventuring outdoors more accessible for disabled people.
Calvert Trust, Bendrigg Trust, National Trust, Experience Community, Adapt-E, Disability Snowsports UK, Anyone Can, and the Lake District National Park Authority, are all set to feature.
AnyoneCan in particular will be offering the chance to try canoeing and climbing at the festival.
KMF organisers will also install a ‘Mobiloo’ toilet and changing room to be available throughout the weekend, along with disabled parking next to the festival village in the KMF car park at Keswick Rugby Club.
More accessible events and activities have been announced, such as guided rambling hosted each day by the National Trust and Experience Community.
Cycle sportives will also be made as ‘accessible as possible’ at the event, and people with disabilities interested in taking part in other festival events, like the Aquasphere open water swims, are encouraged to get in touch with the KMF team.
The festival has also set up a system to offer free carer and support rider tickets for participants with disabilities.
Among the speakers appearing at this year’s KMF is para-triathlete Mel Nicholls, who has her sights set on bringing home a medal from the Paris Paralympic Games later this year.
Mel has attended KMF before when she rode the Back o’ Skiddaw cycling sportive.
She will be in conversation with Chrissie Wellington in a session hosted by Louise Minchin, in the Theatre by the Lake at 5.30pm on May 18.
Festival director Nicola Meadley said: “Like the outdoors, we want Keswick Mountain Festival to welcome everyone, and we are committed to ensuring that this is the case.
“Over the years, we have introduced a range of initiatives that facilitate accessible adventure at the festival and we’re taking that even further this year.
“We’re delighted to be supported in this by the Lake District National Park Authority and other partners, and believe that this year’s Keswick Mountain Festival will be the most accessible and inclusive that we have ever held.”
All visitors with disabilities are entitled to a free carer ticket and are encouraged to email info@keswickmountainfestival.co.uk with a ticket booking number and proof of disability to secure a free ticket of the same type that they have bought.
Tickets for the 2024 Keswick Mountain Festival are available at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk, and the website includes more details of the full schedule.
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