Did you attend an adventure festival this year? Were you thinking about it but couldn't decide which one to go to?
Whether it is wood-whittling workshops with Ray Mears or you see yourself as the Quentin Tarantino of the adventure film world, you're bound to find something that floats your boat (or a hastily cobbled together raft at least) in the list below.
Please leave a comment if I've missed any out or you've attended one of these festivals and you thought they were the monkey's nuts or just a pile of mushed bananas.
1. Adventure Travel Show (London) - 20-21st Jan
I went last year and didn’t realise that there were live talks going on compered by my (now) good friend Dave Cornthwaite (D’oh!). Time to chase those January blues away.
2. Isle of Arran Mountain Festival – 18-21st May
Apparently Scotland’s leading hillwalking festival. Head off with like-minded ramblers on organised hikes for 2 hours to 11 hours before returning to camp for a natter over a cocoa.
3. The Bushcraft Show (Derbyshire) - 26th-28th May
If eating grubs and whittling tools is your thing then head over to Derbyshire to meet Ray Mears and his pals.
4. Keswick Mountain Festival – 8th-10th June
For the endurance athlete nutters. Cycling, running and swimming races (or put them all together in a triathlon, why don’t you) then music to lull your aching muscles in the evening.
5. Wilderness Festival (Oxfordshire) – 2nd-5th Aug
Music. Food. Talks. Workshops. Activities for children. A river full of vibrant half-naked hippies. This festival has it all.
6. Adventure Travel Film Festival (London) - dates tbc (Aug)
I’ve seen founder Austin Vince talk. He is pant-wettingly hilarious. If you go purely to hear him speak then it is worth it. If you like travel films, you’ll probably enjoy it too.
7. Wilderness Gathering (Wiltshire) – 16th-19th Aug
Another festival for wood whittlers. Bushcraft with a family twist. Everything from fire-starting to deer carcase preparation. Exactly the skills you need for the next apocalypse.
8. Wildfire Adventure Camp (Kent) – 31st Aug-3rd Sept
Adults only (boo!). A whole host of activities from ice-cream making to projectiles (whatever that is) followed by an evening of jazz and rock music. Eclectic to say the least.
9. Basecamp Festival (Peak District) – dates tbc Sept?
Adults only again (hiss!). Claims to be ‘Britain’s Most Adventurous Festival. That’s a helluver claim. Workshops in the day. Talks and live music at night.
10. Alpkit’s Big Shakeout (Peak District) – 28th-30th Sept
Alpkit make brilliant gear (e.g. my bivi bag). They also have a charity to get more people outdoors. This event raises money for that charity. Workshops (ultra lightweight cooking course anyone?) and sporting events in the day and music in the night.
11. Yestival!! (Sussex) - October
A chance for loads of positive people to meet in a field. Almost entirely adventure talks and you have to brave the weather in October but well worth getting an early bird ticket.
If you can't wait 'til next year then here's a bonus event that is still to take place in 2017!!
12. Kendal Mountain Festival - 16th-19th Nov
You thought the adventure community ends because it gets cold?! Think again. Kendal keeps burning the light with films in the day and talks in the evening. They even have a crèche!
Please comment below if you know of any others worth attending. Let me know which is your favourite.
Keep adventuring!
NB - all photos shamelessly stolen from the festival websites.