Leo Houlding on Scafell Pike promoting the area as the UK's adventure capital
Climbing star Leo Houlding will officially reopen a historic Lake District building at the centre of fellrunning challenge.
The Staveley-based adventurer will perform the ceremony next Monday at Keswick’s Moot Hall, the starting – and end – point for the 24-hour Bob Graham Round involving the ascent of 42 Lakeland peaks. The hall is now the home of the town’s information centre and will reopen following refurbishment.
The Moot Hall now has a first floor ‘hub’ promoting Cumbria as the country’s adventure capital. The centre will enable visitors to book a range of outdoor action activities.
The climber will perform the opening ceremony at 3pm on Monday, 17 May.
National Park head of information services Tim Haley said: “We do hope the public, especially our local residents, will want to come along and help us celebrate this important event in the history of Moot Hall.
“Moot Hall is really important to us as a vital source of information for all of our Keswick area visitors. But is also plays an important part in the Keswick area community, as a venue for local events, and it also acts as a general meeting place for a variety of local groups and organisations.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved with this refurbishment and I’m excited about the role Moot Hall will now play in promoting the adventure activity side of holidays in Cumbria in general and around Keswick in particular.”
The Northwest Regional Development Agency has funded the improvements.
The Moot Hall, Keswick. Photo: Mick Knapton CC-BY-SA-3.0
The present Moot Hall dates from 1813, though there has been a building on the site since the 16th century. It has served as a courthouse, a prison, a museum, a town hall and a butter and fruit market.
The Bob Graham Round was first completed by Keswick guest-house owner Mr Graham in 1932 and involves most of the Lake District’s northern and central fells. More than 1,500 runners have completed the round.
Houlding, 29, is renowned for some of his audacious climbs on El Capitan in the Yosemite national park. He also took part in the 2007 Everest expedition led by Conrad Anker which retraced Mallory and Irving’s steps on the world’s highest peak. He has also climbed the Angel of the North in Gateshead.
