Climber Tim Emmett
A galaxy of climbing stars will be joined by television’s best known bushcraft and survival expert in a Lake District festival.
Ray Mears will join a world-class rollcall of mountaineers including Britain’s climbing elder statesman and local lad Sir Chris Bonington at May’s Keswick Mountain Festival.
Also on the bill will be Tim Emmett, who starred with Dave MacLeod in the live BBC broadcast of The Big Climb last year, with both men successfully climbing the huge overhang of Sròn Uladail on Harris right on cue for the closing credits.
And filmmaker Alastair Lee, who has put together so many of climbing’s most memorable productions recently, including Leo Houlding’s Asgard Project, will also be on the bill.
Neil Gresham, equally at home on rock or ice, is one of the few climbers in the world able to crack E10 grades, including his second ascent of the notorious Equilibrium on Burbage in the Peak District. He will be among speakers at the Theatre by the Lake, venue for all the Keswick Mountain Festival talks.
Festival director Lucy Bennett said: “Every year, we receive feedback from visitors that they get a huge amount of enjoyment out of seeing and hearing about the adventures of the high profile personalities who we bring to the Keswick Mountain Festival.
Ray Mears will give two presentations at the festival
“So, every year, we have to try and put together an even better programme of speakers than before. Looking at our line up for 2011, I think we’ve comfortably achieved that with some fantastic names, offering a real variety of presentations that will light up the festival.”
The festival, which was first held in 2007, will also see a series of action-packed mountain biking films screened.
And Mark Beaumont, who at 25 smashed the world record for cycling around the globe, completing the circuit an incredible 81 days faster than the previous best, will give a presentation. His adventures have featured in BBC documentaries and he will share his films, photography and stories.
Polar adventurer Geoff Somers will also speak at the festival, which will run from 18 to 22 May.
Fell racing, mountain biking and wild swimming will also feature in the festival.
More details are prices are on the Keswick Mountain Festival website.
