Kendal Mountain Festival: UK's biggest outdoor adventure

We’re off to the Kendal Mountain Festival! This huge social gathering for outdoors and adventure fans has been on our UK bucket list for some time, so we’re mega excited to be there this year. Attracting over 20,000 people, this Lake District event is one of the most diverse outdoor festivals in the world, covering everything from world film premieres to a 10k trail run at its legendary basecamp.

Fancy coming along but not sure what the festival is or how to get there? Read on for everything you need to know.

What’s it all about?

First up, an overview of what to expect from the Kendal Mountain Festival weekend. It’s a heady mix of cultural and outdoor events, letting outdoorsy attendees mingle to their hearts’ content. Here’s a quick overview:

• World and UK film premieres

• Film competition with 12 categories

• Family Adventure film sessions

• A “fast and furious” 10k trail run

• Events celebrating adventure sports

• Tented “Basecamp” village with speaker stages

• Photography competition

• Literature talks with book launches

• Mountain inspired art for sale

• Local food and drink

Plus of course and loads of festival parties… brush up your best (or worst) dancefloor moves.

I wanna go… when is it?

The festival kicks off on the evening of Thursday 17th November and buzzes until Sunday the 20th.

And where?

The action’s all set in the famous Lake District market town of Kendal, across various venues including Abbot Hall Park, the Shakespeare Centre, Kendal Town Hall and Kendal Library – all easily reached by foot. Start off at the free and tentedBasecamp Village, the festival heart and its social hub.

I’m in. How much are tickets and where can I buy them?

Entry to Basecamp is free. Festival events are priced separately at £7.50 and upwards (£6 for under-18s).Browse and book Kendal Mountain Festival events.

How do I get to Kendal?

Get to Kendal by train, bus or coach, thenhire a van in Cumbria as your mountain festival base – more details on getting to Kendal are below*. Or drive to Kendal in one of our vans for hire in the UK: the town is 15 minutes from Junction 36 on the M6 and 20 minutes from Junction 37.

Whichever transport method you opt for, the festival organisers recommend using public transport to get into Kendal on the festival weekend – the town gets very busy when events are in full swing.

Motorhome, campervan and caravan hire in the Lake District

Where do I park my wheels?

Kendal and Lake District campsites are plentiful. A few of our top picks are:

Sizergh Caravan and Camping (3.5 miles)

Family-run glamping site and caravan park with award-winning farm shop and café. Pitches with electric hook-up. 3 nights from 17th November: £84.

Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club Site (3.5 miles)

Between Kendal and Bowness-on-Windermere. Hardstanding pitches with electric hook-up still available. 4 nights from 17th November: £100.05/members £79.20.

Woodclose Park (11 miles)

Award-winning wildlife haven on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Fully serviced hardstanding motorhome pitch with electric hook-up, drainage and water. 3 nights from 17th November: £69

See also:

Motorhome campsites in the Lake District 2022

UK Campsites Kendal

Pitchup Kendal

Lake District campsites open all year

A guide to the Lake District National Park

What should I pack?

It’s November in Cumbria, so it’ll be cold and likely to be wet. Most events are indoors, but as you’ll be walking between venues, dress appropriately in warm layers and sensible shoes.

Further details on getting to Kendal

Train

The nearest Lake District railway station to Kendal is Oxenholme. Take the connecting service to Kendal from there, then walk five minutes to Kendal town centre.

Bus

Take a coach to the Lake District if you’re travelling from outside the region:National Express to Penrith is available from several points including Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester airport and London.

More locally, theStagecoach 555 bus connects Kendal with Lancaster, whileSouth Lakeland buses to and from Kendal are regular from several Lake District spots.

Car share

The British Mountaineering Council has launched a lift sharing platform. Visit theBMC Liftshare webpage to see how it all works.

Bike

Staying at a Kendal campsite and cycling in to the festival is easy: bike racks are all around town. There are also 20 free and secure bike boxes for up to 24 hours’ use:

• Marks & Spencer’s car park – 5 boxes; own bike lock required

• Westmorland Shopping Centre/Blackhall Yard – 5 boxes; own bike lock required

• Better Kendal Leisure Centre, Burton Road – 10 boxes; keys available at reception

If you do drive into Kendal, it’s best to plan ahead and look for parking options:

• Car parks around Kendal managed bySouth Lakeland District Council

• Cumbria County Council Car Park behind County Hall onBusher Walk

• Public and private car parks listed onParkopedia orJustPark

We'll see you there!