Come see us at the Fort William Mountain Festival

Set in the heart of Lochaber, the Fort William Mountain Festival is now something of an institution and an integral part of Scotland’s diverse outdoor community. This annual celebration of the outdoors attracts around 1,500 people over five days for adrenaline-filled, thought-provoking films, workshops and presentations. There’s also an exhibition zone and an interactive space where guests can chat with experts in their fields.

This year, we’re delighted to be hosting two events at the festival as well as hosting a stand with the Highland Bookshop.

On Friday, 17 February, author Mike Dixon will be in conversation with renowned photographer John Cleare and SMP editor Deziree Wilson to discuss the origins and inspiration behind our latest nonfiction title, One Man’s Legacy. Over the course of an hour, the trio will delve into Patey’s character, achievements and what it was like to research and write a book about such a legendary figure. John, who provided much of the original photography for the book, has unique insight into the era that saw climbing really hit the mainstream media. Tickets sold so quickly that we had to find a bigger venue to accommodate everyone who wanted to come along―if you haven’t already got yours, this is a rare opportunity to find out more about the great man and get your copy of the book signed.

Next up, in tandem with The Scottish Mountaineering Club, we’ll be presenting a two-hour winter climbing discussion with Simon Richardson, David Kerr and Neil Adams, authors of the sumptuous new SMC Scottish Winter Climbs guidebooks. Hugely experienced in their respective areas, Simon, David and Neil are bursting with enthusiasm to share their personal motivations, tales of memorable days out, insights and top tips to help you discover some of Scotland’s finest winter routes and maximise your output this season.

Pulling the information together for a guidebook is a complex and time-consuming process, not least because we want to cater for every kind of climber. Reliable trade routes; once-in-a-lifetime ticks; quick-hit options; specific objectives; ultra and little-known classics; esoteric gems … the new series has something for everyone, and our authors will be on hand after the discussion to impart their wisdom in an audience Q&A.

Do come and join us for an evening of tales and inspiration. If you’re quick, tickets for our winter climbing panel are still available at: https://mountainfestival.co.uk/ticket/events/winter-climbing-panel/. We’ll also be in attendance at the exhibition zone to talk about our books and our digital platform, Creatives, and we’re running a competition to win special edition copies of The Fox of Glencoe and The Great Sea Cliffs of Scotland.