Highlights from Fort William Mountain Festival

Sitting at home at half past midnight on Sunday night, I had to pinch myself that the last 72 hours had been real. I’d just arrived back from the Fort William Mountain Festival and, once again, it had felt like the best one yet.

Emerging from Christmas, I’m perennially greeted with that familiar feeling that the Festival is just around the corner. Any preparations already made never feel like enough, given that in less than six weeks we’d be bringing four events, three workshops and an exhibition to Fort William. Added to this, I’d joined the volunteer committee after the Festival in 2025 and had taken on a range of additional responsibilities. Our programme for 2026 would see a number of developments, alongside some of our regular features, and in this note I’m going to try to capture a few personal highlights.

The people

It goes without saying that without the people, the Festival simply couldn’t be what it is. But it’s not just people being there that is the highlight – it’s how they turn up. From the stage crew working on the AV set-up, to the volunteers who make sure everything runs smoothly over the weekend; from the exhibitors who showcase their work, to the presenters and workshop providers who tell their stories and share their knowledge; right through to the audiences who come along to see the shows – time and time again I experienced nothing but positivity and warmth.

The creativity

What has been wonderful to see over the last few years is the growth of the Festival from a creative arts perspective, and this year felt like a big step forward. The exhibition space in the foyer featured not only the Press and Highland Bookshop, with regular exhibitors (and Creatives workshop hosts) Phoebe Sleath and Jack Spowart, but this time enjoyed the company of a range of artists curated by Morven Stewart in The Shape of the Summits.

Mountain Voices, a collaboration within the Festival and supported by the Highland Bookshop, brought spoken word, song and musical performance from 12 performers of all ages to the stage – all inspired by the mountain environment. Seeing the next generation of musicians playing alongside those currently leading the field, and poets and writers who had travelled from many corners of Scotland (some sharing their work in public for the first time), was magical. At the same time, watching a reading of poetry pre-recorded by a writer no longer able to visit the hills made us thankful for what we have. We’re indebted to the performers who came to the show. A huge thanks also to Rich Mitchell, who helped pull everything together and compèred the event, and to Ewan Robertson and the Limelights team who supported it behind the scenes (and on stage, in Ewan’s case!).

Saturday morning saw 30 participants take part in our three workshops: Drawing the Mountains, Painting the Mountains, and our outdoor story pitching workshop. A massive thank you to Phoebe Sleath, Jack Spowart and Karen Emslie for running them. It’s so nice to be able to combine creativity with getting outdoors into the places that we love.

Behind the Lens welcomed four of Scotland’s leading photographers and filmmakers for a panel discussion about their craft. The lively discussion led to engaging audience questions that we had to cut short due to time. Noted as a career highlight by one of the panellists, it was fantastic to hear stories from behind the scenes and hear about the work that goes into getting the phenomenal photos and footage we see in books and online. Possibly the most enjoyable session of the weekend for me – having relaxed a bit after the success of Mountain Voices the evening before! Big thanks to Rachel Sarah, Johnny Cook, Ryan Balharry and Hamish Frost for being such a great panel.

Sunday brought our final event, Publishing the Outdoors. We added this late in the planning, seizing the opportunity presented by Lucas Dietrich of Thames & Hudson being in attendance. An extra dimension came with the addition of Scottish climber Dave Macleod, who has very successfully self-published three books over the years. Despite being a late addition to the programme, the event attracted 50 audience members who heard honest insights, a range of perspectives, and “discussion without ego”. Check out this article from Alex Roddie, who attended the event.

The programme of events showcasing the activities that take place outdoors has always been fantastic at Fort William, and continues to get better each year. It’s been a privilege to be part of the growing cultural and arts side, and it’s exciting to think about where this will go next.

A place for making and deepening connection

It’s safe to say that some of the relationships I’ve made – and that have grown – in my time visiting the Festival have become some of my deepest. Planning events throughout the year, helping one another through moments of uncertainty, and working together on delivery – plus sharing time at the stands, the ceilidh, and out on the hill – has led to friendships that I deeply value. At the same time, this last weekend brought new connections with prospective authors, other creatives, colleagues in the industry, and many others in our outdoor community. It’s the Festival that has provided the opportunity for this to happen, and that is something truly special.

There is so much more that could be said, but the best thing to do is probably to come along, get stuck in, and experience it for yourself. What I’ve described here is just a fraction of what goes on, and there really is something for everyone.

My overwhelming feeling, writing two days after the event, is one of gratitude. In the six years I’ve been involved, I’ve seen – and experienced – growth in the Festival, the team that supports it, our work at the Press, and in myself. We’re lucky to have such an event in the Highlands: a gathering that is constantly seeking new ideas, broadening our appreciation of mountain culture, and supporting people to be the best that they can be. I’m already looking forward to 2027.

Images

Lead image: Lachie Robinson at Mountain Voices On a Treaverse of Liathach © Elly Lucas (@elly_lucas)
Behind the Lens panel image © Sarah Johnson
Jack, Phoebe & Rob at the exhibition © Owen Sinclair
Painting the mountains © Phoebe Sleath