Hosted and organised by The Lakeland Mountain Guides, The Lakeland Festival of Light is set to return this year on April 30. The event started back in 2015 and has since raised over £64,000 for various charities. This year’s festival will once again support the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs for the second time. Although you don’t need to buy a ticket to attend the event, visitors are welcome to make a donation of their choice to the charity. This can be done on the night or through the events Just Giving fundraising page.

What happens at the festival?

The festival is a beautiful display of light where The Lakeland Mountain Guides team and anyone who wishes to get involved, line the footpath on Catbells from top to bottom with head torches, illuminating the spine of the mountain. This April’s event will be the first since 2019 due to the pandemic in 2020 and bad weather conditions in 2021. The team have revealed they are super excited about this year’s festival, claiming they are ‘stoked to be able to bring the festival back after having to give 2020 a miss.’

How can I get involved?

Just turn up! There’s no need to book a spot on the mountain, anyone can get involved as long as you arrive with the right gear. The night will be cold, so ensure you wrap up warm, pack extra layers, wear suitable hiking shoes or boots and don’t forget your head torch!

On the night, meet the team at the Rawnsley Centre Car Park (CA12 5NP) in Keswick at around 5:30pm. There will be an event briefing and a raffle before heading up to Catbells, preparing to the light the mountain up around 45 minutes after sunset, usually about 9pm. The walk to Catbells is around 2.5 miles on good footpaths and you can head as far up or down the mountain path as you feel comfortable. Well-behaved dogs and children are also welcome too! The event’s professional photographers then get a snap of the mountain before everyone descends safely and walks back to Keswick, with the festival ending at around 10pm.

Where can I watch the festival?

If you don’t want to get involved on the mountain, but would like to see the stunning results, Crow Park in Keswick offers an amazing vantage point and has nearby parking. A short walk to Friar’s Crag is also a brilliant viewing platform. Both options are accessible and suitable for wheelchair users.

Take a look at some stunning photos from The Lakeland Festival of Light throughout the years…

The Lakeland Festival of Light set to illuminate the mountains for the sixth year