One of many events to be called off in 2020, the Lakeland Festival of Light returns next month.


Starting back in 2015, the Lakeland Mountain Guides-led event has raised in excess of £63,000 for 5 different charities and have had more than 3,600 people help light up the fells. After last year’s postponement, the group are delighted to welcome interested parties on Saturday October 2. Sponsored by LightUpU, all money raised is in aid of the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs Association. 


The proposed plan of action for the evening is that guests and organisers shall rendezvous at the Rawnsley Centre Car Park n Keswick at 4pm, and after an event briefing and a raffle the walk to Catbells will commence. The distance between car park and the fell is around 2.5 miles, with good trails easing the journey.


After arriving at Catbells, the guides will then line the fell from the top to the bottom, ensuring that guests to go as far as they’d like. Professional photographers will then be on hand to take striking pictures of the illuminations, some examples of which can be purchased via the Mountain Guides website.


Once the pictures are taken the group shall then safely descend before walking back to Keswick, with the event wrapping up by about 10pm.


Participants are advised to wrap up warm as conditions will be chilly and that a head torch is essential to help walkers travel through the dark.

 

Discussing the return of the event, founder Matt Le Voi said: "It's exciting to be able to plan with confidence the return of the festival. This festival is a real highlight in the calendar for not just us, but seemingly people all over the UK who travel to Keswick to participate in, and to watch the event. For this year, our aim is to keep it simple and light the spine of Catbells in the way we have done in previous years, celebrating the fact we are able to be back outside in large numbers, enjoying such events. We must not forget that the event will also raise much needed funds for a superb charity, one of many who have no doubt been hit due to the pandemic."

 

Donations to the charity can be made in cash on the night, or via a JustGiving link that will be shared closer to the event.