5k swim announced for 2018 Keswick Mountain Festival

Keswick Mountain Festival has announced its programme of sports events for 2018, which will include a 5k swim for the first time. The full schedule includes 17 senior and junior events spread over Saturday 9 June and Sunday 10 June, including trail runs, triathlons, aquathlons (swim-run events), open water swims and a cycling sportive.

As well as the 5k swim, KMF also offers 1500m and 3k open water swims. All take place in Derwentwater with views of Catbells, Skiddaw and the Borrowdale Valley. The course for the 5k swim will take you across to the shores of Derwent Isle, swimming alongside its shores before returning to the Festival base on the shore of Derwentwater.

Keswick Mountain Festival is one of the biggest and best loved outdoor events in the UK, with a unique mix of live music, sporting events, outdoor adventures, high profile speakers, taster activities, exhibitor stands and camping attracting 20,000 visitors and 3,000 athletes taking part in events. Previous headliners have included KT Tunstall, Cast, Peatbog Faeries, Scouting for Girls and Toploader.

Everyone who enters a 2018 sports event will receive a technical t-shirt and free concert ticket for the live music on either Friday 8 June or Saturday 9 June.  Entries are now open for all events on the KMF website.

“The Keswick Mountain Festival sports events get more popular every year, come rain or shine.  We’ve carefully developed the programme to add in opportunities for a wider range of visitors to participate and now have a fantastic mix of races that between them offer something for everyone.  Each event gives participants the chance to explore the amazing Cumbrian landscape and lakes, and the start and finish area on the Festival Village provides a brilliant setting for spectators to cheer on friends and family.  We’re anticipating another brilliant sporting weekend in 2018,” says Nicola Meadley, KMF director.

The full 2018 Keswick Mountain Festival sports event programme includes:

Saturday 9 June

Sprint (formerly Short) Triathlon

Junior Sprint Triathlon

Sprint Triathlon Relay

5K Trail Run

Junior 5K Trail Run

25K Trail Run

Back o’ Skiddaw 70K Cycling Sportive

5K Open Water Swim

Sunday 10 June

Standard (formerly Long) Triathlon

Standard Triathlon Relay

10K Trail Run

50K Trail Ultra

1500M Derwent Island Open Water Swim

3K Derwent Island Open Water Swim

Junior Aquathlon (11-12)

Junior Aquathlon (13-14)

Junior Aquathlon (15-16)