Although the pandemic restricted Kendal Mountain Festival 2020 to the internet, the festival still offered an incredible programme of outdoor films, literature and talks - all delivered seamlessly under difficult circumstances.

But brilliant as it was, gathering online simply can't compare to gathering beneath the Lake District's peaks and fells, toasting with friends old and new on the trails and in the pubs. 

This is why we're so excited for Kendal Mountain Festival 2021 - back in full form! The Adventure Uncovered crew is Kendal-bound as we speak, tickets in our emails and anticipation building.

The festival formally kicks off on Thursday, 18th November. This is also when digital access opens. For anybody unable to head to Kendal, the 2021 Online Festival Pass grants access from 6pm on 18th November to 11:59pm on the 28th November. It includes speaker events, film collections and selected feature films and premieres (a few films and events are excluded for licensing reasons). 

What better use of £32 as the nights draw in, darker and colder? Grab your tickets here.

Here are five selections we're particularly excited about, and think you might be too ... 

Precious Leader Woman

Spencer O’Brien is a world-class snowboarder from Alert Bay, British Columbia. Precious Leader Woman tells her story, from rising to the very top of elite snowboarding to reconnecting with her Indigenous heritage and venturing out into the backcountry. In 2020 we interviewed Spencer's sister, artist and snowboarder Meghann O'Brien. A talented family!

Film Collection: Uprising

This collection of short films depicts communities and activists at the nexus of adventure and social and environmental change. Be moved to action by a pioneering woman mountain guide, a young climate activist, a community harnessing democracy for climate action and more.

House of Gods

Veteran expedition leader and world-class rock climber Leo Houlding has assembled a team to undertake a big-wall expedition, climbing the iconic prow of Mount Roraima. The twist is that the film promises ‘modern ethics', with the Indigenous Akawaio people supporting the team not just to the base of the wall, but the summit. Will the film live up to the claim?

Open Mountain: Unlocking the Landscape

This discussion, interwoven with performance prose and poetry from groups underrepresented in the outdoors, represents the grassroots end of the festival. All pieces will come from writers with a connection to nature who responded to an open call for submissions. Tune in for unknown gems and voices of the future.

The North Face and Ellis Brigham Snow Night

Ok, this one doesn't necessarily have a clear social or environmental angle - although it is presented with Protect Our Winters. But with ski seasons about to start, we can't wait for the stoke this session always brings. The mountains beckon.