Festival celebrates the great outdoors.

An exciting new festival celebrating outdoor adventure in the dramatic North Lakes of Cumbria will boast a selection of weird and wonderful events.

A personal shopper service, 24-hour walking boot fittings, soothing foot massages and a Viking longship ride will all feature during the first Keswick Mountain Festival (KMF) from May 16-20.

They will complement a packed five-day programme that includes everything from organised walks and climbs to ground-breaking film screenings and skills workshops.

The festival will centre on the pretty fell-flanked town of Keswick, which has long been a hub of outdoor adventure and lies at the heart of Britain's best adventure playground, Cumbria ( The Lake District.

Key outdoor retailers from the town have pledged their full support for the festival. The group of official KMF retail partners include Cotswold Outdoor, George Fisher, Rathbones and Ultimate Outdoors. Each store is arranging individual partnerships with leading outdoor suppliers and developing a schedule of activities, in-store demonstrations and workshops designed to interest shoppers and attract visitors.

Also supporting the festival are local brewery Jennings and the Rheged centre, home of the National Mountaineering Exhibition.

Celebrated mountaineering writer and broadcaster Robin Ashcroft will be giving a talk at the festival opening ceremony on May 16t. Robin is curator of the National Mountaineering Exhibition.

To show that fashion can be just as important on the fell summit as the High Street, Cotswold Outdoor shop in Keswick's Market Place will be offering a free personal shopper service throughout the festival.

Staff will become Trinny and Susannahs of outdoor clothing to ensure that people are not only well equipped but also look like a dedicated follower of outdoor fashion.

For more information or to book a session contact Cotswold Outdoors on [phone] or email keswick.shop@ cotswoldoutdoor.com.

There's no rest for most adrenaline-fuelled outdoor lovers so what better way to feed the passion than taking advantage of a 24-hour boot fitting service at Ultimate Outdoors store.

During this fitting marathon, boots will get cheaper by the hour so the earlier you rise the cheaper you will get them. Visit www.ultimateoutdoors.co.uk for more information.

If you prefer life on the waves then there is no better, or unusual, way to discover dramatic Derwentwater than on a Viking Longship.

An experienced helmsman from watersport providers Platty Plus will lead the adventure around the lake from the scenic Lodore landing point on Friday, May 18. For more information visit www.plattyplus.co.uk

With a hectic schedule of walks and activities taking place during the festival even the most hardened outdoor fan will feel the strain so get pampered with a soothing foot massage.

Skilled masseurs will be in Market Square throughout the festival to sooth those aching feet while collecting donations for outdoor activity charity for disabled people Friends of Calvert Trust.

For women walkers who have been caught short during a stroll deep in the countryside then help could be at hand thanks to a new product that is sponsoring a ladies-only walk in Keswick on Wednesday May 16.

Shewee is a handy new portable urinating device for women and is sponsoring a scenic walk to Causey Pike, which includes a boat ride across Derwentwater. There's a free Shewee for everyone on the walk and places can be booked by calling Keswick Tourist Information Centre on [phone].

It's not all about quirky events however. There's canoeing on dramatic Derwentwater, a classic mountain walk over Blencathra, paragliding sessions, ghyll scrambling, Nordic walking, GPS navigation, orienteering and numerous special interest walks covering history, nature and geology.

There are also plenty of fascinating talks and workshops including seminars on landscape photography, backpacking and camping and talks by local outdoors hero Chris Bonington and a special session with Simon Yates, whose story inspired the hit film Touching the Void.

The festival will also give visitors the perfect excuse to spreads their wings and discover more about this beautiful corner of The Lakes.

Delve back in time and shroud yourself in the mysticism of Castlerigg Stone Circle, an easy walk from Keswick, or if you are more ambitious then head for the imposing peak of Skiddaw and capture awesome panoramic views from the summit.

A journey along the Newlands Valley just south of Keswick is a retreat into peace, tranquillity and beautiful countryside before the road rises to Honister Slate Mine perched at the summit of Honister Pass.

This family-friendly attraction gives a fascinating insight into the area's long association with mining and how it continues to make roofing slate for homes across the country. www.honister-slate-mine.co.uk

Continue the journey to beautiful Buttermere and the easy to reach peak of Haystacks, Alfred Wainwright's favourite walk and where his ashes are scattered.

There is also peaceful Crummock Water and lovely Loweswater, a major filming location for the recent box office hit film Miss Potter.

Carry on to sweeping Lake Bassenthwaite before immersing in the wonderful surrounds of Whinlatter Forest Park, England's only true mountain forest with miles of waymarked trails for walkers boasting spectacular views. www.forestry.gov.uk/ northwestengland

You can also try your hand at Slacklining ( a fast growing outdoor sport that similar to tightrope walking. Slacklining is a balance sport, where participants balance on a slack bouncy line, almost like a rubber band that is attached to two fixed points, usually trees. The line is set just a few feet above the ground which means little chance of injury but scope to do more impressive tricks and stunts. It requires less equipment than tightrope walking but more skill. Needle Sports in Keswick is hosting free introduction to Slacklining sessions at its store in Main Street throughout the festival.

* For more information contact [phone] or email [e-mail] www.needlesports.com.

The Festival website at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk contains full details of the planned "hero lectures", regular updates to the activity calendar and information on how to sign up for guided walks and activities.