Wilton Fest
Who is the festival for?
Wilton Fest is a free climbing festival held annually in the Wilton quarries.
Events
Trad Masterclass with Steve McClure
Come join us for an epic climbing experience at Wilton 2 Quarry. The masterclass is led by the legendary climber Steve McClure - a unique opportunity to learn from one of the UK’s greatest climbers.
There are two sessions available:
- Morning Masterclass – for climbers operating up to HVS
- Afternoon Masterclass – for those climbing HVS and above
Limited spaces - only 8 spaces a session. Just £25 per class.
Don't miss out on your chance to level up from some world class coaching.
Trad Masterclass with Jim Pope
Join us at Wilton 2 Quarry for an exclusive climbing masterclass with none other than Jim Pope – one of the UK’s top climbers! This is a rare chance to sharpen your skills and gain insight from a true expert of the sport.
There are two sessions available:
- Morning Masterclass – – for those climbing HVS and above
- Afternoon Masterclass – for climbers operating up to HVS
Limited spaces - only 8 spaces a session. Just £25 per class.
Whether you’re looking to push your grade or refine your technique, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the best.
Free Guided Short Walk | 10.30 - 13.30
A scenic walk through Longworth Clough and around Delph Reservoir with lots of discussion about nature and the history of the area. Led by Colin Liptrot from Moors to Mountains. Guided walks are free but must be booked in advance and places are limited.
Guided Long Walk | 14.30 - 18.30
A scenic walk over Winter Hill and through Longworth Clough with lots of discussion about nature and the history of the area. Led by Colin Liptrot of Moors to Mountains. Guided walks are free but must be booked in advance.
Bouldering Beginners Tour | 13.00 - 15.00
A tour of the local bouldering opportunities offered by the Wilton Quarries. This is a hands-on (and feet-on) exercise so bring your climbing shoes and pads. Robin Mueller and Liam Donovan will lead tours for beginners and advanced boulderers (Font 6B and up). Bouldering tours are free but must be booked in advance and places are limited.
Bouldering Advanced Tour | 13.00 - 15.00
A tour of the local bouldering opportunities offered by the Wilton Quarries. This is a hands-on (and feet-on) exercise so bring your climbing shoes and pads. Robin Mueller and Liam Donovan will lead the tour for boulderers (Font 6B / V4 and up). Bouldering tours are free but must be booked in advance and places are limited.
What to expect at Wilton Fest?
Timetable
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All day | Stalls and Exhibits |
| All day | Top Ropes |
| 10:00 | Morning Masterclasses |
| 10:00 | Introduction to Outdoor Bouldering |
| 10:30 | Guided Walk (shorter) |
| 12:00 | Accessible Climbing Demonstration; Hoists and Assists |
| 13:00 | Bouldering Tours |
| 14:00 | Afternoon Masterclasses |
| 14:00 | Introduction to Outdoor Bouldering |
| 14:30 | Guided Walk (longer) |
| 15:00 | The Thing demo |
| 16:00 | Barbecue |
| 17:15 | Lancashire Guidebook Update |
| 18:00 | Raffle and Beer |
| 19:15 | Talk |
| 20:00 | Music |
Stalls and Exhibits
The BMC, Climbers Against Cancer (CAC), Crusher Holds, and Fat Lad Climbing will all be present.
Top Ropes
Rock Over Climbing will be supervising some top ropes in Wilton 2, suitable for all abilities and ages to try climbing. No advance booking is required.
Introduction to Outdoor Bouldering
This is aimed at those who have bouldered indoors before and would like an introduction to outdoor bouldering, and will be provided by Rock Over coaches and Boreal athletes. Covering guide book use, route selection, crag etiquette, safety, bouldering, and some coaching.
Note that the introduction to bouldering is a paid extra and must be booked in advance. Booking links will be available soon!
Barbecue
Food will be available to refuel before getting back on the rock.
'The Thing' demo
Steve Chadwick demonstrates his sloper training device. Following a stroke, he used this to go from being paralysed to climbing 8b.
Lancashire Guidebook Update
Matthew Thompson will give an update on the new up and coming guidebook covering trad climbing across the county.
Raffle and Beer
Raffle tickets are on sale all day from the tea urn at basecamp. The raffle will be drawn at six, and beer will also be available at six.
Talks
Jim Pope will give a talk followed by Q&A. Presented by Rockover, Jim’s talk is called ‘For The Love Of It’ covering his life and love for climbing and adventure from a young lad in London. From seasoned comp climber, to master of hard grit repeats and new routes, hard bouldering and sport climbing around the UK. Adventures in the Alps and his own expedition new routing in Kyrgyzstan and finally back to Wilton and local crags for local adventures.
Music
Climber and musician Brandon Ridley will end the day by serenading us into the night.
Photos: Mike Hutton
BMC WiltonFest 2016
FAQs
Wilton Fest is free; however the masterclasses have an additional charge and must be booked in advance. Please book here for all masterclasses. You may also want to bring cash on the day for raffle tickets, barbecue, charity donations, or to spend at the stalls. Some stalls will also accept cards. All the parking locations listed on this website are free of charge.
None at all! Wilton Fest is a great event for absolute beginners and masters of the sport alike.
Yes! There will be plenty of time and opportunities to get on the rock, and plenty of folk with local knowledge to give you pointers.
Tea and coffee will be available, but it is recommended you bring water. Similarly the barbecue will be available from 14:30 but you may want to bring your own food, or pop down to the Wilton Arms where they have a great selection of food on the menu.