Two of the UK’s leading names in outdoor events and adventure culture, Raccoon Media Group and Kendal Mountain Events, have joined forces to stage North Downs Mountain Festival, a three-day outdoor cultural festival taking place at Shalford Park, Guildford, Surrey, from 11–13 June 2027.
Created as the official sister event to Kendal Mountain Festival, it will bring the spirit of Kendal to the South of England for the first time, combining adventure films, speakers, authors, artists, outdoor activities and sporting events, music, food, skills workshops, community and culture in one immersive summer festival.
Set at the gateway to the North Downs, the festival will serve a fast-growing audience of outdoor enthusiasts across London, Surrey, the South East and beyond. The event has been developed to meet increasing demand from both audiences and brands for a large-scale, accessible outdoor festival in the south, while creating a new platform for the wider outdoor industry to connect with highly engaged audiences.
Kendal Mountain Festival, established in 1980 on the edge of the Lake District National Park, is the world’s largest outdoor cultural festival for outdoor adventurers, filmmakers, athletes, writers and storytellers. Raccoon Media Group brings extensive experience in launching and scaling consumer events for passion-led communities, including within the sport, outdoor, health and wellbeing market. Together, the two organisations will create a festival that celebrates adventure in all its forms – from the mountains, trails and waterways to the stories, people and ideas shaping outdoor culture today.
At the heart of the festival lies the Basecamp Village – a vibrant hub bringing together true engagement with partner brands, the latest outdoor gear, great food, drinks and outdoor living culture. Radiating from this social core, visitors can dive into active lifestyle zones and dedicated areas tailored to every passion in the outdoor community.
Wild Water will celebrate kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and open water swimming, while The Big Blue will bring together surf, kiting, sailing and freediving. Vertical Worlds will focus on climbing, bouldering and mountain culture, while The Trails will bring road, trail, gravel, cycling, bikepacking, and varying lengths of trail run to take on (10k – ultra) into the heart of the event.
Visitors will also be able to explore hiking, navigation and wild camping in Backcountry, connect with wildlife, conservation and ecology through Nature Connection, and discover films, books and talks at The Story House. Finally, Skills & Creativity will host hands-on workshops, practical sessions and creative experiences.
Located less than an hour from London by rail, Guildford provides a highly accessible setting for the launch. The surrounding North Downs landscape offers direct access to trails, chalk ridges, open downland, waterways and some of the South East’s most loved outdoor spaces, including the North Downs Way, Newlands Corner and Box Hill.
Globally recognised for its impact, each year the Kendal Mountain Festival attracts more than 25,000 visitors and injects up to £4 million into the Cumbrian economy, while actively promoting inclusivity and environmental care. The North Downs Mountain Festival seeks to deliver a mirroring impact in Surrey. By bridging the gap between urban populations and the Surrey Hills, the project will promote sustainable, active lifestyles. Economically, the festival will serve as a commercial catalyst, directing substantial consumer footfall into Guildford’s independent business ecosystem.
“The launch of North Downs Mountain Festival is a defining moment for Raccoon Media Group,” said Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group. “Kendal Mountain Festival is globally respected across the adventure world and this partnership brings together a powerful combination of heritage, community and launch expertise.
“We have talked for a long time about what a true southern outdoor festival could look like, and this feels like the right moment, the right location and the right partnership. What makes it even more special is that it is happening on our doorstep. Raccoon’s HQ is based in Guildford, and the North Downs is a landscape our team knows and loves. We cannot wait to welcome the outdoor community here next summer.”
Jacqui Scott, CEO of Kendal Mountain Festival, commented: “Kendal has always been about more than a place. It is about people, stories, adventure and the shared experience of being outdoors. Partnering with Raccoon Media Group gives us the opportunity to take that spirit to a new stage and create something genuinely exciting for the South of England. “The North Downs is a beautiful and historic landscape, and Guildford gives us a brilliant base to bring together adventurers, storytellers, athletes, families, brands and outdoor enthusiasts. We are thrilled to be working together to shape a festival with real heart, energy and purpose.”
