Record-breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont to appear at Kendal Mountain Festival

The British ultra-endurance cyclist, who circumnavigated the globe in 79 days to set a new record earlier this month, is a guest speaker at the four-day event, taking over the town from November 16 to 19.

Adam Ondra, who recently conquered the toughest climb on earth - the overhanging face of Hanshelleren Cave in Flatanger, Norway - and Sir Chris Bonington, who is one of the UK’s most revered mountaineers, are among the other high-profile names confirmed to appear.

Kendal Mountain Festival is known as the "Oscars of outdoor filmmaking", where more than 100 films are screened hoping to win one of 12 awards.

Specialist sessions also take place covering climbing, biking, snowsports, endurance sports, caving, adventure, exploration and outdoor swimming.

New for 2017 is Mini Explorers Childcare, allowing parents to get a well deserved break from their tots if they so choose.

Mums and dads can catch Alfred Wainwright’s Mountain Guides, a free family-specific interactive session or a family adventure screening in the morning, then drop their kids off at childcare in the afternoon and catch the likes of Mark Beaumont recount his around the world cycle quest.

Edinburgh-based Beaumont, 34, completed the epic 18,000-mile Artemis World Cycle challenge despite three serious falls off his bike and facing conditions such as fierce head winds, sub-zero temperatures and forest fire smog.

The adventurer set off from France in July on a mission to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days and arrived back in Paris on day 79 of the journey - 24 hours ahead of schedule. His feat was later given official verification by Guinness World Records, knocking 44 days - a third - off the previous record of 123 days.

Unlike other festivals, at Kendal visitors can pick and choose which events they want to go to, meaning they are only paying for things they want to see.

A full programme of events can be found at www.mountainfest.co.uk/programme