Kendal Mountain film festival 2023 celebrates adventure for all

Diversity was the watchword at this year’s gathering of outdoors lovers in Cumbria, with all races, sizes and abilities celebrated

Frustration at the lack of plus-size outdoor clothing and a feeling that people her size are unwelcome in the outdoors led Steph Wetherell to launch Every Body Outdoors last year.

The Instagram page she set up with four women whom she’d met online clocked up 1,000 followers in its first 24 hours. “We realised there were so many larger-bodied people who didn’t feel comfortable in the outdoor space – they’d had bad experiences perhaps, or struggled to find suitable gear. We wanted to create a community to show that people of all sizes can enjoy outdoor activities, from cycling to swimming, hiking or climbing. There’s a lot of us out there.”