FUREY
FESTIVAL
17-19th October 2025
At Plas y Brenin, the National Mountain Centre, Capel Curig, North Wales
Tom Furey Memorial Trust Fundraising Festival 2025
Furey Festival–a weekend dedicated to sharing our passion for the mountains and the activities that bring us together in these incredible landscapes. Whether you’re just beginning your outdoor journey or an experienced instructor seeking CPD opportunities, this event is for you! Join us at Plas y Brenin, the National Mountain Centre, Capel Curig, North Wales, and immerse yourself in a weekend of learning, adventure, and community. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Throughout the weekend, we have a fantastic lineup of sessions, and we hope at least one or two will catch your interest! From basic navigation to technical rope-work, mountain first aid to introductory sessions, and with lots of family orientated sessions too, there’s something for everyone. We’ll also explore wildlife, geology, and pre-assessment prep, ensuring a well-rounded experience for all skill levels.Alongside these workshops, you’ll have the chance to meet and connect with like-minded people, and pick up valuable new skills — all while having a great time!
GUEST SPEAKER
Saturday 18th October 2025 at 7pm
We’re thrilled to welcome a special guest speaker from the world of climbing and mountaineering
CHARITY KIT SALE
Bring along any unwanted mountaineering gear on Saturday to pass on, with all proceeds going directly to the Tom Furey Memorial Trust.
What courses are on offer, and how do I book?
A minimum donation of £25 per half-day session, £50 for a full-day workshop with 100% of this going directly into the Tom Furey Memorial Trust (child tickets available). Your contributions help us continue our mission of making mountaineering education accessible to those who might otherwise miss out, allowing more people to safely enjoy the mountains of the UK and beyond.
Of course, this is just a minimum donation — any additional contributions are greatly appreciated! You can donate via the link below, or we’ll be able to accept extra donations on the day. To ensure accessibility, we are also offering one free place per workshop for those experiencing financial hardship. If this applies to you, please email: tomfureymt@yahoo.com with details of the workshop(s) you’d like to attend. We’re committed to making sure everyone has the chance to learn and grow in the mountains!
FUREY
FESTIVAL
WHATS ON
FULL WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
TWILIGHT TRAILS (6:30-9pm)
Head-torches at the ready! This year at Furey Festival we have a magical evening adventure planned that invites you to experience the outdoors in a whole new way. We'll have two leaders on hand to offer a longer and shorter route to cover all ages and abilities (Min age: 6 years).
FRIDAY EVENING WORKSHOPS
REC LEVEL 3 FIRST AID
A two day course (16 hours). The outdoor first aid course is designed to introduce a systematic way of first aid for managing casualties. Topic learning and practicals intermixed with scenarios of real situations. This course is the minimum requirement for the majority of Outdoor Instructor qualifications.
SATURDAY FULL DAY WORKSHOPS (9-5pm)
SELF-RESCUE FOR CLIMBERS
Work out how we can solve problems on the crag, whether that be ascending a rope to escape, or hoisting our climber back onto the rock after falling off an overhanging crux!
BUILD BETTER BELAYS
Fine-tune your belay building skills, this session covers anchor systems, gear placement, redundancy principles, and best practices for belay transitions.
MAPS MADE SIMPLE
We'll spend a day concentrating on the details so you'll be able to glean more information from the map so you can roam deeper into remote areas.
PLACING FIXED PROTECTION
Hands on experience of placing both resin, expansion and removable bolts. An understanding of the ethics / considerations / guidebook updates etc involved.
FIRST STEPS IN TRAIL RUNNING
Our Trail Running workshop is a fun and relaxed full day that will introduce you to running in the mountains and on technical terrain.
GUIDED MOUNTAIN WALK
Designed for all abilities, this walk blends adventure with insight, offering fascinating stories, local knowledge, and plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.
INTRO TO SKETCHING AND PAINTING
Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this session will guide you through basic sketching and painting techniques using nature as your inspiration.
SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS (9-12:30pm)
FAMILY MULTI-ACTIVITY
Action-packed session filled with fun, hands-on outdoor activities for all ages. Designed to encourage adventure, teamwork, and connection with nature, this workshop offers a mix of games, challenges, and skills-based exercises suitable for the whole family.
TRAILSIDE BIKE REPAIRS
Teaches you essential skills to keep your ride going when things go wrong on the trail. From fixing punctures and repairing chains to adjusting brakes and gears, this hands-on session covers common issues you might encounter while out riding.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS (1-4:30pm)
MINDFULNESS IN THE OUTDOORS
A guided workshop designed to deepen your relationship with nature and cultivate presence in the wild. Through gentle exercises, breathwork, and sensory awareness techniques, you'll learn to slow down, quiet the mind, and fully immerse yourself in the natural world.
FAMILY BUSHCRAFT
An interactive workshop where families can learn essential outdoor survival skills together. From fire lighting and shelter building to basic tool use and natural navigation, this hands-on session encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and a deeper connection with the wild.
KIDS MOUNTAIN BIKING
An exciting and confidence-boosting adventure for young riders looking to develop their skills on the trails. Led by experienced instructors, these sessions cover essential techniques such as balance, braking, cornering, and navigating different terrains—all in a fun and supportive environment.
SUNDAY FULL DAY WORKSHOPS (9-5pm)
SELF-RESCUE FOR CLIMBERS
Work out how we can solve problems on the crag, whether that be ascending a rope to escape, or hoisting our climber back onto the rock after falling off an overhanging crux!
CREATIVE WRITING
For writers of all levels to spark inspiration and develop their storytelling skills. We'll guide you through exercises, group discussions, and one-on-one feedback, you'll experiment with different styles while honing your voice.
MOUNTAIN LEADER REFRESHER
Our Mountain Leader refresher day start off with a review of your current experience and a discussion about the consolidation period. This day will be a mountain day, with a focus on navigation.
CRIB GOCH FOR ML’S
This workshop is designed to share some of the useful bits of information on the ridge discuss different ways to manage the terrain and your decision making with groups.
GUIDED MOUNTAIN WALK
Designed for all abilities, this walk blends adventure with insight, offering fascinating stories, local knowledge, and plenty of opportunities to connect with nature.
SCRAMBLING FOR BEGINNERS
A great way of seeing a different side of a mountain area. It'll get you places footpaths won't and also add that extra bit of excitement if that's what you're after.
SUNDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS (9-12:30pm)
KIT REPAIR - SEWING & DARNING
The Kit Repair Workshop teaches you essential skills to fix and maintain your outdoor gear, helping you extend its lifespan and stay adventure-ready.
FAMILY STORY WALKS
These family story walks weave local legends, nature tales, and interactive storytelling into the journey, sparking imagination for all ages.
WELSH LANGUAGE & LANDSCAPE
Designed for learners of all levels, this experience blends interactive lessons with outdoor activities, helping you practice your Welsh.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS (9-12:30pm)
HARVESTING FROM THE WILD
Designed for all ages to explore the natural world through the art of foraging food. You’ll learn to identify edible plants, berries, and herbs.
KIT REPAIR - ZIP REPAIR
From patching waterproofs and mending zips to repairing tents and reproofing fabrics, this hands-on session covers practical techniques using simple tools and materials.
FAMILY CLIMBING SESSION
Family Climbing Sessions offer a fun and exciting way for families to climb together in a safe and supportive environment.
Accommodation and food
Accommodation on site can be booked directly with Plas y Brenin: info@pyb.co.uk (Do email, even if the online booking system says they’re full, as it doesn’t always work!). There are also a number of other bunkhouses, Hotels, B&Bs locally, as well as campsites, so hopefully all budgets are covered, some that we might recommend are:
Bryn Tyrch Farm Campsite (walking distance)
Dolgam Campsite (walking distance)
The Rocks Hostel (walking distance)
Numerous hotels and B&Bs in Betws-y-Coed, just 5 mins drive away. If you’re staying at Plas y Brenin, food may be included in your accommodation deal, but if not, don’t worry – there’ll be amazing meals available through the Bar on site anyway!
FAQ’s
-
Yes! Some of the workshops are child friendly (minimum age noted on the individual workshops, but starting at 6 years!), and failing that we have childcare available so you can head off for a workshop and not have to worry! The childcare will be run by a registered childminder with a recent DBS check.
-
Unfortunately, the venue is not dog-friendly – sorry!
-
Each workshop is individually ticketed to try to keep it as simple as possible, your ticket get’s you your workshop space! But more than this, it gets you a session with a highly qualified instructor who will share an enormous amount of knowledge with you, and give you a chance to pick their brains on things too!
-
Yes, different workshops will have different limits on how many spaces we have, this is so we can ensure we can deliver high quality workshops, so you get the best possible learning experience!
-
Of course! If you’d like to just hang around in the bar, have a good time in the evening or peruse the 2nd hand kit sale, just come along –no need to book! In addition to that, we have a wonderful film being screened on Friday Night, and a great Guest Speaker on Saturday Evening, both free, so do come and join us!
-
We’ll send out workshop specific kit lists nearer the time, but essentially, Kit to keep you warm, dry and well-fed on the mountain for the duration of your workshop, and any other specific kit you may have relevant to your chosen workshops (eg, rock climbing gear)
-
Don’t panic! We’re lucky enough to have secured access to Plas y Brenin’s extensive kit stores, so we can always borrow stuff.
-
Please drop us an email to tomfureymt@yahoo.com and we’ll work out the rest from there.
-
Anything you don’t want! As long as it’s in working order (and Clean!) we’ll take it! If we think we can sell it,we will. If our qualified mountaineering instructors think it’s no longer safe for use, we’ll dispose of it safely, and if we think we can’t sell it, but it’s still of use, we’ll try to pass it on to another charity who can put it to good use. Last year we sent a good pile of kit to Kitsquad (https://kitsquad.co.uk) for it to be re-homed.
-
Watch this space....No details just yet, but we’re thinking about it a winter weekend...let’s get this one out of the way first!
-
Just head over to JustGiving! https://justgiving.com/tomfureymt
-
Please email tomfureymt@yahoo.com, and one of the team will get back to you and work out how best to use your skills.