Guided down the country lanes outside Bakewell by a Hollywoodesque illuminated ALPKIT sign it was hard to miss the company's annual get-together but despite the numbers and the constant activity there's a peaceful feeling to this most unique of festivals.

I say "festivals" because with talks, activities, films and music it's every bit a celebration of the outdoors like Keswick Mountain Festival or the many others, but there's something unique about the Big Shakeout. For a start the site is secluded and seperate, completely self contained and away from the town centre environment that makes up such an essential part of the experience at events like Keswick, Kendal MF and Cliffhanger. Being so self contained you'd think the site would be awash with commercial franchises, but that's where the essence of the Big Shakeout emerges. This isn't a festival about money, it's about people. It's about a small British company, Alpkit, spending a weekend with its customers having fun. There's no line of stalls and stands trying to sell you everything from magazine subscriptions to a holiday caravan by the lake (there isn't even a lake!) and apart from a few square metres at one end of one room in one building there's no chance to splash the cash on new kit.

The weekend saw groups heading out caving, canoeing, kayaking, bouldering, walking and climbing while on-site bushcraft groups disappeared in to the woods, families got tangled up in rope courses, crawled through mole hills, teetered across high wires and enjoyed one of the many free craft workshops. Highlights included Vin Cox’s Wild Foraging ride and the following cook-up with nettles, mushrooms and pheasant in front of an intrigued audience. Later he went on to host an evening with Alpkit team members while The Adventurists brought their unique blend of films and talks to a packed yurt.

Over in the registration room the BMC and Green Peak Gear showed off the BMC's rope recycling initiative with dog leads, ladders and rugs made from recycled rope all on display, and we were even treated to a demonstration of how to plait a dog lead by Simon Warman.

In the evening the site was transformed, fires lit, paths illuminated with tea lights as people tucked into the Saturday evening meal. Live music from Matthew Moore and BSO regular Rik Warren, a fire poi performance and the River Legacy Real Ale bar and catering kept the site buzzing late into the evening. In the Yurt The Adventurists were joined by Alpkit sponsored "Johnny Bravo" who recounted his epic journey overland to Mongolia in a 1.2litre Nissan to a packed house, while outside people gathered around log fires as the temperature fell.

With indoor catering facilities (that were in constant demand) but outdoor setting and its spacious camping pitches and on-site showers Thornbridge Outdoors makes an ideal venue for a family orientated event and it was good to see so many children active around the site. The mix of activities appeared perfect as the place emptied in noticeable "sessions" as adults headed off to climbing and caving and families to cycling and foraging, while the talks and music were equally well received. The resulting relaxed atmosphere is one of the things that makes the BSO unique and a great way to end the summer. Alpkit’s Colin Stocker said “We are extremely pleased with how the festival is taking shape and already looking ahead to 2013. After this year we are now more passionate than ever about bringing together a wide spread of interests and abilities for a weekend that hopefully sparks new interests, grand adventures and new friends.”

Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.