Global adventurer Mark Beaumont will be one of many star attractions as the Peebles Outdoor Film Festival returns to the Eastgate Theatre later this month (22-24 Jan) with an outstanding line-up of speakers, adventure films and hands-on activities. One of the highlights will be a talk by ultra-runner Elspeth Luke about her 34-day, 680-mile run along the watershed of Scotland
Following a successful inaugural festival last February, the 2016 event sees an expanded programme of speakers, shorts and feature-length films covering everything from adventure film-making, cycling and trail running to climbing, skiing, wildlife photography and more.
Renan Ozturk in the film Meru (Photo:POFF)
Appropriately enough for a bike-mad area like the Tweed Valley, the opening day of the festival (Fri 22 Jan) is all about life on two wheels. The day sees some wonderful films – including The Program, Stephen Frear’s new film about the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong – plus presentations by elite Scottish mountain bike rider Lee Craigie, the Tweed Valley’s own rising star of world enduro racing Katy Winton, and global adventurer Mark Beaumont.
Now very much a household name, Mark will share his journey, from the boy who pedalled across Scotland and went on to cycle around the world, to capsizing while rowing across the Atlantic and exploring the high Arctic.
Earlier on the Friday, there will be a chance to find out what some of the kids from Peebles High School really get up to in their spare time – in this case heading into the hills to build mountain bike trails, often with tools hand-made for the job. These young trail blazers will tell all together with Tweed Valley trail-building legend Pete Laing.
The programme for Saturday begins with the first of two early bird adventures: a chance for energetic dog lovers to try their hand at canicross and bikejor under the expert guidance of the team from Cani-Fit. Later on the same day, Cani-Fit’s Lindsay Johnson will present on the joys of running, cycling and scootering with our four-legged friends – sports that have seen a huge rise in popularity across Scotland.
Also on Saturday, charted forester and mountaineer James Ogilvie will talk about summiting Mount Vinson in Antarctica, so completing his 20-year journey to climb the fabled Seven Summits (the seven highest peaks on each continent); plus there will be a window into the world of the multiple-award-winning Jen Randall, one of the rising young stars of adventure film-making in Scotland. The day is rounded off by National Geo Wild TV presenter, explorer and conservationist Niall McCann who will share stories of his many adventures from around the world.
The third and final day begins early again with an opportunity to join celebrated wildlife photographer Laurie Campbell on a fieldcraft master-class as he walks the banks of the Tweed in search of otter tracks, trails and signs. Born and raised in Berwick, Laurie has delighted in the return of otters to the River Tweed – the subject of his beautifully-illustrated talk later on the same day.
Also on Sunday, local triathlete Scott Noble will tell an entertaining tale of how he caught the triathlon bug; Glasgow-based ultra-runner Elspeth Luke will recount the highs and lows of a remarkable 34-day, 680-mile run along the watershed of Scotland; and Stu Thomson from award-winning production company Cut Media will talk about how he came to work with renowned athletes such as Danny Macaskill (including on the phenomenal viral hit The Ridge) and his plans for future projects.
Each day, the talks will be complemented by a series of short film sessions themed around the joy of riding bikes (Friday), extremes of human endeavour and endurance (Saturday), and worldwide adventure and exploration (Sunday), as well as feature-length presentations.
“We’ve got an exceptional mix of films from around the world covering everything from cycling and fell running to climbing, skiing and some very wild swimming,” explained Rich Rowe, a member of the festival team. “Between them, they will make people laugh, cry, possibly wince a bit and, we hope, also inspire a few outdoor adventures of their own.”
This year, the Peebles Outdoor Film Festival has also launched a new competition for short films that capture the excitement, adventure, or just sheer natural beauty of the outdoors. The winners of the Outdoor Shorts competition will be chosen both by a panel of expert judges and by public vote during the festival, with the winning entries shown on the big screen at the Eastgate as part of the final short film session on the Sunday.
Tickets are available now from Box Office on 01721 725777, or online. As well as individual event tickets there are special day passes (£25 adult, £15 child) that include all films and speaker presentations on each of the three days. The talks programme is outlined below details of the films can be found online.
Friday 22 January
Lee Craigie, A route less travelled, 2pm
Lee Craigie’s story of elite cycling performance is an unusual one. Having only begun to compete in mountain biking at the age of 26, she became British Champion and represented Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but has now swapped elite-level competition for adventure – all while working with disadvantaged people to embrace the personal growth that exploration on a bike can offer.
Peebles High School kids (plus Pete Laing), Trail builders, trail blazers, 3.30pm
You know it’s a bike-mad area when the local high school kids routinely head into the hills to design and build their own mountain bike trails – often with tools hand-made for the job. Come and hear the tales of Peebles High Schools’ finest trail builders, alongside Tweed Valley trail-building legend Pete Laing.
Katy Winton, Winning ways, 5pm
At 22, the Tweed Valley’s own Katy Winton is one of the rising stars of world enduro racing. With a solid season of results under her belt in 2015, including becoming Scottish Enduro Series Champion for the first time, Katy is looking forward to continuing her fine form during the coming year. Always fun and engaging, Katy will talk about life as an elite athlete, injury and what it takes to be a champion.
Mark Beaumont, Around the world and back to Scotland, 7.30pm
Over the past decade, his various record-breaking feats of endurance have made Mark Beaumont a household name. Mark will share his journey, from the boy who pedalled across Scotland and went on to cycle around the world, to capsizing mid-Atlantic and exploring the high Arctic. Over the past year, Mark’s Cairo to Cape Town World Record and many adventures closer to home in Scotland have grabbed the headlines. This is also an opportunity to enjoy Mark’s breathtaking short films and photography.
Saturday 23 January
Canicross, Early Bird Adventure with Cani-Fit, 11am
A chance for energetic dog lovers to experience a very different type of ‘walkies’ under the expert guidance of the team from Cani-Fit. Also a chance to try bikejor (cycling led by a dog) and scootering.
Jen Randall, Girls on Film, 2pm
A rising star in adventure film-making, Jen Randall talks about her distinctive approach to capturing compelling stories on screen, as well as showing several of her short films, including the wonderful Operation Moffat – a story of the wild life of Britain’s first female mountain guide, which won Best Climbing Film and the People’s Choice Award at the recent Kendall Mountain Festival.
Lindsay Johnson, Have dog will run, 3.30pm
Why just walk with your dog when you can run, cycle and scooter? Lindsay Johnson from Cani-Fit reveals all about canicross, bikejor and more – a must for owners who love to get active with their dogs.
James Ogilvie, Seven up, 5pm
In January last year, chartered forester and mountaineer James Ogilvie reached the summit of Mount Vinson in Antarctica, so completing his attempt to climb the fabled Seven Summits – the seven highest peaks on each continent. James talks about a journey that took him 20 years to complete.
Niall McCann, Wild about the outdoors, 7.30pm
TV presenter, explorer and conservationist Niall McCann has fronted a series of award-winning films and – not least for Nat Geo Wild – and had more adventures around the world than most of us have had hot dinners. From anacondas to Atlantic rowing, ski mountaineering and speed flying, his story is one of a deep love for nature and the outdoors.
Sunday 24 January
Fieldcraft for wildlife photographers, Early-bird adventure with Laurie Campbell, 8.30am
A chance to join celebrated wildlife photographer Laurie Campbell for a fieldcraft master-class as he walks the banks of the Tweed in search of otter tracks, trails and signs.
Laurie Campbell, Return of the otter, 2pm
Berwick born and raised, Laurie Campbell has delighted in the return of otters to the River Tweed – a renaissance captured in a new book with the unmistakable beauty and attention to detail of one of Scotland’s most revered wildlife photographers. Laurie presents together with writing partner Anna Levin.
Scott Noble, Give triathlon a try, 3.30pm
A competitive swimmer from a young age and, later, a cyclist and reluctant runner, Scott Noble thought he’d combine all three and give triathlon a shot. From training in the Tweed and St Mary’s Loch to competing in events held locally and further afield, join Scott for an entertaining tale of how he caught the triathlon bug, and how YOU can also get started!
Elspeth Luke, Running along the spine, 5pm
Glasgow based ultra-runner Elspeth Luke recently took on a very different kind of challenge – an unmarked, 680-mile route along the watershed of Scotland. Elspeth recounts the highs and lows of a 34-day run from the Borders to Duncansby Head that included more than 40,000 metres of ascent.
Stu Thomson, A cut above, 7.30pm
Stu Thomson is a film and video director/producer who runs the multiple award-winning Cut Media – the team behind the recent viral hit Danny Macaskill: The Ridge, which achieved more than 30 million views in the first six months alone. Stu talks about his background as a downhill mountain bike racer, how he came to work with athletes such as Danny Macaskill and his plans for future projects.