Chris Townsend
Tonight's (Sun 19 January) Countryfile on BBC1 will include footage of the Cairngorms filmed with local resident, expert backpacker and long distance walker, Chris Townsend. Filmed in December, Chris camped out during a very stormy night while the film crew retired to a hotel in Aviemore but not before they encountered a huge flock of Ptarmigan. Cairngorm wildlife including red squirrels, red deer and the tiny crested tit are also featured while presenter Ellie Harrison has a go at canoeing the River Spey. Staying with the Scottish theme, landscape artist Andy Goldsworthy visits his favourite spot in Dumfries and Galloway to create a new work of art especially for the programme and explains why the countryside in winter has so much to offer him as an artist. The programme will be shown on BBC1 at 7pm and will also be available on BBCiPlayer for UK residents.
The Cairngorms are also set to feature heavily in the new series of Winterwatch starting on BBC2 on Monday 20 January which will be based on the Mar Lodge Estate near Braemar.
