It’s this weekend so you need to take a look right now if you want to book tickets. Find out more in this pdf of my Sunday Mail outdoors column. Or see copy below.
The details: Peebles Outdoor Film Festival
What is it? A weekend festival of outdoors-themed films, speakers and activities held in the Scottish Borders.
Tell me more: The festival takes place from January 26 to 28 in and around the Borders town of Peebles.
Now in its fourth year, the event’s organisers have attracted a great line up of attractions, with something for all ages and outdoors interests.
Five festival highlights
Adventure movies
There promises to be a diverse programme of films from around the world, covering activities including surfing, kayaking, slack-lining, skiing, mountain biking and mountaineering.
The festival is also hosting a Scottish premiere of Psycho Vertical, which is an emotive and funny look at the life and motivations of one of Britain’s unlikeliest hero-mountaineer, Andy Kirkpatrick.
Paul Diffley filming on Ario Dream.
The film will be shown on Saturday afternoon and is based on the best-selling autobiography of the same name. It takes a closer look at the complex life of Kirkpatrick woven into an 18-day solo ascent of El Capitan, Yosemite.
Earlier on Saturday, Going the Distance is well worth attending. A number of short films will celebrate female adventurers around the world followed, after the interval, by three local, distance-running stars Jasmin Paris, Lucy Colquhoun and Susan Ridley who will talk about their running lives.
Watch great films.
Acclaimed speakers
Explorer Benedict Allen, who hit the headlines recently following his “rescue” from Papua New Guinea, headlines on Saturday night. He will speak about after short films series called Imagine all the People, which reveals adventures in the most remote corners of the globe.
Benedict Allen.
Allen, who is famed for his technique of immersing himself among indigenous peoples, has many experiences to share, from crossing the Amazon Basin to trekking through the Gobi with just camels for company.
Record-breaking ocean adventurer Olly Hicks will also be speaking at the festival. Part of a Water World evening on Friday, there will be a set of short films focused on all things wet and wild, then Hicks will talk about is passion for the sea.
He was the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic at the age of 23 and now has plans for a solo row around the world starting in December.
Other live appearances to look out for include celebrated ultra runner Jasmin Paris, endurance athlete Jenny Tough and the adventure filmmaker Paul Diffley.
Ocean adventurer Olly Hicks.
Local heroes
Inspirational figures from Peebles and nearby will also be attendance to reveal their stories.
Chutes and Roots will reveal the remarkable story of mountain biker Lynne Armstrong. The former bike coach, downhill racer, pro free-rider and the woman behind Air Maiden has lived a colourful life in Scotland and Canada, too.
Another session that might appeal takes place on Sunday entitled Bothy Tales.
Published to great acclaim in 2017, The Scottish Bothy Bible is the first complete guide to the network of shelters.
Award-winning author Geoff Allan will take the audience on an inspirational journey to island hideaways, Viking long-houses, crofts and remote farmsteads.
Other local heroes include the great climber Greg Boswell and long-distance cyclist David Winton.
Get outdoors
Festival goers can also choose from an expanded range of outdoor sessions, from guided mountain bike rides and runs with famous names to trekking with alpacas and exploring the John Muir Trust’s property at Glenlude, near Traquair.
Why not sign up for Ride with Swift Trails on the Sunday? To celebrate the launch of a series of new route maps, the women’s mountain bike guiding and tuition company invites you to ride one of the routes alongside a very special guest.
On Saturday there are to very different morning sessions. You can join a Trek with Alpacas near Innerleithen through the forestry. For keen runners, an off-road route will be led by former GB international Lucy Colquhoun, whose record for Scotland’s premier ultra, the 95-mile West Highland Way Race, still stands a decade after it was set.
Location, location
Peebles, some 30 minutes south of Edinburgh, is set on the banks of the River Tweed and enveloped by rolling hills. The acclaimed mountain biking trail centre Glentress and also Innerleithen’s downhill tracks are close by.
It’s no surprise that the area is a go-to destination for mountain bikers, walkers, paddlers and anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors.
More details: See www.eastgatearts.com or call the Eastgate Theatre Box Office on 01721 725777 for tickets and more information about the 2018 Peebles Outdoor Film Festival.
The festival is sponsored by John Muir Trust, Tontine Hotel, Peebles Hydro & The Park, Findra, and Out & About.