May
10
2008

Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival

Edinburgh Mountain Film FestivalThe Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival is seeking film and photo entries for the 2008 festival, which will run 17-19 October 2008. They are also running a new literary competition in association with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.

The literary competition has prizes for both prose and poetry. There are cash prizes totalling almost £500 and the winners in each category will also receive a pair of weekend passes for this year’s EMFF. The closing date for entries is 31 August. Full details.

The categories for the 2008 photography competition are:

  1. A Winter Adventure
  2. Pushing My Limits

Open to everyone, professional or amatuer alike the prizes include cash, membership of the MCoS and a Harvey’s map of the Cairngorms. And, of course, there is the thrill of seeing your photo in a public exhibition! Closing date for entries is 31 July 2008. Full details.

The film competition will consider any film with a focus on adventure - be that climbing, kayaking, skiing, mountain biking or whatever. Short films and ‘mockumentaries’ will also be considered! Closing date for entries is 30 June 2008. Full details.

May
09
2008

Scotland is windy - shocker!

A BBC film crew have captured some footage showing it gets windy in Scotland. The shots were included as part of BBC natural history producer Fergus Beeley nature diary from Beinn Eighe’s National Nature Reserve show water being blown back uphill on a windy day in Torridon. They have been picked up by the media as an ‘and finally’ and widely circulated. It’s only take 3 months for this material to surface, front line journalism at its best - keep up the good work chaps!

A note at the end of the article states ‘Secrets of the Highlands is likely to be broadcast on BBC Two in the Spring of 2009, on the BBC Natural World series‘. Watch this space for updates.

May
03
2008

Scotland Outdoors - a new magazine

Scotland OutdoorsA new magazine is being released later this month - Scotland Outdoors is a new quarterly magazine for outdoor adventurers of all ages who want to experience Scotland’s wild places at first hand.

Their aim is to use the best writers and photographers to showcase opportunities to explore one of Europe’s greatest natural playgrounds with features on adventure travel, active outdoor sports, wildlife, ecology, plus the people and issues that shape Scotland’s outdoors.

Rather than being available on the newsstand, Scotland Outdoors will be distributed through targeted partnerships with key outdoors stakeholders, including accommodation providers, Green Tourism Business Scheme members, Wild Scotland members, visitor centres, specialist tour and outdoor retailers.

Apr
30
2008

Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival

Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain FestivalOf the things I love in the world Ale, Mountains and Festivals are all close to the top of the list - so the this years Cumberland Ale Keswick Mountain Festival is a must. It runs from Wednesday 14th to Sunday 18th May 2008 with an excellent line up of talks from explorers, climbers, mountaineers as well as mountain bikers, canoeists and photographers. All this plus an array of activities are on offer - in and around Keswick, the ideal base for exploring The Lakes (or ‘The Ponds’ as some north of the border like to call them). Some of the highlights include:

  • The Birketts owt on’t Fjalls (Out on the Fells)
  • Andy Kirkpatrick - Strange Penchant for the long, the cold and the difficult
  • Doug Scott - A Crawl down the Ogre
  • Chris Bonington and Tony Riley - Interactive Photography workshop The Everest Years
  • The Life of Julia Bradbury - her recent adventures in the Great Outdoors
  • Alan Hinkes - The Big 14
  • Mick Fowler - Matterhorns of Tibet
  • Stephen Venables - Higher than the Eagle Soars
  • Full details at www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk
Apr
24
2008

Homemade Mountain Movie Award

Homemade Mountain Movie AwardThe site ‘Live for the Outdoors’ has launched a homemade movie competition offering people a chance to share their mountain films. Monthly prizes are on offer as well as an overall prize of a paid assignment to Everest Base Camp. Winners will also be shown at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival later this year.

They are looking for homemade videos on any outdoor subject – from a capella monologues on why you love your boots, to the glorious sunrise seen from your tent doors or your attempt to conquer Scafell Pike. Your video must be under 3 minutes long, feature all-original material and have a clear focus (eg ‘Our day on Tryfan’, ‘My Favourite Wild Camp’ or ‘Why I Love Glen Coe’).

For more information see the Homemade Mountain Film Awards.

To help folk a long they have also created a couple of tutorials which offer basic advice on how to get the best out of your kit.

Apr
23
2008

A message from Moutain Rescue

Short film from the Lakeland Mountain Rescue Teams highlighting some of the common misconceptions and issues facing modern teams.


Apr
18
2008

Images from the 1924 Everest expedition

Everest 1924Bentley Beetham was a schoolmaster in the north of England in the 1920’s, as keen naturalist and rock climber his excursions to the Lake District brought him the friendship of Howard Somervell, with whom he became climbing partners. The reputation he earned would eventually lead to him being chosen as a member of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition.

Beetham’s legacy is his astounding collection of photographs that paint a portrait a moment in the history of mountaineering - these images can now be seen online at the Bentley Beetham Collection.

Apr
15
2008

Caledonian Challenge jobs

Caledonian ChallengeThe RBS Caledonian Challenge is one of Scotland’s largest team fundraising events, it take place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June 2008. They are currently looking for people to fill a number of roles, including:

  • Events Executive (Fundraising)
  • Health and Safety Consultant
  • Marketing Internship
  • Marshal Opportunities

For full details see the Caledonian Challenge site

Apr
14
2008

Seachd is now available on DVD (R2)

SeachdSeachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle is now available to buy or rent on DVD. The film is currently available in Region 2 (European) format with English, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic and Welsh subtitles.

Apr
13
2008

Banff Mountain Photography Competition

Banff Mountain Photography CompetitionAmateur and professional photographers are invited to submit their mountain-themed photographs to the Banff Centre of Mountain Culture photography competition.

Entry deadline: April 30, 2008