Bonnington to top adventure bill

By Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland

Mountaineer Sir Chris Bonnington s to give a lecture at the festival

Mountaineering legend Sir Chris Bonnington is to top the bill at an adventure festival in Edinburgh.

The climber is to give a lecture at the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival about some of his great climbs including his escape from "the Ogre" in Pakistan.

He will also talk about his first ascents in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Cyclist Mark Beaumont is to talk and show a documentary of his record breaking 194-day round the world trip, at the event.

Mr Beaumont is now preparing to break the world record for rowing across the Atlantic next summer.

If you just think about the most interesting documentary that you've seen and add into that someone throwing themselves of 3,000 ft cliffs with a parachute, it just makes for an interesting evening Stevie Christie Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival

Speaking to BBC Scotland news website about what drives sports enthusiasts, Mr Beaumont said: "The common denominator is the places, the wild places and the mountains and the scenery that it's set in which just inspires these people to do what they do.

"For me, the reason I do these things is very much for the journey.

"Last year I set the world record for cycling round the world. Next year, I'll hopefully be part of a team setting the world record for rowing the North Atlantic.

"It's the endurance of it, it's the places your mind goes whilst doing these things and it's the incredible environments of the world we live in."

'Interesting evening'

Event organiser Stevie Christie said he had designed the festival for fans of extreme sports to promote mountain culture and to showcase the work of adventure film-makers.

Mr Christie said: "It's the stories about the people doing these things that fascinates me.

"If you just think about the most interesting documentary that you've seen and add someone throwing themselves off a 3,000 ft cliff with a parachute, it just makes for an interesting evening."

The event, will feature screenings of two rock-climbing documentaries by Scottish climber Dave MacLeod attempting to conquer extreme faces on Ben Nevis, 'Don't Die of Ignorance and 'Echo Wall'.

There will also be other controversial films such as 'Three' about bridge swinging and '20 Seconds of Joy' about base jumping.

The Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival is being held at the George Square Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh University, between Friday and Sunday.