Eastgate: Tales of adventure at Wild Writers Festival

The Wild Writers Festival heads to the Eastgate Theatre next week.

And it will see a number of speakers share their tales of adventure and joy out in the wilderness.

Whether you want to hear about the famous mountain-climbing Labradors, a piece of Orcadian stone carried 500 miles across southern Norway, gourmet cooking on mountain peaks, or the literary works of generations of women walkers – Wild Writers Festival has plenty to offer audiences.

The Fell Foodie, Harrison Ward (Image: Harrison Ward/Eastgate Theatre)

The festival opens on Friday, January 26 at 6pm with Cook Out.

Harrison Ward, aka Fell Foodie, will share his stories from his first book of gourmet recipes which can be cooked on just one ring of a camp stove out in the wilderness.

Harrison will also have samples of his creations available.

Over at the Go Tweed Valley Visitor Centre on the High Street at the same time, William Young will delve into Ghosts of the Forest.

Andrew Cotter with his Labradors Mabel and Olive (Image: Andrew Cotter/Eastgate Theatre)

The book tells the story about the land that helped create many legends associated in the Borders, the region's ancient hillforts, sacred stones, and holy wells.

Back at the Eastgate at 8pm, author of The Life Cycle, adventure cyclist Kate Rawles, will discuss her year-ling journey on her self-built, bamboo bike 'Woody' along the length of South America.

Kate shares her exploration of the continent's biodiversity with her trademark humour – acting as both a travel guide and call to arms.

The festival then has an 11am start on Saturday, January 27 with Peebles writer and adventurer Kerri Andrews.

Kate Rawles will give a talk on 'The Life Cycle' (Image: Kate Rawles/Eastgate Theatre)

Kerri, who wrote Wanderers with Way Makers – the first anthology of the generations of women walker-writers – will be joined in conversation by Anna Fleming, author of the memoir Time On Rock.

That afternoon, at 1pm Jenna Watt leads her talk on Hindsight, her book detailing her experience of stalking a deer hind in the Highlands while also exploring the region's wilderness and Highland identity.

Beatrice Seale then tells her extraordinary tale, Stone Will Answer – at 3pm – sharing how she crossed the North Sea to walk a 40kg stone from Orkney across southern Norway and asks the question – what do we choose to carry, put down, or pick up again.

Learn what it was like carrying an Orcadian stone across southern Norway with Beatrice Searle (Image: Beatrice Searle/Eastgate Theatre)

Then festival headliner Andrew Cotter closes events with his talk at 7.30pm sharing his life as an acclaimed sports broadcaster and his dogs, Olive and Mabel, who have become internet sensations over the pandemic for their funny lockdown videos and their adventures with Andrew on his mountain hikes.

Wild Writers Festival is supported this year by Go Tweed Valley and Durty Brewing.

For more information and to book tickets for any of the festival's talks, contact the Eastgate Theatre box office by phoning 01721 725777 or online at: www.eastgatearts.com