Wild Writers Festival 2025
For the third consecutive year, Peebles will host the Wild Writers Festival (WWF), celebrating exceptional writing about the world and our place in it. Now extended to five days, the 2025 festival mixes it up with films and a variety of new venues across the town (Milne & Pickles, The Cross Keys, The Park Hotel and Neidpath Castle). As in previous years, the WWF takes place in January, bringing a welcome blast of both cultural nourishment and visitors to the Tweed Valley at the start of the year.
I'm excited to preview the WWF with a selection of 5 personal picks from the impressive line up of 21. You'll find links to tickets at the end, as well as the full programme which you can download. As I write this Wham! and Mariah are dominating the airwaves, so it's the perfect time to grab a Christmas present with a difference for your outdoorsy loved ones.
Let's dive into my 5 picks...
The Mountain Within Me
Feature Film, Wednesday 22 January 1 - 3pm, Auditorium, Eastgate Theatre
After a devastating spinal injury, Ex Wasps and Bath rugby player Ed Jackson's life took a dramatic turn. "The Mountain Within Me" follows Ed's incredible recovery journey as he conquers the peaks of Snowdonia, the Alps, and the Himalayas, while also facing new challenges at home. Directed by Polly Steele, this feature-length documentary dives into how we adapt to unexpected changes and find new purpose in life.
Also on Wednesday
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'Notes from Sheepland' (Film)
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Also on Wednesday -- 'Notes from Sheepland' (Film) --
Local Hero Secret Session
Talk, Thursday 23 January 8 - 9.30pm, Auditorium, Eastgate Theatre
The Tweed Valley is home to a wealth of outdoor athletes of all ages achieving incredible things in their chosen disciplines, including cycling, ultra running and swimming. The event headliner is Peebles-based triathlete Iain Veitch, winner and course record holder of endurance triathlon events ROC Scotland, England and Wales. Iain will share his story, in the company of a few other local heroes, and aim to inspire you to get out and find your own outdoor passion. This promises to be lots of fun, and a great way to celebrate the outdoors heroes of the Tweed Valley.
Iain Veitch
Image courtesy of Eastgate Theatre
Also on Thursday
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'Wild Horizons' (Short Films), 'What can writers for for wild places' with Kate Rawles (Writer Event)
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Also on Thursday -- 'Wild Horizons' (Short Films), 'What can writers for for wild places' with Kate Rawles (Writer Event) --
REWILD
Writer Event, Friday 24 January, 4.30pm - 6pm, Auditorium, Eastgate Theatre
A great event for young, and not so young, adults. Writer and biologist Ben Martynoga (who grew up locally) has turned his scientific eye to writing about intriguing subjects in his ‘Explodapedia’ series of illustrated popular science books for young adults. His latest book, REWILD, celebrates the vital role nature plays in our lives and explores whether it can help heal a world beset by environmental challenges. This promises to be an entertaining Friday afternoon, with a panel of Tweed Reads readers from Peebles High School putting Ben on the spot.
Also on Friday
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'Wild Horizons' (Short Films), 'Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs' with Simon Warren & Stuart Kenny (Writer Event), 'The Last Sunset in the West' with Natalie Sanders and Niru Dorrian (Writer Event)
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Also on Friday -- 'Wild Horizons' (Short Films), 'Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs' with Simon Warren & Stuart Kenny (Writer Event), 'The Last Sunset in the West' with Natalie Sanders and Niru Dorrian (Writer Event) --
Bothy with Kat Hill
Writer Event, Saturday 25 January, 6 - 7.30pm, Anne Younger Studio, Eastgate Theatre
Kat Hill’s book ‘Bothy - In Search of Simple Shelter’ is a wonderful example of the power of great nature writing - even those of us who love home comforts will be poring over OS maps, looking for their nearest bothy and a weekend adventure after reading this book! Highland based Kat will share her experiences of travelling across Britain, exploring the culture and history of bothies, with the intimate Anne Younger studio an apt choice of venue for what promises to be a special 90 minutes.
Also on Saturday
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'Cull of the Wild' with High Warwick (Writer Event), 'Wild Horizons' (Short Films), 'Running Through the Dark' with Jen Scotney (Writer Event), 'The Eagle with the Sunlit Eye' with director Ted Simpson (Feature Film), 'Where the Wildflowers Grow' with Leif Bersweden (Writer Event), 'An Evening with Helen Mort' (Writer Event)
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Also on Saturday -- 'Cull of the Wild' with High Warwick (Writer Event), 'Wild Horizons' (Short Films), 'Running Through the Dark' with Jen Scotney (Writer Event), 'The Eagle with the Sunlit Eye' with director Ted Simpson (Feature Film), 'Where the Wildflowers Grow' with Leif Bersweden (Writer Event), 'An Evening with Helen Mort' (Writer Event) --
Mountain Women
Talk, Sunday 26 January, 3.30pm - 5pm, Auditorium, Eastgate Theatre
The festival comes to a close with a Sunday Afternoon talk which will banish all thoughts of roast dinners and comfy armchairs. Two of the nations finest mountain athletes, Anna Wells and Jamie Aarons, will share their love of Scotland’s mountains, and the highs and lows they bring. Their credentials are impeccable - Anna was the first woman to climb all the Munros in a single winter season, and Jamie holds the World Record (male or female) for the fastest, self propelled Munro round - an eye watering 31 days and 10 hours. A barnstorming way to end the third festival!
Anna Wells on what I think is An Teallach (correct me in comments!)
Image Courtesy Anna Wells/Eastgate Theatre
Also on Sunday
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'The Winter of our Lives' with Sara Barnes (Writer Event), 'Makin an Mackem' with Julie Carter (Writer Event), 'Hunt for the Shadow Wolf' with Derek Gow (Writer Event)
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Also on Sunday -- 'The Winter of our Lives' with Sara Barnes (Writer Event), 'Makin an Mackem' with Julie Carter (Writer Event), 'Hunt for the Shadow Wolf' with Derek Gow (Writer Event) --
