0:00:32 > 0:00:35There's no-one around, it's totally and utterly deserted,
0:00:35 > 0:00:37not a dicky bird.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41But not for long, because this is one of the best-kept secrets
0:00:41 > 0:00:43in the outdoor events calendar.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Welcome to The Adventure Show.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49- Whoa, there's the map gone! - I don't think I can do anything any more.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Not long to go now before the start of the race
0:00:52 > 0:00:55and over 2,500 runners from 14 different countries
0:00:55 > 0:00:59are here in Comrie, Perthshire, registering for the event.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01- Away!- Charge!
0:01:01 > 0:01:05- It's rough, it's tough, yeah. - It's a test.- It is a test.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Very soon, these hills will be alive with the sound of heavy breathing,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14because this - all this -
0:01:14 > 0:01:16is the location for the Original Mountain Marathon,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18the toughest event of its kind,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22and no-one knows where they're going until the very last minute.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26You know it's going to be on the mountains, you know it's going to be 18 or 20 miles,
0:01:26 > 0:01:30and you know you're going to be out for six or seven hours. That's the event.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Also in this month's Adventure Show, I'll be finding out why
0:01:34 > 0:01:37these hills are an inspiration to a family of artists.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41Cameron McNeish heads up one of his favourite glens to discover
0:01:41 > 0:01:45the secret of taking that perfect wildlife photograph.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49And Deziree joins 30 teams as they hurtle down
0:01:49 > 0:01:51from the Cairngorms in handmade carts.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56They rely on gravity, but the speeds they reach are amazing.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Everybody here reckons that going down that hill
0:02:00 > 0:02:05and the buzz you get out of it, racing head to head, is worth the risk of breaking things.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08So, we'll see if Deziree emerges in one piece later on,
0:02:08 > 0:02:12but first to the Original Mountain Marathon.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15By common consent, this is the ultimate test of endurance,
0:02:15 > 0:02:20navigation and sheer willpower, as competitors tackle two marathons
0:02:20 > 0:02:23on consecutive days in rough mountain terrain.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26It's always a challenging event,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and this year the weather may make it even harder.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33But that doesn't stop competitors travelling here
0:02:33 > 0:02:35from all over the world.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36It's our first time.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39So, initially we thought we can just... I don't know,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41we thought we'd just find it,
0:02:41 > 0:02:43but everything looks pretty much the same here.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47I've spoken to people from Belgium, from Sweden,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49and they are very much charged up.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52A big bowl of Scottish porridge, which is great.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54We are running a little bit late.
0:02:54 > 0:02:59We might have to maybe ignore some of the checkpoints.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Love to stop for tea but we've got to get going.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04I bet you're glad you got this job today!
0:03:04 > 0:03:06It's 7.30 in the morning of the first day
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and you can feel the excitement building here
0:03:09 > 0:03:12as the competitors get ready to be bussed to the start of the race.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14'How are you feeling about the race, guys?'
0:03:14 > 0:03:17It's raining, so, we're very happy about this.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20This was our worst case scenario, I think.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24We went out for a training session a couple of weeks ago and I think reality set in then,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26on, er...
0:03:26 > 0:03:29how much training we haven't done for this.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36The Original Mountain Marathon - or OMM as it's known - is just that.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Founded in 1968, it's the first of its kind.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43The rules are simple - teams of two carry all their clothing,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46equipment, and food, for two days on the hill,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48including their overnight camp.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52And there's a strong tradition here in self-sufficiency.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Outside help is banned, and you can't use modern gadgets like a GPS.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00That's why competitors love the OMM.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02You caught me looking my best, I'm not lost yet.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06It's the first time the event's come to Highland Perthshire
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and the steep ground here will prove a real challenge.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12As ever, the choice of route will sort out
0:04:12 > 0:04:14the winners from the rest of the field.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18But this is the event where the real fun is just taking part.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- Come on!- That was a hard one.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23'It's good Scottish weather for us.'
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Not like the soft English weather we had last year.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29It's just minutes to go, and although the racers have been
0:04:29 > 0:04:33taken to the start line at St Fillans, still no-one knows
0:04:33 > 0:04:36where they're going once they're through the starting gate.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39It's a closely guarded secret till the very last moment.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Only now are competitors being given this information.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47You don't get the map until now, so there's no planning you can do, really.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- It looks awesome, really, really good.- Lost already! - And the weather looks terrific.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54It's a staggered start
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and many competitors are still thinking about where they'll go.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Not quite sure how we're going to do it yet,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03but it's going to be trying to stay on the high features.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07'The teams behind me are frantically planning their route before setting off.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09'Weather conditions have closed in,'
0:05:09 > 0:05:11so navigation's going to be tricky.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14It's really claggy and it's just hosing it down now.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Much the same as usual - tough!
0:05:17 > 0:05:19The plan always changes within a few minutes.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22- Looking forward to the race, guys? - Er, yeah, very much so.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Certainly looking forward to finishing it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- Good luck.- Thanks.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28HORN HONKS
0:05:28 > 0:05:33Just as long as we both manage to keep together, I'm sure we'll be fine.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36- Work out how to use the spinning thing.- Yeah.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- Is this weather going to be a challenge for navigation?- Er, yes.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41It'll suit those that can navigate.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Morning. You all right?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46- Hello.- How are you? - Good, how are you?
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Excited, wet, cold, nervous... Where are we?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- Fully psyched?- Yeah.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54How is the course looking?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57- Er, oh, I don't know, I haven't looked!- Hilly.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Not as far as last year but probably still quite hard.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03- Yeah, hillier, steeper... - And it's not very nice weather.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Good luck.- Sweet, take it easy, guys.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10There are seven different categories in this year's race
0:06:10 > 0:06:14and over 2,000 competitors will be spread all over the hills.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18This is one of the most popular events in the racing calendar,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22but with extreme conditions like these the norm,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24why do competitors return year after year?
0:06:24 > 0:06:27We like conditions like this.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28- You do like it?- Yeah.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Yeah, we like it when it's misty and wet.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- We're disappointed it's not snowing. - Why do you like it?
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- It makes it harder for everybody. - More challenging, I think.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41You come here to challenge yourself so you may as well be challenged.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43So you don't want it to brighten up, then?
0:06:43 > 0:06:47No, we want it to be like this all night long, all day long.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Yeah, it'll be good.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Our camera team might not agree with that.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59What makes you keep coming back?
0:06:59 > 0:07:00I don't know!
0:07:00 > 0:07:03That's a good question!
0:07:03 > 0:07:05It's good to stretch yourself sometimes.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09I keep thinking, "I'm too old to do this," but I keep coming out.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11So far we are just fine.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Right, let's go.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16'There's been some pretty horrific ones,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20'where it's been either very windy or very wet'
0:07:20 > 0:07:23and you just lay in your tent overnight and you're wet and cold,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26and you can't wait for it to finish.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28But then other times it's absolutely glorious
0:07:28 > 0:07:32and, you know, you can't... Being out there all by yourself,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35you know, you're given a challenge, it's great.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39One of Scotland's top fell runners is Colin Eades.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40Normally he'd be competing,
0:07:40 > 0:07:44but this year he's volunteered to help with the marshalling.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48He'll be our eyes and ears on the hill throughout the event.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52It's a misly, rainy day, but that's what these guys have come for -
0:07:52 > 0:07:55they want to test their navigation skills, survival skills,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58in the worst the weather can throw at them,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00so hopefully most of these guys
0:08:00 > 0:08:04will actually be relishing the challenge that this brings.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09Out on the hill, the elite racers are nearly halfway through today's course.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11They've been running for over three hours
0:08:11 > 0:08:15and the three leading teams have reached this checkpoint together.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Douglas Tullie is running with John Rocke.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Tom Owens is with Alasdair Anthony,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24and Steve Birkinshaw has joined forces with Jethro Lennox.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28'A whole group of the teams have got together and running in a bunch.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31'They're all very similar matched in terms of fitness.'
0:08:31 > 0:08:34They're just racing hard against each other,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37but it's getting away in these weather conditions, very difficult.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41It takes a lot of confidence to go a different way from everyone else.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- Hi there.- Hi there. All right?- Yep.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46'We got in a good group.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50'There was a couple of other teams, we were all working together,'
0:08:50 > 0:08:53but I think we were probably going a bit too fast for some of the guys
0:08:53 > 0:08:55cos at the steep climb
0:08:55 > 0:08:58'everyone was really struggling up that.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01'But we managed to keep it together.'
0:09:01 > 0:09:04'Hopefully there's some interesting legs where navigation
0:09:04 > 0:09:08'allows more than one route to be a similar in term of speed,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12'so they can try and go a different route, maybe push a bit harder
0:09:12 > 0:09:16'and get the edge, get through a couple of minutes earlier.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19'With weather conditions like this, with the cloud down,
0:09:19 > 0:09:23'you could sneak through a control without the others seeing them
0:09:23 > 0:09:26'and just get away at that point, but you do need to have spread out'
0:09:26 > 0:09:30a little more than they were when they came through that checkpoint.
0:09:30 > 0:09:35While the fastest elite competitors have barely stopped on their way through,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38others find time to grab a drink and check their maps.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Good old Scottish river water.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46All right, mate, follow the watercourse down to the track on the reservoir corner.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49It's pretty good, cold and damp - I'll be honest - but, er...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Hey, it's checkpoint five - we're half way down, aren't we?
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Another five to go.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56It's tough going on the ground, there's no tracks,
0:09:56 > 0:10:00it's heavy tussocks, it's pretty hard going. The sunshine helps, though.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02How's it going?
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- Not bad, not bad.- Cold.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06How's the mist, is it...?
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Lots of bog-trotting.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Could do with some running, really, you know.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Fingers crossed.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Different muscles, easier on the legs.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Right, we're going across the dam, are we?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Well, no-one's approached us from that direction.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25No, that was just poor route choice. We did exactly what we wanted.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- That was good route choice! We're ahead, we're sure of it.- OK.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32- You're the first to arrive from that direction.- We went wrong, precisely.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38This race is about far more than who are the fastest hill runners.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Each team decide the best route between checkpoints
0:10:42 > 0:10:44and it isn't always the obvious line.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48I reckon we bag these two because they're so close together
0:10:48 > 0:10:50and then we'll be able to get on that path.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54We're having to use a compass a lot more than just going for points
0:10:54 > 0:10:56and stuff, so yeah, it's a bit more tricky.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Quite challenging today with the mist.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03It needs a lot more concentration from one minute to the next
0:11:03 > 0:11:06in keeping an eye on the lie of the land.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10As soon as you get a glimpse of features that you can recognise,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13you have to locate yourself as accurately as possible,
0:11:13 > 0:11:14but it's a good day.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22Ooh, beautiful! I'm so glad we got lost(!)
0:11:22 > 0:11:26We didn't find the point three, but now I think, finally,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29we've got a strategy to find the next one -
0:11:29 > 0:11:32just walking in the right direction.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Yes, that worked pretty well. So my partner is just coming down.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42It's our first time so initially, we thought we can just...
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I don't know, we thought we'd just find it,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48but everything looks pretty much the same here
0:11:48 > 0:11:53so we are now heavily relying on our compass and that works pretty well.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Yes, the fog makes things more difficult.
0:11:58 > 0:11:59We just climbed that!
0:11:59 > 0:12:03- Did you mean to? - No, we meant to come here.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05So, a bit of a pain,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08but the weather and the visibility is making it quite difficult.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12And yeah, I think I'm wet from the waist down,
0:12:12 > 0:12:18and most of that has gone in mud and bog and pretty much everything.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Oh, we are going up! Oh, right. Bye.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Well, we've managed not to get lost, which is unusual.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- There's plenty of time yet, though. - For everything to go horribly wrong.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31I'm sure we'll end up in a loch or wandering aimlessly round the hills.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35It's amazing to see so many smiling faces.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39Many would think these conditions are soul destroying,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41but it's not always like this.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53When the skies are clear, it is beautiful here
0:12:53 > 0:12:57and it's a landscape that provides inspiration for a local family
0:12:57 > 0:13:01who've all become artists with an eye for the unusual.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06To most people, this would be a pile of scrap, but to Heather Cumming,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10this is the inspiration to create artwork, isn't it?
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Yes. Yep, most of the time!
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Sometimes you blindly look at it and wonder why, but...
0:13:16 > 0:13:21- So you create art from this? - I do indeed.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I like pieces like this cos they're almost like sort of bones.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Here, for example, I see this as being a strap for a gate,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30which I'm guessing what it was.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32- Yes, it was indeed. - What do you see it as?
0:13:32 > 0:13:34I would use it maybe in the back of a vulture
0:13:34 > 0:13:37or the bottom of a belly of something.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40There's lots of things you could do with that.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44For generations, this has been the village blacksmith's
0:13:44 > 0:13:46in Keltneyburn near Aberfeldy.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Heather's father worked here and her mother trained as a fine artist.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53She has taken inspiration from both.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58It was only just, almost by accident, that she came along
0:13:58 > 0:14:02and had a go at this and decided it was something she could do,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05and just got stuck in and has been here ever since.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10- And what was that like for you? - Um, interesting at the beginning.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14No, she's very good and she gave me a lot of inspiration as well,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16especially the fact that she started so young.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20I mean, she was only 18. She was full of life, you know,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23full of youth and enthusiasm and...
0:14:23 > 0:14:27I think at the stage where you want to kind of change the whole world,
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and she certainly turned us upside down!
0:14:30 > 0:14:34But it was good fun and it's been good for all of us.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37My husband joined the business last year, which is very exciting,
0:14:37 > 0:14:41and we kind of thought he would do more practical things like my dad,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45sort of gates and railings and things, but actually he's rather artistic, as well.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49I was out here most nights after work, watching Heather work away
0:14:49 > 0:14:53and just started playing about with the stuff too and found
0:14:53 > 0:14:56that I maybe had a wee spark for it as well, and really enjoyed it.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58The inspiration you can pull out of things -
0:14:58 > 0:15:02it's amazing what actually triggers you off. It's really good.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07Sometimes, maybe, you'll have a day that you can't think of what to make
0:15:07 > 0:15:11so you'll go and rummage round the scrap heap and, you know,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13find something that will inspire you to make
0:15:13 > 0:15:16a particularly different animal to what you were thinking
0:15:16 > 0:15:17in the first place.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21I'm just intrigued, for example, how does a couple of radiators and a bit of a bike
0:15:21 > 0:15:23become a black-faced ram?
0:15:23 > 0:15:27I don't know. Somewhere up here it just ends up that way.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I mean, the racing handlebars are quite a good sort of...
0:15:30 > 0:15:35idea of rams' horns, so yeah, I guess that's where it came from,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37and with using them, I kind of thought
0:15:37 > 0:15:41"Well, why not put the seat and the pedals on, as well, and make it a racing sheep?"
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Is humour quite important to your work?
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Yeah, very much so with what I do. And I love to make people laugh.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49When someone walks in and sees what I've made
0:15:49 > 0:15:53and has a little chuckle, it makes me really happy with what I've achieved.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Take me through the process of creating something.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Is it kind of fairly physical?
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Yeah, it can be, actually. Heavy lifting and things.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03But I quite like it for a challenge.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07And the actual welding bit of it is obviously a big part of it.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Yeah, you burn yourself a lot.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11I go to the hairdresser and she laughs
0:16:11 > 0:16:16because I've got short bits in my hair because sparks land in my hair all the time!
0:16:16 > 0:16:19And you've always got to wear your trousers over your boots
0:16:19 > 0:16:22because otherwise the sparks go in your boot, it's a nightmare!
0:16:22 > 0:16:26- You don't want that. - No, you don't because you're hopping around like mad!
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Would you have had imagined that when you first started here
0:16:30 > 0:16:33as a blacksmith that your business would be doing this?
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Never. No. I thought I would be a plodding blacksmith all my life,
0:16:37 > 0:16:40and just how it has completely changed.
0:16:40 > 0:16:45It's a great feeling. I just picture it where it is and weld it up.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49We'll be back in Highland Perthshire catching up with all the action
0:16:49 > 0:16:53from the Original Mountain Marathon shortly, but right now
0:16:53 > 0:16:56we're off to The Cairngorms to join Cameron McNeish for his wild walk.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16This is Glen Feshie and later in the programme, I'll be meeting
0:17:16 > 0:17:20one of Scotland's most exciting wildlife photographers.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Someone who's chosen to make his home here.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26But before that, I'm going to take a walk up to a historic ruin
0:17:26 > 0:17:30at the head of this, one of my favourite glens.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37This isn't going to be one of my normal wild walks where I go
0:17:37 > 0:17:39and wander round the high tops.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42It doesn't look very nice up there today. It's probably raining
0:17:42 > 0:17:45and probably snowing, and very, very windy.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47But I don't mind because a walk through Glen Feshie
0:17:47 > 0:17:48is always a delight.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53To wander into an area like this with the ancient pines,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56a tumultuous river like this one, the River Feshie,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59and I just kind of enjoy being in the woods for a change.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16There's a long history of people living and working here in Glen Feshie.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20During the 18th and 19th century, many people were employed,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24extracting timber from the glen and floating it down the River Spey.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27That's an industry that continued right past the First
0:18:27 > 0:18:31and the Second World Wars, and today, you can find big areas like this one
0:18:31 > 0:18:33that are completely devoid of trees.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48There's a very encouraging trend in land management in Scotland
0:18:48 > 0:18:53to try and allow the regeneration of our indigenous trees
0:18:53 > 0:18:57like the Scots Pine, and here in Glen Feshie, the management techniques
0:18:57 > 0:19:01are really bearing fruit because we see little trees like this
0:19:01 > 0:19:05sprouting through the ground all around us, and all quite naturally.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21You know, I've always been an advocate of the high places,
0:19:21 > 0:19:23but now and again, I love to come down here
0:19:23 > 0:19:26and just take a wander through the streets of the pines.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30And each tree itself is deeply anchored.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34It's sort of rust red on its bark and sometimes looking up at them
0:19:34 > 0:19:39they give me the impression of being like the masts of big, billowing sailing ships,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42They're lovely.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46But the best thing of all is there's a kind of sense of timelessness here.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50If you consider these trees are between 2-300 years old,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52that's only 30 generations of trees.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54It would take us right back to the Ice Age.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18In the 18th century, there were quite a number of dwellings here in upper Glen Feshie
0:20:18 > 0:20:23and Queen Victoria would often travel round from Balmoral to visit,
0:20:23 > 0:20:28and she described Glen Feshie as "The Jewel in the crown of the Cairngorms".
0:20:28 > 0:20:30There's not much left of these dwellings now.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33This is one of the few structures that remain.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38And this is the old chimney stack of one of the buildings
0:20:38 > 0:20:43and it's said that the famous artist, Sir Edward Landseer, came here,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47and this is where he painted his famous painting, Stag At Bay,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51which is probably one of the most familiar paintings of the Scottish Highlands.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55And it's said that he'd drawn a number of frescoes
0:20:55 > 0:20:59on this chimney stack. Frescoes that unfortunately vanished
0:20:59 > 0:21:02about 30 or 40 years ago and this is all that's left
0:21:02 > 0:21:06of what Queen Victoria once described as "the dining bothy".
0:21:10 > 0:21:14I'm heading back down the glen now to meet a wildlife photographer
0:21:14 > 0:21:18who has moved from England to live and work here in the Cairngorms.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Peter Cairns has promised to share some of his secrets of taking stunning images,
0:21:22 > 0:21:27and also introduce me to some of Glen Feshie's wilder residents.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30So join me for that later in the programme.
0:21:36 > 0:21:43Back on the hill and it's painfully clear that running into rain like this is not easy.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47A twisted ankle, with no outside help, in a remote location,
0:21:47 > 0:21:52could have serious consequences, so having the right kit is essential.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55I have a spreadsheet where I put everything in,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59so usually the food will be the heaviest thing I'm carrying,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02so the tent's down at 700 grams, the sleeping bag's down at 500,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05but I'll be carrying about 1.8 kilos of food at the start,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09and I should be coming to the finish with no food at all.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13Competitors pare everything down to a minimum to try and maximise
0:22:13 > 0:22:18their speed on the hill. Rucksack, sleeping bag and waterproof clothing
0:22:18 > 0:22:23are all essential, but one of the most psychologically important items
0:22:23 > 0:22:27is food - and each team have their own favourites.
0:22:27 > 0:22:33- Flapjack.- Marzipan and a rocket fuel flapjack, home-made.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39- Look at that. Wouldn't you be tempted?- Yes, I am, yeah(!)
0:22:39 > 0:22:41I haven't eaten yet really, so...
0:22:41 > 0:22:44I think it's time to whack on some chocolate, yeah.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Rice Krispie Squares - fantastic!
0:22:47 > 0:22:50You've got a small water bottle. Are you replenishing it as you go?
0:22:50 > 0:22:54One bottle goes with me. It'll have an electrolyte in it. A weak electrolyte solution
0:22:54 > 0:22:57to make sure I'm getting plenty of salts on,
0:22:57 > 0:23:00and in actual fact, that cup, which is also my cooking cup,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03will go on top with the windshield over the top of the jet burner.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06At the end of the day, that actually goes on my belt,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10so they'll be through my rucksack belt and when we stop at a stream,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I'll refill that and we'll both have a drink as we cross the stream
0:23:14 > 0:23:17and, once we've had enough, we'll chuck it away,
0:23:17 > 0:23:21and we might replenish the water bottles, but again, it's weight saving.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23There's plenty of streams, especially up here.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28Competitors in the Elite class are making good progress, with two teams in particular ahead of the field.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Douglas Tullie who's running with John Rocke, and Tim Higginbottom
0:23:32 > 0:23:36who's with Chris Near, seem to have covered the most ground.
0:23:36 > 0:23:41Tim's done some fantastic training. He's built a fantastic conservatory at home.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44But the running side of it, his legs haven't done an awful lot
0:23:44 > 0:23:47in the last few weeks, so you know...
0:23:47 > 0:23:49and I had long races in the summer
0:23:49 > 0:23:51and I've not really done a lot since,
0:23:51 > 0:23:55so it's all been a little bit last minute in terms of training and that.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00Working out exactly who is ahead is difficult at this stage
0:24:00 > 0:24:02because of the staggered start.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Also in contention are Jethro Lennox and Steve Birkinshaw.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10They're previous winners of the OMM and eating up the miles today,
0:24:10 > 0:24:16but the conditions are grim and Steve's finding it hard going.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20Just wet underfoot and just saps you, you know.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23I had a bad patch and got a bit better
0:24:23 > 0:24:25but then I was just sort of...
0:24:25 > 0:24:27Lots of sliding around and stuff as well, I bet?
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Yeah, I mean, Jethro was awesome.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35The Elite course is the longest and hardest.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39For those on the shorter courses, the end of day one is in sight.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Lovely weather!
0:24:41 > 0:24:46And, with relieved legs, they tackle the last few miles to the campsite.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Mega! Better than Christmas!
0:24:50 > 0:24:53- I've had enough for the day.- Yeah!
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Looking for a nice spot to pitch our tent.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00Er, sole fell off about 3K away, something like that.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- Have you run in your socks?- Yeah. Well, one sock. I've got the other one on so I can contour.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08And he's still faster than me anyway!
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Hi!- Beautiful day for it!
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Perfect Scottish weather!
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Finally, the last one of the day. Yeah, not bad. A few navving errors
0:25:20 > 0:25:23but the weather's been like this so it was ace.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Not a dry spot on us but no injuries.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Oh, fantastic!
0:25:27 > 0:25:30We're here at the finishing line for the first day of the event
0:25:30 > 0:25:33and waiting for the Elite teams to come through.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Some of the other classes are coming through
0:25:35 > 0:25:37and by all accounts the weather has been foul.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42It's really bad down here but I think it's been really cold, wet and windy up on top,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44so some very bedraggled-looking runners
0:25:44 > 0:25:48who are now going to a very wet campsite and a very wet tent.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54The weather was abysmal.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58It absolutely cut through you on the top of the hills and things, yeah.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- Is it much windier up there?- Yeah. - Oh, yeah.- I lost my map twice.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- I had to do some heroic dives to catch it!- Chasing it down cliffs!
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Very tricky navigation in all the mist and the rain on the tops.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11We got kind of lucky with about control six, seven?
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Yes, we sort of hit on it.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Coming down, and it was just...
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Through all sorts of peat hags on a long bearing,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and we got within about 200 metres.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24It's either skill or a bit of a flukey one, that one!
0:26:24 > 0:26:26It was really good.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Enjoyable. As much as it was wet and a little bit cold, but it was good.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36- Ooh, I'm so tired. Aah! Aah! - It's his first one.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Was it good though? Enjoyable?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43- For him!- No, you did it.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46It'll be brilliant in hindsight when you're all dry,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and you've had a nice hot meal, and a shower.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52- Ooh!- Fantastic!- Yeah.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57First back for the Elite competitors are Tim Higginbottom and Chris Near.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02They've taken just over six hours to complete today's course.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Because of the staggered start, they'll have to wait to find out
0:27:05 > 0:27:09their exact position, but they're pleased with progress.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Wet. Tough out there.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14There's a fair bit of water and God knows how many times
0:27:14 > 0:27:18we fell over today, but it's quite nice to be here.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22So there were some very good runnable bits to start off with.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Very unrunnable bit in the middle there. Very tough section.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27A long, long distance between the controls.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31Slow speeds, which is demoralising, but you've got to keep going.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- Just keep plugging away.- Yeah.- We're taking the rest of the day off.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- Yeah.- We're definitely not running today.- No.- That's it.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42We're going in to have some food and drink, and some sleep.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Next in for the Elite are Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49and their time is quicker.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52They've done it in just under five hours, forty minutes.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55A great time but they've also found it arduous.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58It's really hard on your feet. You start cramping up a lot.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Towards the end, you're really cramping up.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04You don't normally cramp up after just five, six hours of running,
0:28:04 > 0:28:09but just because all day you're sinking in the bogs and your muscles are really under pressure,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12so that was the hardest thing towards the end of the day.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Yeah, cramping up.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Dread falling in a bog and your whole legs go into spasm,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and you think, "Oh, no!"
0:28:19 > 0:28:22But that's not the end of the day's work.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Now they must pitch their tiny tents before they can get
0:28:25 > 0:28:27even a little bit of comfort.
0:28:27 > 0:28:32Experienced fell runner Colin Eades knows just how hard this is.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35They're all coming into the campsite, trying to get tents up
0:28:35 > 0:28:39as quickly as possible when they reach this overnight camp,
0:28:39 > 0:28:41because, as soon as you stop running,
0:28:41 > 0:28:44that cold and wet that you've been fighting off
0:28:44 > 0:28:49disappears and now it's a race against time to get into your tent,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52into your sleeping bag, and get food started to get yourself any comfort
0:28:52 > 0:28:55you can get at this point in time.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59Tea and coffee, plenty of it, I think, is our plan at any rate.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03- And couscous.- And couscous? Is that cos it's easy to cook?
0:29:03 > 0:29:08It's easy to cook so all you've got to achieve is to boil some water, and we think we can achieve that.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11So if we can boil some water, we can make couscous.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15It's quite light to carry and it's reasonably filling, so that's why we've got loads of it.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18So I've got some soup and there's some hot chocolate,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21and then some curry and then some sweeties.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24What's the plan from now on?
0:29:24 > 0:29:28Food, sleep. Just eat constantly.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31What sort of foods are you going for?
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Dehydrated curry.
0:29:33 > 0:29:38- OK.- And best of all, malt loaf with custard.- Oh, that sounds delicious!
0:29:38 > 0:29:40I'd have that for tea normally, I think!
0:29:40 > 0:29:44Your shoes are pretty wet. Are you putting these back on tomorrow?
0:29:44 > 0:29:48That, for me, would be the worst part of it!
0:29:48 > 0:29:53Getting up out of a slightly damp sleeping bag and putting all this wet kit back on again.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56I suppose in the scheme of things, that thing of putting wet socks on
0:29:56 > 0:30:00is pretty small, really, compared to the general suffering!
0:30:00 > 0:30:05- But you're still smiling.- Aye, yeah. That's cos we've got here.- Yeah.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07We're just trying to dry off first.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10We've picked up the water from the stream.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15The next thing to do will be to cook, eat, drink all our powders
0:30:15 > 0:30:18and gels or whatever, then basically get whatever dry we've got on,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22get in sleeping bags and get some sleep.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26It's now 4.30 in the afternoon here at the campsite at the end of the first day
0:30:26 > 0:30:30and we've just found out from the marshals that the leading team,
0:30:30 > 0:30:34Jethro Lennox and Steve Birkinshaw, have actually just been disqualified.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36We're not sure if that's a final decision yet
0:30:36 > 0:30:38but if it is that's a really huge blow for those guys.
0:30:38 > 0:30:43Towards the end there were two controls quite close together, very close together.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46They're on separate features. One's in a sort of valley,
0:30:46 > 0:30:47the other's in a stream.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50The weather we've had today, there's water everywhere,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53so there's obviously the possibility of some confusion,
0:30:53 > 0:30:57and some teams have gone to the wrong one.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02Now, each control has a separate code and the competitors know
0:31:02 > 0:31:04which code they should be looking for
0:31:04 > 0:31:07and therefore they shouldn't go to the wrong one,
0:31:07 > 0:31:12but at the end of a long race, the brain isn't functioning
0:31:12 > 0:31:16quite so well as it should - bad weather - so we'll have a chat
0:31:16 > 0:31:19later on to see if there's any discretion that we can make.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22It was a hard decision
0:31:22 > 0:31:25and the judges couldn't completely make up their minds.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29Disqualification was the obvious choice, but in the end,
0:31:29 > 0:31:33they said that, for the moment at least, Steve Birkinshaw and
0:31:33 > 0:31:37Jethro Lennox would have a 30-minute penalty for missing the checkpoint.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40A final decision would be made at the end of the race.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44That means the final time for Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox
0:31:44 > 0:31:49at the end of day one is six hours, nine minutes, and one second.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52It's pushed them down into fourth place.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Shane Ohly and Duncan Archer are lying in third place
0:31:55 > 0:31:57with a time of 6:07:57,
0:31:57 > 0:32:02with Douglas Tullie and John Rocke just a few seconds faster.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06But now, out in the lead are Tim Higginbottom and Chris Near,
0:32:06 > 0:32:10who completed the day in 6:01:38.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14So with just eight minutes separating the top four,
0:32:14 > 0:32:18everything is set up for an exciting race on day two.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26It's now quarter to seven in the morning and dawn is just breaking.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Our runners have probably had a pretty uncomfortable night here
0:32:29 > 0:32:35at a cold, wet camp, and now they're just preparing for their second long, hard day in the hills.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40- How are you feeling today?- A bit sore, like.- Pretty good, I think.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45- We're stoked to the challenge. - Good luck, guys, thanks.- Cheers.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48We had these inflatable beds. A lot of people sleep on the floor
0:32:48 > 0:32:51and we had inflatable beds. Another 200 grams, but worth it.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55You've done so many of these, you know, you just get on with it
0:32:55 > 0:32:57and come out the other side.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59- They're all pretty miserable.- Yeah.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02But...this was very miserable because it was very wet and windy
0:33:02 > 0:33:07And it got quite cold in the night, but like Tim said,
0:33:07 > 0:33:09we're used to it and we've tweaked our kit over the years
0:33:09 > 0:33:12and actually we're quite comfortable now.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14- It's all relative. There's comfort and comfort...- Yeah.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18- You're not comfortable but... - I fancy a bit of comfort now!- Yeah!
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Given that it was 15 hours in a tent, it didn't feel like 15 hours
0:33:21 > 0:33:24so we must've slept at some point along the way, but er...
0:33:24 > 0:33:29- How are you feeling about today? - Psyched. Pretty keen, yeah.
0:33:29 > 0:33:34Not long. It's only a few hours and then back to the grind, you know,
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- so I think it'll be all right. - So far, so good.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41And you're both looking remarkably fresh this morning for having
0:33:41 > 0:33:43spent the night in a very wet, cold camp by all accounts?
0:33:43 > 0:33:48It was. It might be wet but I think, compared to previous OMMs, it wasn't
0:33:48 > 0:33:52that cold, and the ground was nice and damp, it was nice and level.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56- Do you feel like you've still got lots of energy for today? - Oh yes, definitely.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01- Brilliant! You could just keep going all week could you?- Yes. Oh, yes. - We'll try!
0:34:01 > 0:34:07So, as the racers start another long, hard day in the hills with a second marathon ahead,
0:34:07 > 0:34:11we're taking a short break to head into slightly better weather,
0:34:11 > 0:34:15and Deziree's about to try her hand at a completely different sport.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19It's young, it's home-grown, it's cartie racing.
0:34:27 > 0:34:33Everybody here is not a fair cross-section of the population.
0:34:33 > 0:34:38Everybody here has to have some degree of eccentricity or lunacy,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42depending on your viewpoint, to start with.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44The thrill outweighs the risk.
0:34:47 > 0:34:48Here I am in Aviemore.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51It's Friday night, I'm out and about in the hills, as you can see,
0:34:51 > 0:34:55but I've got a slightly unusual evening ahead of me.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58I'm up here with the Cairngorm Soapbox Extreme Team
0:34:58 > 0:35:04and have just been introduced to my trusty steed for the evening, The Bandit.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07This is the third year for this extraordinary event,
0:35:07 > 0:35:12where competitors hurtle down the Cairngorm ski road in handmade carts,
0:35:12 > 0:35:17And it's fast - the top speed last year was over 60 miles an hour.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Tonight it's time for the practice runs.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24The race begins in earnest tomorrow.
0:35:24 > 0:35:25I'm feeling a bit nervous.
0:35:25 > 0:35:30It sounds like we're going to be going downhill really, really fast.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Just be very careful into the first S bend, the Switch.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36It's a very tight right-left,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38so brake hard into that one,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42keep your speed on. No brakes through the flatlands,
0:35:42 > 0:35:46and when you get to the end of the flatlands, tight in off the flatlands
0:35:46 > 0:35:51and the speed will drop off down the Sugarbowl, then your speed will pick up and just keep going for it.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- I've got to remember I don't have an accelerator.- If you get into bother,
0:35:54 > 0:35:57- you don't have an accelerator. - I just have a brake.- Yeah.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59- No clutch either?- No clutch.- OK.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01You've only got brakes and your steering.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Racing cart 12.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Tally ho!
0:36:05 > 0:36:09'Just looking around, all these other carts look...
0:36:09 > 0:36:13quite high-powered. I'm sure mine is going to be absolutely fine.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16It looks like a reliable, solid...
0:36:18 > 0:36:21..piece of equipment.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23Racing 16.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32This helmet is really heavy. I can't hear very much.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36And you won't be able to hear my screams.
0:36:36 > 0:36:37SHE LAUGHS
0:36:37 > 0:36:39Oh, it's going to be great!
0:36:40 > 0:36:44OK, releasing number one, and this is the last cart.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Woo-hoo!
0:36:58 > 0:37:02You're right on the limits. This year we're breaking records again.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06You're getting towards the Holy Grail, which is like 70 miles an hour.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08It was 60 miles an hour a couple of years ago,
0:37:08 > 0:37:12it's now up to 70 miles an hour, so that's where everybody wants to be.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15And this course is... There's nothing else in the UK like it.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20It's technical. It's not a straightforward drag race. You've got to have your wits about you
0:37:20 > 0:37:23and it can be very, very fast and very interesting at times.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27The racing part of it is actually
0:37:27 > 0:37:30the smallest part of it, in terms of what the teams are doing.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35They spend hours, days, weekends, entire weeks, months,
0:37:35 > 0:37:37in sheds building these things, and the race is two days.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40It's not even two days, it's two evenings.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43So it can't be to do with the racing,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45it must be to do with the engineering and the challenge
0:37:45 > 0:37:50and the fun of building something you are going to throw yourself down a hill at 70 miles an hour.
0:37:50 > 0:37:55There's literally thousands of pounds in some of these carts.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58We have 26-inch wheels. Most people have 10 or 12-inch wheels.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00I think nearly every person has come up to us today
0:38:00 > 0:38:04and told us our wheels are too big and that they're going to bend or break.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07Some of us are professional engineers, a lot of us aren't.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10And what you find is, when somebody brings a new cart,
0:38:10 > 0:38:14everybody sort of swarms round it and you're just trying to see
0:38:14 > 0:38:17how they've done things and you start thinking, and...
0:38:17 > 0:38:20You know? It's an evolving sport.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24The speeds increase as people find that these hubs are better
0:38:24 > 0:38:26and these wheels are better,
0:38:26 > 0:38:29and then they tell everybody else - everybody else fits the new gear.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34I'm at over 70 on that last one.
0:38:34 > 0:38:3870.31 according to the GPS speedo.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41It feels very, very quick. I reckon I could go quicker
0:38:41 > 0:38:44but I think the main limiting factor at the moment is bottle.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46I haven't got enough bottle.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54That was such a hoot. I went far too cautiously down the first bit
0:38:54 > 0:38:55and actually lost too much speed,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58so next time I'm really going to go for it, I think.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01I ended up having to kind of push with my foot
0:39:01 > 0:39:03and then a couple of young lads came and helped me out
0:39:03 > 0:39:05and shoved me off down the hill a little bit.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12As you can see behind me
0:39:12 > 0:39:15the competitors are making some last-minute adjustments
0:39:15 > 0:39:18to their carties and getting ready for tonight's races.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21It's going to be a bit different this evening,
0:39:21 > 0:39:24because there'll be four competitors at any one time on the road.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28So as well as just thinking about your own driving,
0:39:28 > 0:39:30you have to think about people around you,
0:39:30 > 0:39:33which is going to be a little bit more intimidating, I think.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36It's kind of slow in, fast out.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Not fast in because that's just how you're going to have an accident.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42You should be faster. You should be taking more risks. You're too tame.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46Don't worry about bending the cart. Get after it, get down there.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Quicker - you're too slow!
0:39:48 > 0:39:52If you're not in front, then let the others go through the Switch,
0:39:52 > 0:39:56cos that's the really tricky bit. You may get through yourself OK,
0:39:56 > 0:40:01but if someone else is side-on then you may end up hitting them and you don't want that.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05And if you're in the front, keep your eyes open. But you have to hope for the best.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09If someone's behind you, hope they'll avoid you cos you can't see where they are.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13This is one of the tougher races in the circuit because it's the fastest.
0:40:13 > 0:40:16This is the fastest, steepest, longest - everything-est.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20And it's the only one in the country that does four carts head-to-head,
0:40:20 > 0:40:23which makes it even more interesting.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25SHE LAUGHS
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Just really surreal.
0:40:28 > 0:40:3115 way out in front already.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35- Oh, they're miles ahead of me already!- Go on, Deziree,
0:40:35 > 0:40:36faster, faster!
0:40:36 > 0:40:40The other three getting way ahead. You're number one in your cart
0:40:40 > 0:40:44but somehow I don't think you'll be number one down today.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47At the top of the course, all eyes are on last year's winner,
0:40:47 > 0:40:50number 30, Stephen Thomas. He's in the black and white cart.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Further down, and he's way out in front,
0:40:55 > 0:40:57and that looks very quick indeed.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Top speed 70 miles an hour.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02I cracked 64 last year and I was trying for 70 this year
0:41:02 > 0:41:04and I got it.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07A second win for Stephen Thomas, but how's Deziree doing?
0:41:07 > 0:41:12Hmm, maybe just a wee bit slower. But she is down in one piece.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16I think I came last but I don't mind because I had a brilliant time,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18loved my little cartie and I met brilliant people.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23Definitely coming back again because it's a really nice vibe, and I might even take my own cartie next time.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37'But back to a more usual form of transport - two feet -
0:41:37 > 0:41:39'and I'm just down the road from Deziree.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42'I'm on my way to meet a wildlife photographer
0:41:42 > 0:41:45'who's chosen to make his home here in Glen Feshie.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48'He's captured breathtakingly powerful images
0:41:48 > 0:41:52'in far-flung corners of the world, but here in Scotland
0:41:52 > 0:41:56'he seems to concentrate on wider environmental themes,
0:41:56 > 0:42:00'and that's why I'm interested in the work of Peter Cairns.'
0:42:00 > 0:42:03- Hi, Pete.- Hi, Cameron. - How you doing?- Good to see you.
0:42:03 > 0:42:06How did you end up in a fantastic place like this?
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Well, it is a long story, and I won't bore you with it,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11but, in essence, I had a business and sold it.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Eight months later, I ended up here.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16A convoluted set of circumstances - you don't want to know.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18- What kind of business was it? - Haulage business.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21- That's a bit different!- It couldn't be more far removed, I guess.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24What are going to show me? Let's go for a wander, shall we?
0:42:24 > 0:42:28- I thought we could perhaps have a look at our local red squirrels if you like.- Fantastic.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32A bit of pine forest in the back there. So, yeah, we'll get going.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37I take lots of photographs through the course of a day
0:42:37 > 0:42:40and I tend not to hang around. But, you know,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44I've been with wildlife photographers and you guys seem to be happy
0:42:44 > 0:42:47to sit around for hours waiting for wildlife to appear.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50I don't think I've got that sort of patience.
0:42:50 > 0:42:52Well, I think it's not through choice, to be fair.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55I think there's a lot of wildlife photographers,
0:42:55 > 0:42:59myself included, who you wouldn't necessarily look upon as patient, but it is a necessity.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04It's not the Serengeti here and you do have to work really, really hard to get your shots.
0:43:04 > 0:43:09Maybe patience is not the word, but tenacity is certainly something that is needed,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11and, yeah, a lot of people haven't got that
0:43:11 > 0:43:14or aren't prepared to invest that sort of time and energy.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16So what have we got here, Pete?
0:43:16 > 0:43:20Effectively what we have is a wooden box in the middle of the forest! It's my squirrel hide,
0:43:20 > 0:43:24or one of them, and it's put here, you know, it's in position because of the light,
0:43:24 > 0:43:27the viewpoint, the background. And what I do
0:43:27 > 0:43:30is put out food every day - have done for probably about ten years -
0:43:30 > 0:43:33and the squirrels become used to it, it becomes a routine for them.
0:43:33 > 0:43:36So they know to come here every day, and that's how you get shots.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38I think there's a little guy over there.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42- OK.- Let's get inside...- Sure. - ..and he might come closer.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51Ah, here we are. He should go to the food. Yeah.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- Oh, great!- He knows where it is. - Yeah. Oh, that's perfect.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57And you can see that lovely pose of the squirrel
0:43:57 > 0:43:59with the tail coming back over the head
0:43:59 > 0:44:01and ear tufts up in the winter.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03It's always best if you photograph them in the winter.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06- That's just perfect.- Yeah.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09- They're such beautiful creatures, aren't they?- Yeah.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11They've got these lovely engaging eyes -
0:44:11 > 0:44:14those big, black, beady eyes which catch the light,
0:44:14 > 0:44:16so from a photographer's point of view
0:44:16 > 0:44:19- they are really a perfect subject. - Yeah.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34You're showing me a couple of photographs on the computer.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37- Tell me the stories behind the photographs.- Yep, sure.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39- Well, this first one... - That's great.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43I'm a great fan of just sort of simple graphic images, really.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45I'm a great fan of silhouettes.
0:44:45 > 0:44:48This was a really fantastic morning on Loch Insh just down the road.
0:44:48 > 0:44:51Whooper swan that winter here from Iceland, just caught at dawn
0:44:51 > 0:44:55standing on the frozen loch with the sun coming up through the mist.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58- Quite sort of non-Scottish in a way. - It could be anywhere.
0:44:58 > 0:45:00- It's almost got a Japanese feel to it.- Mmm.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02Yes, this is a...
0:45:02 > 0:45:04- A pine marten.- A pine marten, yeah.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07One of the things that I tend to concentrate on now
0:45:07 > 0:45:09is species, and/or landscapes,
0:45:09 > 0:45:11or issues, shall we say,
0:45:11 > 0:45:16where there is a kind of a human-wildlife dynamic.
0:45:16 > 0:45:17By dynamic, it often means conflict.
0:45:17 > 0:45:20Pine martens are a case in point. These are still rare animals
0:45:20 > 0:45:22but are much more numerous now
0:45:22 > 0:45:24than they were perhaps even ten years ago.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26But, of course, they're a predator
0:45:26 > 0:45:29and they're at a number where they're starting to have,
0:45:29 > 0:45:32in some cases, an impact on prey species and that would include
0:45:32 > 0:45:35other rare species like red squirrel and capercaillie, for example.
0:45:35 > 0:45:39So I love pine martens, I love photographing them, but, for me,
0:45:39 > 0:45:44it's the back story that motivates me to go after a species like this.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46And ditto Scottish wildcat.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49This is again a slightly controlled situation.
0:45:49 > 0:45:50It's a free-living cat
0:45:50 > 0:45:53but it's a cat that was released into the forest around here.
0:45:53 > 0:45:57I ended up baiting it in over a number of months with roadkill rabbits,
0:45:57 > 0:46:00and it got to the stage where I could kind of almost predict
0:46:00 > 0:46:03where it was going to be and when.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06It allowed me to get an unusually wide coverage
0:46:06 > 0:46:09on what is normally a very, very elusive animal.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21So can you define your work?
0:46:21 > 0:46:25What is the sort of end purpose of you going out and taking photographs?
0:46:25 > 0:46:28Is it to sell a pretty picture or is it something wider than that?
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Yeah, I've got to put food on the table, of course,
0:46:31 > 0:46:34and there's an element of commercialism to it inevitably,
0:46:34 > 0:46:38but I think what photography can do is tell people a story
0:46:38 > 0:46:43and the human condition has always been receptive to having stories told to them.
0:46:43 > 0:46:46I've not got a particular bent towards red squirrels
0:46:46 > 0:46:48or pine martens or golden eagles or whatever,
0:46:48 > 0:46:52but what I do care passionately about is ecosystem health, if you like.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54And that sounds again pretty worthy,
0:46:54 > 0:46:57but unless we get this stuff right, you know,
0:46:57 > 0:47:00this river's not going to be healthy for ever and ever,
0:47:00 > 0:47:05these mountains are going to start crumbling, and you know, erosion and all that sort of stuff.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08So I suppose the message, if there is one -
0:47:08 > 0:47:12I'm a bit wary about standing on a pedestal saying, "This is the message," -
0:47:12 > 0:47:15is one of ecological health, because...
0:47:15 > 0:47:18And you don't have to be interested in conservation to care about
0:47:18 > 0:47:21the cleanliness of our river and the quality of our air,
0:47:21 > 0:47:23and that's kind of the message, really.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26- This wooden box is the buzzard feeding station.- Right.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31There is a greater awareness of wildlife than there ever has been,
0:47:31 > 0:47:36but equally there is this alienation from nature as more and more people live an urbanised existence.
0:47:36 > 0:47:39And so I think what photography does
0:47:39 > 0:47:42is reaches an audience that perhaps the written word,
0:47:42 > 0:47:46and certainly the scientific written word, just simply can't.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49But the two are not mutually exclusive, they can work hand-in-hand,
0:47:49 > 0:47:52and, really, what I'm trying to do is fuel that process -
0:47:52 > 0:47:56to feed that shift in societal behaviour, if you like, in my small way.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10Welcome back to day two of the OMM.
0:48:10 > 0:48:15The Elite racers have been set off in the order they finished yesterday -
0:48:15 > 0:48:18the fastest team started first.
0:48:18 > 0:48:20As they head through an early checkpoint,
0:48:20 > 0:48:25yesterday's leaders, Tim Higginbottom and Chris Near, are out in front.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28But Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox,
0:48:28 > 0:48:32who had a 30-minute penalty added to their time, have been having an incredible morning.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35They've virtually made up all the deficit
0:48:35 > 0:48:41and they go through this checkpoint just a few seconds behind the leaders.
0:48:41 > 0:48:45A minute later Duncan Archer and Shane Ohly have also made up time
0:48:45 > 0:48:48and are now in striking distance of the first two pairs.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50D63.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52But there's still a question mark
0:48:52 > 0:48:56over whether Jethro Lennox and Steve Birkinshaw will ultimately be disqualified
0:48:56 > 0:49:00for missing that checkpoint on day one.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02We made a holding decision last night
0:49:02 > 0:49:07to let the team that's in dispute carry on,
0:49:07 > 0:49:10and I think I just need to do some more thinking
0:49:10 > 0:49:12before we reach a final decision on how to handle it.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16It feels quite political, I suppose, in some respects?
0:49:16 > 0:49:19Is this quite an important decision for you to make today?
0:49:19 > 0:49:22I feel very uncomfortable about it, and it's so hard,
0:49:22 > 0:49:26especially in the evening of the Saturday when everybody's tired,
0:49:26 > 0:49:29to really think things through very logically.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32So I think what we did yesterday was right
0:49:32 > 0:49:36and then we can pick it up and have another look at it later today.
0:49:36 > 0:49:41The OMM is without doubt a supreme test of teamwork,
0:49:41 > 0:49:43self-reliance, and navigation,
0:49:43 > 0:49:48and none of this is made easier by this rough mountain terrain.
0:49:48 > 0:49:53- How's it going this morning? - Yeah, very good. Some stiff climbs over there, though.
0:49:53 > 0:49:56- Yeah.- But we're going OK.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58We'll see at the end of the day.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02I used to like heather, but not so much today.
0:50:02 > 0:50:06It's tough. Very windy. The terrain's hard, very hard.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10Walking's really difficult. Just, you know, not steady at all.
0:50:10 > 0:50:15At one stage, we decided to go through this marsh, sort of as the crow flies,
0:50:15 > 0:50:17and then there were people behind us
0:50:17 > 0:50:21- and it looked like they'd found us a nice road rather than...- Oh, right!
0:50:21 > 0:50:25Back with the fastest runners, and things are definitely heating up.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29Colin is out on the course, waiting for the leading teams.
0:50:29 > 0:50:33The racing guys, they've been running for over two hours and 15 minutes -
0:50:33 > 0:50:35they're the first ones out.
0:50:35 > 0:50:40They'll be coming through here soon. We're expecting them to come down the hill,
0:50:40 > 0:50:44into this re-entrant here, and then climb up past us.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48And in a huge turnaround following yesterday's penalty,
0:50:48 > 0:50:52Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox are now, amazingly, in the lead.
0:50:52 > 0:50:57Well done, guys. Good to see you back in the competition. Are you glad about that?
0:50:57 > 0:50:59Yeah, very glad.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02'I've just seen Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox coming through.
0:51:02 > 0:51:06'Last night, they had been disqualified,'
0:51:06 > 0:51:12but then I think the competitors have asked the organisers to reconsider their decision.
0:51:12 > 0:51:16They've just come through this control point in the lead,
0:51:16 > 0:51:18racing hard to prove they're the best.
0:51:20 > 0:51:24Just behind and still challenging for the lead are Tim Higginbottom and Chris Near.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27Hi, Tim. You're not that far behind.
0:51:27 > 0:51:32Behind them, currently in third, are Duncan Archer and Shane Ohly,
0:51:32 > 0:51:35and they're playing a strategic game -
0:51:35 > 0:51:39trying not to get too involved in this ding-dong battle for first place.
0:51:39 > 0:51:40Hi.
0:51:40 > 0:51:44- Ugh. Come on!- That was a hard one.
0:51:46 > 0:51:48OK, let's go.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50'We've raced our own race.'
0:51:50 > 0:51:54The most important thing is we've not got too wrapped up in racing head-to-head with people.
0:51:54 > 0:51:59Yesterday a couple of teams got together, they were running together,
0:51:59 > 0:52:02and I think at least one of them just maybe got really tired,
0:52:02 > 0:52:05whereas we were just running on our own, doing our own thing.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08This two coming through - Doug Tullie, John Rocke -
0:52:08 > 0:52:12started in second place. A little bit down now but pushing hard.
0:52:12 > 0:52:15Go on there, Doug. Come on, John.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19'Navigation is kind of our strong point.'
0:52:19 > 0:52:22We've both competed up to a high level in orienteering,
0:52:22 > 0:52:25so usually the navigation's not so much of a problem.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28We had some minor issues yesterday at some of the controls,
0:52:28 > 0:52:30but usually we get on OK.
0:52:30 > 0:52:34The competitors from the shorter courses are nearing the end
0:52:34 > 0:52:37of this gruelling two days on the hill,
0:52:37 > 0:52:41and, for some, that end can't come soon enough.
0:52:41 > 0:52:43I did, didn't I?
0:52:43 > 0:52:45I just can't stand up in it.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48- How you getting on?- Miserable. - BOTH LAUGH
0:52:48 > 0:52:51- No, we're getting on all right. - Even compared to yesterday?
0:52:51 > 0:52:56- Oh, yeah, miles better than yesterday, but...- That wasn't difficult!- That's not saying much.
0:52:58 > 0:52:59Right, we're next.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02- How's it going?- Yeah, not too bad.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05Looking forward to stopping.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09Oh, it's a hard day today.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12- What's making it hard? - The distance and the terrain.
0:53:14 > 0:53:15This stuff.
0:53:17 > 0:53:19But, yeah, nearly finished.
0:53:20 > 0:53:24The Elite racers are still powering over the hills,
0:53:24 > 0:53:26and as they approach the finish line,
0:53:26 > 0:53:29it's Duncan Archer and Shane Ohly out in front.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31- OK, DS.- Yeah.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34They've had a remarkable final part of this race.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37They're exhausted, and that's not surprising.
0:53:37 > 0:53:41In a supreme effort, they've moved up from third place to come first.
0:53:41 > 0:53:42Two of the teams got away,
0:53:42 > 0:53:44- and we thought - well,- I- thought -
0:53:44 > 0:53:47- "Oh that'll be it, maybe we'll be third."- Yeah.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49- We were amazed. - I think they made a small mistake.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52They must have made a mistake. We were on that kind of terrain -
0:53:52 > 0:53:56if you're just two minutes behind somebody, you can't see them.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00They made a mistake and we were just suddenly right on top of them and we thought,
0:54:00 > 0:54:01"Right, let's just take it on,"
0:54:01 > 0:54:04and we pushed them hard and they fell away.
0:54:04 > 0:54:08And how hard...? Well, you know, how hard was it? Obviously very hard but...
0:54:08 > 0:54:11The second half of today we were pushing quite hard.
0:54:11 > 0:54:16- But when you can kind of smell the finish, it just feels less painful.- Yeah.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19And having caught the others as well - it's such a positive experience.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22We kept saying to each other, "We could win this!"
0:54:22 > 0:54:25- You look amazingly fresh. - That's just...
0:54:25 > 0:54:27- Most people do, actually. - Don't feel it at all.
0:54:27 > 0:54:31- That's just cos we're finished and we've won.- And we've sat down.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35Hanging onto second place just a minute behind Duncan and Shane
0:54:35 > 0:54:37are Tim Higginbottom and Chris Near.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41- Congratulations. - Thank you.- You've done brilliantly, given the Elite category.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44- Not a perfect race but a decent race.- Not perfect? What's...?
0:54:44 > 0:54:46- Well, we came second. - It was just hard.
0:54:46 > 0:54:47It was tough underfoot
0:54:47 > 0:54:50- and pretty wild the first half of the day.- Yeah.
0:54:50 > 0:54:51It was one of those yo-yo days.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54The first five or six kilometres were so fast,
0:54:54 > 0:54:59the running on big tracks and that, it's not really our cup of tea.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01And so we lost a bit of time early on,
0:55:01 > 0:55:04and then when it did get rough underfoot
0:55:04 > 0:55:08and big climbs, we sort of dug in quite well then.
0:55:08 > 0:55:10But, yeah, it was one of those days, really,
0:55:10 > 0:55:12where you're sort of up and down all the time,
0:55:12 > 0:55:14sort of blowing and feeling OK.
0:55:14 > 0:55:18- He was blowing and then he'd feel OK and I'd feel rotten. - And then you'd blow again.
0:55:18 > 0:55:23It was one of those. We never really coincided very well, and then it was a furious finish.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27- Yeah, the last 30 minutes. - We ran well off the last hill,
0:55:27 > 0:55:31and then we got down to within 250 metres of the finish probably,
0:55:31 > 0:55:35and Shane and his partner, they'd obviously completely blown up
0:55:35 > 0:55:37and they were just walking along the track.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40- They looked like they'd retired. - I presumed that they'd missed a control.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43All of a sudden, Shane turned round and just glanced us
0:55:43 > 0:55:47- and if they hadn't turned I think we could have been... - You could have had them.- Oh, yeah.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50They were from here to the tree there and it was really close.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54- That must feel... - So it was just a few seconds there. But, hey, never mind.
0:55:54 > 0:56:00Coming in third are relative newcomers Douglas Tullie and John Rocke.
0:56:00 > 0:56:02A fantastic result for them.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05We always go out to try and win but we're quite young comparatively.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Is this your first time racing in the Elite category?
0:56:08 > 0:56:12- Yeah, the first time.- We've done the C, B and A previously.
0:56:12 > 0:56:14So we've been working our way up so that it was...
0:56:14 > 0:56:17Two years ago we ran the A, so then we didn't have a choice.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21It was like, "We're going to have to run the Elite now." It's been good, yeah.
0:56:21 > 0:56:23- Well, that's amazing, to come third.- Yeah.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27Presumably you want to come back next year as a pair and compete again?
0:56:27 > 0:56:32- Yeah.- We'll come back at some point. Whether it's next year or not...
0:56:32 > 0:56:34Maybe might take a couple of years to recover.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37So confirmation of those results...
0:56:57 > 0:57:02Steve Birkinshaw and Jethro Lennox had a tremendous burst of speed this morning
0:57:02 > 0:57:05to make up for that 30-minute penalty.
0:57:05 > 0:57:10But it was too much to sustain and they're dropped down to fourth.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13We worked really hard yesterday,
0:57:13 > 0:57:15and then suddenly to lose half an hour...
0:57:15 > 0:57:18It's pretty difficult to get back half an hour in the Elite class.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21You know, you learn and these things happen in these events.
0:57:21 > 0:57:27It's not all just about running. There's a lot of other things involved.
0:57:27 > 0:57:30An event like this isn't just about the Elite athletes.
0:57:30 > 0:57:35It's the Original Mountain Marathon and it's arguably the toughest,
0:57:35 > 0:57:39so congratulations to everyone who took part and to everyone who finished.
0:57:39 > 0:57:43- We've done lots together... - Lots together. - ..in the last 15 years.
0:57:43 > 0:57:46All through the year to keep ourselves fit,
0:57:46 > 0:57:48so we don't get out of sort of training mode.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51This is our 25 together.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54We've taken 26 years to do it, so we missed out on one year.
0:57:54 > 0:58:00There's not many teams who have kept together for that length of time so that's what we celebrate.
0:58:00 > 0:58:05- And presumably you are not giving up now that you've done the 25 years? - Oh, no. We'll be back.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07- Well done, boys.- Oh, wow.
0:58:10 > 0:58:11That was hard.
0:58:11 > 0:58:13That's it for this month's Adventure Show.
0:58:13 > 0:58:17Next time we'll be back with one of the toughest mountain bike races on the planet -
0:58:17 > 0:58:2124 hours in the frozen north in the dead of winter - the Strathpuffer.
0:58:21 > 0:58:25Please join us for that if you can. In the meantime, from the Perthshire hills
0:58:25 > 0:58:29and the Original Mountain Marathon, thanks for your company, bye for now.
0:58:48 > 0:58:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd