Dawn on Scafell. Photo: Terry Abraham

Dawn on Scafell. Photo: Terry Abraham

A film chronicling a year in the life of England’s highest peak will have its premiere this year.

Film-maker Terry Abraham’s labour of love involved taking hundreds of hours of footage for his Life of a Mountain work.

The film will be shown at Rheged in May and will also feature later in the month in the Keswick Mountain Festival.

The Rheged event will feature a 40-minute edit of the film followed by questions and answers with Mr Abraham and special guests including mountaineer Alan Hinkes and walking writer Mark Richards.

Scafell Pike has been described as an ugly prince compared to the Welsh queen Snowdon and Scottish king Ben Nevis.

Mr Abrahams said: “Scafell Pike may seem to some an unfriendly place, but in the blink of an eye this ugly prince will become a close lifelong friend.”

The project has involved frequent camps on the Lake District fells. The cinematographer said: “One wild camp that sticks in my mind was near Crinkle Crags, at the head Langdale.

“Exhausted after a 12-mile hike I happened upon a secluded spot that overlooked Great Moss, Eskdale, and the Duddon Valley.

“I watched the sun slowly go down over the Isle of Man as the Scafells became crags of fire, morphing into what appeared to be molten lava. It was truly breathtaking.


A trailer for Life of a Mountain

“Sitting there with one of my camping luxuries, a mug of port, mist filled the dark valleys below while I savoured the warmth and glow of the distant setting sun.

“In the morning, I awoke to see a blood-orange sun rising over Windermere with a cloud inversion, too. Money cannot buy you moments or scenes like these.

“So for longer than I care to admit I’ve been dreaming of the time I could make a full cinematic piece on my favourite hill, Scafell Pike.

“This film isn’t just a visual extravaganza covering England’s highest peak through the seasons, from all angles, up close and afar, night and day. It’s also about the people who enjoy it.

“After all it’s the people who give Scafell Pike its character. From farmers to climbers, to the notorious Three Peaks Challengers, this unique film gives the viewer the chance to meet all of these folk and follows those who live, work and care for the area.”

The film will premiere at Rheged

The film will premiere at Rheged

Andrea Runkee, Cumbria Tourism’s Adventure Capital project manager said: “Terry’s film will hopefully inspire people and show the true beauty of this iconic Cumbrian fell.

“It is a place deeply seated in romanticism, one that inspired Wordsworth and his fellow poets, all of whom were drawn to the mountain’s majesty.

“One thing I can guarantee is that Terry’s film will re-ignite that sense of drama, awe and grandeur that the Scafells instilled in those poets all those years ago – a film that will make every Cumbrian proud.”

The premiere will be at Rheged on Saturday, 10 May, with a showing at the Keswick Mountain Festival on Thursday 15 May.

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