The Scottish Outdoor and Adventure Film Tour is back
Join us for an uplifting evening that showcases the very best of the Scottish outdoors, adventure, and filmmaking on screen. Our lineup features a diverse collection of the best short films that celebrate Scotland’s wild places and the people who enjoy them.
This year, we’ve got everything from skiing to running, climbing to mountain biking, with stories about friends exchanging their skills to enjoy the outdoors in a changing climate, two brothers’ first big cycling adventure, and a champion mountain biker shredding his local trails.
These films will move you, entertain you, and ignite your love for the outdoors, all bringing inspiring and empowering stories to the big screen!
Whether you're an adventurer, nature lover, or enjoy a good story, there’s something for everyone
PARALLEL LINES
Set in the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, Parallel Lines is a short film that moves beyond the pursuit of performance and perfection to rediscover the simple joy of being outdoors. Amid unpredictable weather and changing conditions, three friends swap their usual disciplines of skiing, running, and climbing to learn from one another. What starts as a light-hearted challenge evolves into something much deeper: moments of laughter, humility, and connection that remind them why they fell in love with the hills in the first place. Parallel Lines is a story of friendship, curiosity, and the shared spirit that binds those who find home in the wild.
Directors: Ryan Balharry and Bob Zane Run Time: 18 minutes
TO KNOW A MOUNTAIN
What does it take to know a mountain? A group of women set out into the Cairngorms Mountains to answer this question, following in the footsteps of writer & mountaineer Nan Shepherd – who pioneered a different way of being in the mountains. Tired of all the stories focused on racing to the summit, Hannah Westhenry fell into the pages of her beloved book The Living Mountain, by Scottish writer & explorer Nan Shepherd. Inspired by Nan’s work, Hannah brings together a diverse group of women to follow in Nan's footsteps, adventuring into the UK's largest and wildest mountain range to tell a different story. ‘To Know A Mountain’ , a film by Emily Baker and Michelle Sanders, interweaves visuals of the Cairngorms – from its grand landscapes to its smallest details – into an anti-summit story, promoting inclusion in the outdoors, and representing a diversity of ways of being in the mountains not often told in adventure films.
Directors: Emily Baker and Michelle Sanders Run Time: 17 minutes
MASA: 居場所 (THE PLACE WHERE I AM)
In Masa : 居場所 (The Place Where I Am), we root ourselves in exploring the concepts of home and belonging – and what those mean to Masa Sakano. Blending together Scottish and Japanese landscape, culture and language, the film will take us from the icy crags of the Scottish mountains, to Masa‘s home in the shadow of the Cairngorms, and back to his roots and family connections in rural Japan.
Director: Rachel Sarah Run Time: 18 minutes
ALTER EGO
Follows champion endurance mountain biker Kyle Beattie as he rides the fine line between control and chaos. Blending high-speed freeride with a dark, cinematic edge, the film explores the quiet intensity that fuels a rider’s obsession. Shot entirely on local trails near Inverness, ALTER EGO is a portrait of passion, landscape, and love for the outdoors. The film is a celebration of Scotland’s rugged terrain and the people who live to move through it and the locals that have made this place a hub for adventure.
Director: Will Rabbitt Run Time: 3 minutes
MONSTER MILES
Two brothers head off of their first Bikepacking Adventure in search of the Loch Ness Monster.
Director: Sean Conway Run Time: 4 minutes
THRAWN
In the Scottish Highlands, the word “thrawn” means “stubborn" but for a good reason —a virtuous struggle to make the most of what’s available. Professional snowboarder Lesley McKenna was raised on this innate tenacity, and has spent her life pushing the boundaries of her sport and advocating for the people and place that shaped her. The film shows the unique power of the snow community in its resilience and stubbornness to make the best of things, which is what “Thrawn” is about. Director Hannah Bailey explains “the Cairngorms breeds a special kind of folk who make do with what they have, and make use of every opportunity out there. In times of environmental and societal uncertainty, this community virtue of adaptability and resilience is more important than ever. This story is an example of that. "
Director: Hannah Bailey Run Time: 15 minutes
AGAINST THE CLOCK
Against The Clock is a short documentary exploring the life and passion of 88 year old, Caithness Cycling Club cyclist Alasdair Washington. Blending race footage with moments of personal reflection, the film offers an honest portrait of his lasting connection to the sport. It looks at the discipline, determination and enjoyment that continue to fuel his competitive spirit. Rather than focusing on results alone, the story captures the essence of what it means to keep showing up and pushing forward. What keeps the wheels turning when time refuses to slow down? Both intimate and authentic, Against The Clock celebrates a lifelong passion for cycling and community.
Director: Jonathan Baikie Run Time: 13 minutes
SKATEBOARDING SCOTTISH ISLANDS
An artist–skateboarder sets out across the Hebridean islands, using a long-distance skateboard and a sketchbook as tools for exploration. Travelling more than 650 kilometres and visiting seventeen islands - some familiar, others entirely new - he documents the journey through drawing, writing, photography, and film. The project focuses on immediate experience: responding to the landscape, the weather, and the shifting character of island roads with no agenda beyond moving through the terrain. As the relationship between rider, environment, and road surface deepens, the journey reveals a new way of observing and engaging with place. Shot primarily during solo travel, the film accompanies a wider body of artwork produced on the road but stands independently as a meditation on movement, environment, and creative process. It marks the beginning of an ongoing exploration- one that promises more pushing ahead.
Director: Andy Spink Run Time: 10 minutes
CAPSIZED
Some people dream of summiting the highest peaks, of visiting a remote island, of being the fastest to navigate a route. But not Emily. Emily dreams of esoteric adventure, and of dragging a canoe across a bog. Enlisting her friend Lisa to join her, the pair set off to the Isle of Lewis, to navigate its intricate system of lochs. But before any trip comes the prep, and part of that means finding the right kit. For Emily, this can be a tough adventure in and of itself. When outdoor shops only stock technical clothing up to a size 16, how is adventure possible for the 45% of women in the UK who wear larger sizes?
Director: Roxanna Barry Run Time: 17 minutes
2h 30m (inc Interval)
12A Some strong language.
Join us for an uplifting evening that showcases the very best of the Scottish outdoors, adventure, and filmmaking on screen. Our lineup features a diverse collection of the best short films that celebrate Scotland’s wild places and the people who enjoy them.
This year, we’ve got everything from skiing to running, climbing to mountain biking, with stories about friends exchanging their skills to enjoy the outdoors in a changing climate, two brothers’ first big cycling adventure, and a champion mountain biker shredding his local trails.
These films will move you, entertain you, and ignite your love for the outdoors, all bringing inspiring and empowering stories to the big screen!
Whether you're an adventurer, nature lover, or enjoy a good story, there’s something for everyone
PARALLEL LINES
Set in the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, Parallel Lines is a short film that moves beyond the pursuit of performance and perfection to rediscover the simple joy of being outdoors. Amid unpredictable weather and changing conditions, three friends swap their usual disciplines of skiing, running, and climbing to learn from one another. What starts as a light-hearted challenge evolves into something much deeper: moments of laughter, humility, and connection that remind them why they fell in love with the hills in the first place. Parallel Lines is a story of friendship, curiosity, and the shared spirit that binds those who find home in the wild.
Directors: Ryan Balharry and Bob Zane Run Time: 18 minutes
TO KNOW A MOUNTAIN
What does it take to know a mountain? A group of women set out into the Cairngorms Mountains to answer this question, following in the footsteps of writer & mountaineer Nan Shepherd – who pioneered a different way of being in the mountains. Tired of all the stories focused on racing to the summit, Hannah Westhenry fell into the pages of her beloved book The Living Mountain, by Scottish writer & explorer Nan Shepherd. Inspired by Nan’s work, Hannah brings together a diverse group of women to follow in Nan's footsteps, adventuring into the UK's largest and wildest mountain range to tell a different story. ‘To Know A Mountain’ , a film by Emily Baker and Michelle Sanders, interweaves visuals of the Cairngorms – from its grand landscapes to its smallest details – into an anti-summit story, promoting inclusion in the outdoors, and representing a diversity of ways of being in the mountains not often told in adventure films.
Directors: Emily Baker and Michelle Sanders Run Time: 17 minutes
MASA: 居場所 (THE PLACE WHERE I AM)
In Masa : 居場所 (The Place Where I Am), we root ourselves in exploring the concepts of home and belonging – and what those mean to Masa Sakano. Blending together Scottish and Japanese landscape, culture and language, the film will take us from the icy crags of the Scottish mountains, to Masa‘s home in the shadow of the Cairngorms, and back to his roots and family connections in rural Japan.
Director: Rachel Sarah Run Time: 18 minutes
ALTER EGO
Follows champion endurance mountain biker Kyle Beattie as he rides the fine line between control and chaos. Blending high-speed freeride with a dark, cinematic edge, the film explores the quiet intensity that fuels a rider’s obsession. Shot entirely on local trails near Inverness, ALTER EGO is a portrait of passion, landscape, and love for the outdoors. The film is a celebration of Scotland’s rugged terrain and the people who live to move through it and the locals that have made this place a hub for adventure.
Director: Will Rabbitt Run Time: 3 minutes
MONSTER MILES
Two brothers head off of their first Bikepacking Adventure in search of the Loch Ness Monster.
Director: Sean Conway Run Time: 4 minutes
THRAWN
In the Scottish Highlands, the word “thrawn” means “stubborn" but for a good reason —a virtuous struggle to make the most of what’s available. Professional snowboarder Lesley McKenna was raised on this innate tenacity, and has spent her life pushing the boundaries of her sport and advocating for the people and place that shaped her. The film shows the unique power of the snow community in its resilience and stubbornness to make the best of things, which is what “Thrawn” is about. Director Hannah Bailey explains “the Cairngorms breeds a special kind of folk who make do with what they have, and make use of every opportunity out there. In times of environmental and societal uncertainty, this community virtue of adaptability and resilience is more important than ever. This story is an example of that. "
Director: Hannah Bailey Run Time: 15 minutes
AGAINST THE CLOCK
Against The Clock is a short documentary exploring the life and passion of 88 year old, Caithness Cycling Club cyclist Alasdair Washington. Blending race footage with moments of personal reflection, the film offers an honest portrait of his lasting connection to the sport. It looks at the discipline, determination and enjoyment that continue to fuel his competitive spirit. Rather than focusing on results alone, the story captures the essence of what it means to keep showing up and pushing forward. What keeps the wheels turning when time refuses to slow down? Both intimate and authentic, Against The Clock celebrates a lifelong passion for cycling and community.
Director: Jonathan Baikie Run Time: 13 minutes
SKATEBOARDING SCOTTISH ISLANDS
An artist–skateboarder sets out across the Hebridean islands, using a long-distance skateboard and a sketchbook as tools for exploration. Travelling more than 650 kilometres and visiting seventeen islands - some familiar, others entirely new - he documents the journey through drawing, writing, photography, and film. The project focuses on immediate experience: responding to the landscape, the weather, and the shifting character of island roads with no agenda beyond moving through the terrain. As the relationship between rider, environment, and road surface deepens, the journey reveals a new way of observing and engaging with place. Shot primarily during solo travel, the film accompanies a wider body of artwork produced on the road but stands independently as a meditation on movement, environment, and creative process. It marks the beginning of an ongoing exploration- one that promises more pushing ahead.
Director: Andy Spink Run Time: 10 minutes
CAPSIZED
Some people dream of summiting the highest peaks, of visiting a remote island, of being the fastest to navigate a route. But not Emily. Emily dreams of esoteric adventure, and of dragging a canoe across a bog. Enlisting her friend Lisa to join her, the pair set off to the Isle of Lewis, to navigate its intricate system of lochs. But before any trip comes the prep, and part of that means finding the right kit. For Emily, this can be a tough adventure in and of itself. When outdoor shops only stock technical clothing up to a size 16, how is adventure possible for the 45% of women in the UK who wear larger sizes?
Director: Roxanna Barry Run Time: 17 minutes
2h 30m (inc Interval)
12A Some strong language.