As I type this, the first hard frosts are settling on the hills here and further north the mountains are donning their winter coat as Arctic winds scour the landscape. It’s the time of year to get the fire (or heat pump) on, settle down with an OS map and start wistfully dusting off the skis and crampons. We’ve got a few updates for you all on how work at Scotica has been going and what exciting projects lie ahead.
One flashy new website please!
You’ve most likely noticed already that the Scotica website looks a little different now. We’ve spent the past few months working with design agency Made In Scotland to create an online experience to really showcase all of our incredible clients and their stories, as well as give a bit more information about Scotica, who we are and what we stand for. So if you haven’t already, take a few moments to have a nosey about, and check out some of our work in the new ‘Portfolio’ section.
Wild Spirits, Wilder Scottish Waters
In case you haven’t been following our social media, we’ve been posting a lot of our new flagship film project for Talisker and Parley over the past few months. In September, an 8-strong Scotica team took to Skye to create a series of films about wild swimmer Ross Edgley, free diver Faine Loubser and the incredible marine conservation work Talisker and Parley have been doing together.
The project’s highlight was covering Ross Edgley’s incredible record-breaking wild swim up and down Loch Ness. Day and night, Ross paddled for 52 hours which is the longest ever freshwater swim, all to raise awareness of the critical ecological role our endangered kelp forests have to play. It was a fantastic honour to be able to work with Ross, Faine, Talisker and Parley on this project and we’re particularly looking forward to donning the wetsuits yet again in a couple of weeks to create a truly ‘immersive’ reveal film for a new Talisker product.
Discovering a Different Lake District
Also in September, Scotica headed in the opposite direction down to Cumbria for a fun-filled adventure shoot with Lakeland Ascents. Canyoning, abseiling, climbing, separately and all at once, we really delved into what makes the Lakes such a special place for outdoor activities. When was the last time you tried something… different?
And more to come!
Christmas is a perfect time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished over the past year, and what lies ahead. After a difficult start during the pandemic, 2022 has seen Scotica grow from strength to strength resulting in 8 new projects and our biggest film series yet.
But we’re not stopping here! In February and March, the Scotica team heads across the North Sea to the Hardangervidda in Norway, Europe’s highest plateau and one of its great wildernesses, for a new and exciting documentary project we can’t wait to share with you all in the coming months.
And finally, our previous documentary ‘Small Country’ is no longer streaming on Kendal Mountain Player so thank you to everyone who has watched the film over the past year. And if you missed it, we’ll have some news about making the film available again in the new year, so keep your eyes on our social feeds to be kept abreast of all the latest updates.
Until next time, stay warm, stay safe, and a happy Christmas and New Year to all.