THE Borders is set to feature in a new BBC Scotland programme, Roaming in the Wild.
The programme, which is presented by wildlife filmmaker Andrew O'Donnel and his friend Mark Taylor, starts on Thursday (September 23) night at 8pm.
In the second episode, to be aired on Thursday, September 30, however, the duo will visit the Borders – including the Moffat Hills, the River Esk and the Carrifran Wildwood (created by the Borders Forest Trust).
Mark said: “Roaming in the Wild has been the perfect excuse to get out and about in amongst some of the wondrous and distinctive landscapes this country has to offer."
Roaming in the Wild was created following a three-part online series Andrew made for BBC Scotland's The Social in which he and Mark travelled across Rannoch Moor, Lochaber and across the north of Scotland from John O’Groats to Cape Wrath.
In this second series, as well as the Borders, the duo visit the River Kelvin into Glasgow, Assynt, Cairngorms, Loch Shiel, and Loch Ness.
Mark said: "By attempting to navigate across these environments through ever changing ways and means leaves you with a unique experience and perspective each time. And it’s good for your head.
"You can’t be weighed down by the regular trivialities of life when all the superficial distractions are taken away and all you’re concerned about is the blisters on your hands and what’s for dinner.
“To be able to take on these adventures with your pal, an experienced outdoorsman like Andrew, who’s always got your back and keeps this enthusiastic amateur right is the bonus any would be wanderer craves.”
Andrew added: “We both grew up in Lennoxtown, by the Campsie hills. Mark and me met at our baby sitter's when we were kids and then later, just by coincidence, went on to work in the same country house hotel.
“Mark now helps me run a wildlife production company. Our adventures started when we were filming wildlife and were forced to live in remote locations whilst trying to film our subjects.”
Roaming in the Wild is largely filmed, produced and edited by Andrew and Mark. And Andrew provides the music for the programme as Beluga Lagoon.
Head of BBC Scotland multiplatform productions Anthony Browne said: “Roaming in the Wild has been a great story for BBC Scotland.
"Since 2016, Andrew has been a regular on BBC The Social creating some off-beat natural history stories which have really connected with our audiences.
"It’s brilliant to see how we’ve been able to develop and work with Andrew and Mark to produce this beautiful series for the BBC Scotland channel.
"Andrew does a huge amount of work on the series, from filming to soundtrack and his love of nature comes through in every episode, I never fail to have a smile on my face when I watch them in action."
Roaming in the Wild will first air this week but will be available on BBC iPlayer later.
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