‹The Long Hope› a 60 minute high definition film by Paul Diffley, filmed in
Orkney – featuring Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner.
St John’s head on the Island of Hoy is a wild and remote 1150 foot sea cliff.
It was first climbed in 1970 by climber and poet Ed Drummond together with
Oliver Hill. They took 7 days to climb the cliff, sleeping on ledges and in
hammocks along the way. Now, 40 years later, one of the world’s top climbers,
Dave MacLeod, sets out to climb the cliff in a single day, finishing with a
new desperately hard final pitch up the headwall.
MacLeod’s historic new climb is captured close-up with the latest HD cameras
and contrasted with the challenges of Drummond’s first ascent through
interviews and archive material.
The film also follows Drummond, now in his late sixties and suffering from
Parkinson’s disease, as he makes a pilgrimage back to St John’s head to look
upon the route one last time.
Also included: ‹Return to Indian Face› – the story of Dave MacLeod’s journey
to repeat Johnny Dawes› ultimate test-piece, The Indian Face, E9.
Total running time 120 minutes.