Award-winner toshare adventures

He will share his experiences from cycling around the world, rowing across the Atlantic, and walking the thousand-mile Empty Quarter. Alastair will also talk about finding adventure closer to home with his “microadventure” initiative.

He says: “A microadventure is an adventure that is close to home, cheap, simple, short, and yet very effective.

“I grew up reading books about people doing great expeditions around the world and I had it in my head that adventure equalled somewhere far, far away from Britain. It was a real conscious effort to start discovering my own country, such as the beautiful bits that are quite small and not very far from a city.”

Alastair’s talk will take place in Buxton’s Pavilion Arts Centre, on Thursday, January 21, at 7.30pm.

He will be joined by blind adrenaline junkie Dean Dunbar. Dean has set almost 20 world firsts through 80 daring challenges around the globe since 1998.

The evening of adventurous entertainment will also include an exclusive film showing of Alastair’s 1,000-mile trek “Into The Empty Quarter”, a journey across the largest sand desert in the world, as well as an audiovisual presentation from highly acclaimed mountaineer Ian Parnell.

Matt Heason, Buxton Adventure Festival director, said: “I am very excited to hear Al’s talk after reading his excellent three-part book series: The Boy Who Biked The World. Following his global adventures, Al is now advocating making the most of what we have at home, here in the UK and especially around the Peak District. Adventures are around every corner and Al will show you how to find them with his talk on January 21.”

He added: “Al’s talk is part of a series of mini-festivals taking place throughout 2016 – the new format Buxton Adventure Festival. We wanted to give each of our speakers deserved headline slots and provide more opportunities for people to attend; there is something for everyone, including renowned speakers from the adventurous worlds of mountaineering, running, cycling, climbing and more.”

The Buxton Adventure Festival is supported by University of Derby, Buxton Advertiser, Buxton Opera House, The Old Hall Hotel, Go Ape, Sherpa Adventure Gear, Heason Events and Challenge Cancer.

Events for 2016 include:

* French climbing phenomenon Catherine Destivelle on 24th February 2016

* British mountaineer and rock climber Nick Bullock on 23rd March 2016

* Top UK hill runner and Fell Running champ Finlay Wild on 12th April 2016

* Mountaineer and comedic storyteller Andy Kirkpatrick on 18th May 2016

* Irish touring cyclist, traveller and writer Dervla Murphy on 21st September 2016

* English mountaineer and Everest pioneer Doug Scott on 12th October 2016

* Renowned Scottish landscape photographer Colin Prior on 16th November 2016

* Further Buxton Adventure Festival dates and speakers are yet to be announced. For more information and to book tickets visit www.buxtonadventurefestival.co.uk.