Hot Aches

Return to Indian Face is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in Clogwyn Du'r Arddu. It was directed by Paul Diffley in 2011 and produced by Hot Aches. It features Dave MacLeod, Claire MacLeod, Johnny Dawes and Nick Dixon.

One of the best all-round climbers in the world seeks to take traditional rock climbing to the next level of difficulty -- and, inevitably, danger. The steep and intimidating rock face protecting the seaward flanks of historic Dumbarton Castle in Scotland is the scene of Dave MacLeod’s very personal battle. The film reveals the dedication, frustrations and sheer physical and mental effort that goes into MacLeod’s climbing. Relationships become strained as he struggles to cope with the difficulty and seriousness of the endeavour. Doggedly, even obsessively, he keeps returning to his "ultimate" project.

In one legendary week on Ben Nevis in 1960 Jimmy Marshall and Robin Smith climbed six first winter ascents on consecutive days, including the mini Alpine-route Orion Face Direct. They also made the first one-day winter ascent of Point Five Gully, went for a walk, had a beer and got arrested over an incident with some dominoes! Exactly 50 years later Dave MacLeod and Andy Turner pay tribute by setting out to repeat all the routes that Smith and Marshall first climbed in that famous week. This film tells the story of the original events and follows MacLeod and Turner as they discover exactly what an achievement it was.

One of the great pioneers of Scottish mountaineering, Jimmy Marshall, reflects on a lifetime of climbing in Scotland. His soulful words accompany stunning footage of the routes which Marshall first climbed on Ben Nevis 50 years ago.

Set in the post-industrial landscape of a disused Welsh slate quarry, this films follows three very different climbers as they battle their way up some unusual climbing. Matt Segal, a professional climber from the U.S.; Hazel Findlay, a young student from England; and Johnny Dawes, the British climbing legend from the 1980s, take it in turn to crimp, squirm and wriggle their way up the esoteric route "Gin Palace".

Kevin Shields is known as the "one-handed climber". Despite being born with most of his left hand missing, Kevin has made some impressive and bold climbing ascents. The film examines his motivations and follows his progression through the climbing grades, culminating in a terrifying attempt to solo an E6 in Glen Nevis, Scotland.

The West Face of Karimbony in the Tsaranoro Massif is home to one of the worlds hardest big-wall free climbs, Tough Enough?. James McHaffie and a team of top UK climbers head to Madagascar to find out if this route is indeed tough enough.

World-class climber Sonnie Trotter teams up with world-class belayer Cory Richards to take on the Squamish classic "Presto". The film examines what it takes to belay on some of the world's hardest climbs.

Distilled is a film by Paul Diffley from Hot Aches featuring a celebration of Scottish winter climbing, and a poignant profile of a life spent in the mountains by Andy Cave.