A literary festival in Maryport at the weekend was an uphill battle for audiences listening to tails of derring-do from brave mountaineers.

Cumbria-based Doug Scott, in conversation with fellow mountaineer Robin Ashworth, spoke the wonder of being the first to climb the southwest face of the Everest in 1975.

Everest has become a tourist destination now with up to 2,000 people in base camp at one time and around 400 people climbing.

Looking for the peace and isolation now depends on seeking routes of Everest not yet climbed or looking for other mountains.

Mr Scott told of surviving a climb down a mountain with two broken legs – just one of his many adventures.

He brought with him items and prints for sale to support his charity, Community Action Nepal which working to establish schools and hospitals in the country.

Another high climber, Simon Yates, became famous through the story, Touching the Void, which told of a disastrous descent from the summit of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes, when climbing companion Joe Simpson broke his leg and both faced life and death decisions.

Mr Yates spoke of his search for the true wild – those places unclimbed by anyone else.

From wild mountains to the wild, windswept moors of Yorkshire, Juliet Barker gave a perceptive insight into the life of the Brontes gather from research and some of their personal correspondence.

This was a standing-room-only moment in the festival.

Jane Laskey, manager of the Senhouse Roman Museum which runs the festival, said that the interesting thing about this year’s event was that there seemed to be no low points.

"Often you will have a session that is not as well attended. This year everyone seemed to attract a good audience and people spoke later of being inspired by the wide range of speakers."

The theme of this year’s festival was Wild and Mrs Laskey said that had worked extremely well.