0:00:19 > 0:00:28I'll be joining the crew of that old West Coast on a beautiful sunny day.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32history of these splendid vessels.
0:00:32 > 0:00:38is coming up tonight on Landward.
0:00:38 > 0:00:45How big a problem do you have?
0:00:45 > 0:00:58and they're going into they're living in woodland here
0:01:07 > 0:01:11camera he's agreed to clean.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Aye.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27taking to the water to find out
0:01:27 > 0:01:30that's transforming the way
0:01:30 > 0:01:34the West Coast in the 21st century.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44complicated coastline and the myriad
0:01:44 > 0:01:48live, but a tricky place to get to.
0:01:48 > 0:01:55Back in the day, these remote areas
0:01:55 > 0:02:03Boats like the Vital Spark the Para Handy tales of Neil Munro.
0:02:04 > 0:02:11When these boats stopped operating
0:02:11 > 0:02:21who came in by road, into the region fell to lorries,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26Shipping Company was formed
0:02:31 > 0:02:36how they're doing it.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39from the head of Loch Etive
0:02:47 > 0:02:50We're heading down the loch.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54for a real adventure.
0:02:54 > 0:03:09on the back of getting We initially started the company
0:03:09 > 0:03:15So is it mainly logs you're doing?
0:03:15 > 0:03:17of everything we do is logs.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20just on the right there.
0:03:20 > 0:03:33So, how environmentally friendly and the likes.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35to 4,000 lorry miles.
0:03:35 > 0:03:42at burning a third of the amount a ship of this size would be looking
0:03:42 > 0:03:49We do indeed, yeah. as successors to the old puffers?
0:03:49 > 0:03:56they need the smaller vessels to forests coming into maturity now,
0:03:56 > 0:04:03Getting from Loch Etive
0:04:03 > 0:04:08Not as easy as you might think.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12a narrow, tricky channel.
0:04:15 > 0:04:33The sea level on the outside rises in the mouth of Loch Etive.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36lived at the mouth of the Etive
0:04:36 > 0:04:39to get us through safely.
0:04:39 > 0:04:50As a yachtsman, the Falls of Lora
0:04:51 > 0:05:00without a decent bit of knowledge.
0:05:00 > 0:05:06This is a big boat. to leave you alone to concentrate.
0:05:06 > 0:05:14You see that rock? Yep.
0:05:17 > 0:05:32on this bridge, and suddenly but there's been a lot of banter
0:05:32 > 0:05:40If he gets that wrong,
0:05:40 > 0:05:53Just hope he gets it right.
0:05:53 > 0:06:01Even then, the clearance from
0:06:09 > 0:06:19Now that we have managed
0:06:21 > 0:06:29he's agreed to let me that I know what I'm doing,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32"It's just splendid."
0:06:32 > 0:06:41Away you go, Colin.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06Well, here we are at Corpach Pier
0:07:06 > 0:07:16used half the fuel a whole fleet of lorries,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I'll be on board
0:07:26 > 0:07:30and finding out about its history.
0:07:33 > 0:07:40reporting increasing damage all over the country have been
0:07:40 > 0:07:47Sarah has been investigating and are literally wild again.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55been a common sight in Scotland,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58they had been hunted to extinction.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02isn't it?
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Yes, it's an unusual day for snow.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08a number of landowners,
0:08:08 > 0:08:13begun to reintroduce the animal.
0:08:13 > 0:08:25They dig the soil, There's two things they do mostly.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28of the forest floor.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31preparing the soil to sow a seed.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36By disturbing the soil,
0:08:36 > 0:08:42We've got a lack of regeneration at for regeneration.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45the controlling factor for bracken,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and managed forest
0:08:56 > 0:09:19when they escape to the other side but the problem comes
0:09:20 > 0:09:26to try to find evidence a remote camera trap
0:09:26 > 0:09:37A neighbour of mine from the top
0:09:37 > 0:09:42We got a couple of good clips for a period of a week.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45in front of the camera.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49That's definitely a wild boar.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52its thick bristly coat.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55into camera shot in a second.
0:09:55 > 0:10:02and found it on the camera. Yes. a nice surprise when you got back
0:10:02 > 0:10:09and get some nice shots like that, some, but to actually catch one
0:10:11 > 0:10:14to see the wild boar, however.
0:10:14 > 0:10:22many local farmers are claiming Eight years after the 2006 escape,
0:10:22 > 0:10:28So I've come to see for myself,
0:10:28 > 0:10:33experience of the damage they cause.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40Yeah. I'll show you some with wild boar.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46Wow, so the wild boar did this.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50when they come out in the evening.
0:10:50 > 0:10:56Did you...? Have you seen them, haven't they? Churned this up.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Don't see them very often,
0:10:58 > 0:11:09along the roadside there. last week, five o'clock, I saw one
0:11:20 > 0:11:32caused by a single wild boar.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35from coming into the area.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37he was coming under the fence.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40and he hasn't been back since.
0:11:42 > 0:11:47as long as you adhere to shoot them
0:11:47 > 0:11:50It's very difficult.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53some middle ground
0:11:53 > 0:11:58but without upsetting the farmers?
0:12:02 > 0:12:07whether they were let go or another, whether they escaped,
0:12:07 > 0:12:11to Scotland.
0:12:11 > 0:12:19But my feeling is to try and eradicate them.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26It seems pretty clear to me
0:12:26 > 0:12:31back behind a fence.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34the farmed variety
0:12:35 > 0:12:38a hand to see if we can persuade
0:12:38 > 0:12:47a taste for wild boar sausages.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52Now, while the residents of the
0:12:54 > 0:13:03is making wildlife more accessible.
0:13:03 > 0:13:10the many spectacular sea bird times of year to go and see some of
0:13:12 > 0:13:18become sea bird cities.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21yourself on a dramatic cliff top,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23to somewhere like this
0:13:27 > 0:13:34where they are keeping a close eye the Macduff Marine Aquarium,
0:13:34 > 0:13:40just along the coast at Troup Head.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44Hi, nice to meet you.
0:13:44 > 0:13:52We've got a live view camera for looking at birds, yeah? We are.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07That's pretty good.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10it's going to get? It is.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13needs a bit of a clean,
0:14:13 > 0:14:16and give it a wipe over.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21of a cliff, we do need to be
0:14:21 > 0:14:25safety harnesses, but we'll be fine.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41and early summer, the cliffs here
0:14:41 > 0:14:46and gannets in particular.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Something on the cliff face.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51So where's the camera?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54that's the camera on the edge there.
0:14:56 > 0:15:03to get too close.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07more about the gannets themselves
0:15:07 > 0:15:10at this time of year.
0:15:10 > 0:15:18Richard Humpidge is the RSPB
0:15:20 > 0:15:24just under 3,000 pairs of birds.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28in Scotland.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and you don't want to get on a boat,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34So what's going on at the moment?
0:15:34 > 0:15:36in the gannet season,
0:15:36 > 0:15:39from having spent the winter
0:15:39 > 0:15:42wandering around and feeding.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48is probably a male and a female
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and they are kind of
0:15:50 > 0:15:54"How was your winter?"
0:15:54 > 0:15:57So it's all kicking off then?
0:15:57 > 0:16:01This is very much an exciting time.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04just about to begin.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10and get the cleaning done.
0:16:10 > 0:16:18don't try this at home!
0:16:18 > 0:16:25It's basically as and when the Every couple of weeks or so.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29salt from the spray from the sea.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34attacked by the birds as well.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38the same as cleaning your windows.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43to let go of the rope.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49and there's a microwave transmitter
0:16:49 > 0:16:5413 miles back to the aquarium.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57No, the gannets don't mind at all.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00so I don't think they mind too much.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04absolutely. Awesome.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07window cleaning ever.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16now sparkling clean
0:17:16 > 0:17:19viewers have got the chance to watch
0:17:19 > 0:17:22incredible birds unfold.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24on the small screen
0:17:24 > 0:17:28and seeing it for yourself,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34great places around the coast
0:17:34 > 0:17:36at this time of year.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Isle of May, off the coast of Fife,
0:17:40 > 0:17:45shags, terns and guillemots.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50fulmars, kittiwakes and razorbills.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52from Mallaig to Rum,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Manx shearwaters
0:17:55 > 0:17:58and gannets.
0:18:05 > 0:18:09wild boar on the loose can be.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13to see if the great Scottish public
0:18:13 > 0:18:17the farmed variety of the animal.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23with the Landward street-food van.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26great Scottish produce
0:18:26 > 0:18:28to the city streets.
0:18:30 > 0:18:37prefer pork or wild boar sausages.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40butcher's pork sausages,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43has made these sausages,
0:18:43 > 0:18:46with wild boar.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49in colour. Obviously a lot darker.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Wild boar is quite a gamey meat.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I imagine it to be quite tough.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58they look tough.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01is get these mixed up. OK.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04is going to be the wild boar.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06round behind me...
0:19:07 > 0:19:09pork sausages.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14They're handmade.
0:19:14 > 0:19:39or at a few butchers' It's only available online
0:19:39 > 0:20:27You let them taste it. that it is a good alternative?
0:20:52 > 0:23:35But what would the folk on That's my preference too.
0:23:35 > 0:23:46They feature the exploits of skipper by author Neil Munro.
0:23:46 > 0:23:55and to see if they still have of these much-loved crafts
0:23:55 > 0:23:58the Crinan Canal to Ardrishaig,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01six swing bridges to navigate,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15of Glasgow down the River Clyde,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and out to any of the islands. Yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24with glass-making sand, whisky,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30were taking to and from the islands?
0:24:32 > 0:24:35of the islands,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38a pair of knitting needles,
0:24:38 > 0:24:41next time you're in Glasgow,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43some knitting needles?"
0:24:43 > 0:24:45sort of symbiotic relationship
0:24:50 > 0:24:53the old puffers had been replaced
0:24:53 > 0:24:55travelling by road.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01by the Para Handy stories.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04three times by the BBC.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13a real treat for me.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15I loved the television programmes
0:25:15 > 0:25:18And we're on the Crinan Canal,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21in the world.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29the wild open sea... #
0:25:29 > 0:25:33with the old puffer trade,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36these vessels would be seen
0:25:36 > 0:25:39its many locks and bridges.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45from the industrialised Clyde
0:25:45 > 0:25:50detour round the Mull of Kintyre.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56on board the Vital Spark -
0:25:56 > 0:26:00an engineer, and a deckhand.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09door over here. Oh, that's hot.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12so a few shovelfuls,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16they might need some coal...
0:26:17 > 0:26:20and any spots that look a bit dead.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22A few shovelfuls.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29to this isn't the best idea.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33Absolutely. That's good. OK, good.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36shorter than it used to be!
0:26:36 > 0:26:39yeah. Oh, that was hot!
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Thank you. Thank you.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50something of a holiday.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02of operating the locks on the canal.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08the Puffer Preservation Trust
0:27:08 > 0:27:12and keep it in working order.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20to relive the tales of Para Handy,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26the only remaining working puffer,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29in various states of restoration.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35in years to come.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44the final destination on my journey,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47but at times, pretty physical day.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51on next week's programme.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58of Islay and Jura.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04on Islay, while Sarah finds out
0:28:04 > 0:28:20And I'll be facing one of of family life on Jura.
0:28:20 > 0:28:27In the meantime, on BBC Two Scotland.
0:28:27 > 0:28:35Bye for now.
0:29:37 > 0:29:38much
0:29:38 > 0:29:39much easier to
0:29:39 > 0:29:39much easier to get on this red,