Episode 9

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0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello and a very warm welcome to Landward.

0:00:04 > 0:00:07This week, I'm heading seaward - in fact, under the sea.

0:00:26 > 0:00:29I've come to Lochaline on the Morvern peninsula

0:00:29 > 0:00:32of the west coast to meet up with a man who's more used to being

0:00:32 > 0:00:35behind the camera under water. But first, here's what else

0:00:35 > 0:00:36is coming up on the programme.

0:00:38 > 0:00:40We join a young doctor to discover the challenges

0:00:40 > 0:00:42of a country practice.

0:00:42 > 0:00:44I've had the car MOT'd

0:00:44 > 0:00:46and I thought it was time I was getting a MOT myself.

0:00:46 > 0:00:49Nick is putting venison on the menu in the food van.

0:00:49 > 0:00:51I might have one myself.

0:00:51 > 0:00:55And Euan's in the firing line as he discovers

0:00:55 > 0:00:57some of Scotland's rarest wildlife.

0:00:57 > 0:01:00- Wow!- Oh, fantastic.

0:01:00 > 0:01:01Look at that!

0:01:08 > 0:01:10Doug Allan has long been a hero of mine.

0:01:10 > 0:01:13He's one of the world's best-known wildlife cameramen,

0:01:13 > 0:01:15and he's a fellow used to coming face-to-face

0:01:15 > 0:01:18with some of the planet's most awe-inspiring species.

0:01:25 > 0:01:27This is fantastic. She's out on the slopes.

0:01:27 > 0:01:31Four! Four weeks we've been waiting to get this one opportunity.

0:01:31 > 0:01:34But now that it's happening, it's just fantastic.

0:01:39 > 0:01:42But today, Doug's going to show me you don't need

0:01:42 > 0:01:44to go to the ends of the Earth -

0:01:44 > 0:01:47there's plenty of wildlife to be found right here,

0:01:47 > 0:01:49just off the Scottish coast.

0:01:50 > 0:01:53I'm meeting him at Lochaline on the Morvern peninsula.

0:01:55 > 0:01:58Doug, how are you? What kind of day is this?

0:01:58 > 0:02:00- It's amazing!- It's beautiful, isn't it? Yesterday was rubbish,

0:02:00 > 0:02:03the forecast is bad for tomorrow, but today we're just perfect.

0:02:03 > 0:02:05I'm just finishing off this...

0:02:06 > 0:02:08This looks an amazing bit of kit.

0:02:08 > 0:02:10Is this the sort of thing you would normally use in...?

0:02:10 > 0:02:12Yeah, this is a broadcast camera. We've got a nice

0:02:12 > 0:02:16wide-angle lens on the front, so I'm hoping to get you and the seals

0:02:16 > 0:02:18- and things like that.- The fact that you have been all round the world

0:02:18 > 0:02:20- and filmed in all sorts of conditions...- Aye.

0:02:20 > 0:02:22..when you come back to Scotland,

0:02:22 > 0:02:24are you still excited about what you hope to see?

0:02:24 > 0:02:27Yeah, yeah. I love to see it. And especially...

0:02:27 > 0:02:30I love getting close to big fish, big mammals, so seals in particular

0:02:30 > 0:02:33are a big attraction of mine. And, you know,

0:02:33 > 0:02:36when conditions are good, the diving in Scotland is as good

0:02:36 > 0:02:39as anywhere in the world. It's a wonderful place to dive.

0:02:41 > 0:02:44Doug grew up in Dunfermline, and even as a boy,

0:02:44 > 0:02:46he was fascinated by wildlife.

0:02:46 > 0:02:50I started snorkelling when I was 11 years old.

0:02:50 > 0:02:52- I thought, "This is amazing. Amazing."- Uh-huh.

0:02:52 > 0:02:55And then, of course, Jacques Cousteau was on the television

0:02:55 > 0:02:58and things... And the whole sort of adventure thing swept me along.

0:02:58 > 0:03:00I went to university, did marine biology

0:03:00 > 0:03:04and then got a job in the Antarctic. Got into photography at that point,

0:03:04 > 0:03:06and then met David Attenborough with a film crew.

0:03:06 > 0:03:08So, Doug, what are we actually going to do today?

0:03:08 > 0:03:12Well, with a bit of luck I'm hoping we're going to go out in the boat,

0:03:12 > 0:03:15find some seals, have a look at an old wreck.

0:03:15 > 0:03:17The tide is such that we should be able to see quite

0:03:17 > 0:03:19a lot of things underwater.

0:03:21 > 0:03:23We get our gear on and head out.

0:03:23 > 0:03:26As we cruise towards the dive site, Doug explains how

0:03:26 > 0:03:30the chance encounter with David Attenborough set him off

0:03:30 > 0:03:32on a new path.

0:03:32 > 0:03:35Basically, after I met him I thought, "I want to be a wildlife film-maker."

0:03:35 > 0:03:38The first actual job I had filming was...

0:03:38 > 0:03:42When I came back from the Antarctic, I was offered the chance to go down

0:03:42 > 0:03:45again, but this time to winter on a base that was near some

0:03:45 > 0:03:47emperor penguins.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50So I decided that I would buy myself a 16mm camera

0:03:50 > 0:03:53and take some shots of emperor penguins through the winter.

0:03:53 > 0:03:55That was the first thing that went on the box,

0:03:55 > 0:03:58and that was way back in the mid-'80s.

0:03:58 > 0:04:02What qualities do you have to have to be a wildlife cameraman?

0:04:02 > 0:04:05I think you've just got to have a real

0:04:05 > 0:04:08absolute urge, passion, determination

0:04:08 > 0:04:09to come back with the pictures.

0:04:09 > 0:04:13It's amazing how much patience you can have when you're being paid!

0:04:13 > 0:04:14THEY CHUCKLE

0:04:14 > 0:04:17Because that's your job. It's a pretty good rule of thumb

0:04:17 > 0:04:18if you're planning...

0:04:18 > 0:04:21If you give someone like me eight days in the field,

0:04:21 > 0:04:24- I'll put a minute on the screen. - Wow!- Yeah.

0:04:24 > 0:04:27What would you say is the... the best moment, the best shot,

0:04:27 > 0:04:30- the best thing you've ever created? - Oh, that's...

0:04:30 > 0:04:32Well, I love spending time around big mammals,

0:04:32 > 0:04:37so any time in the company with big whales, that's really exciting.

0:04:37 > 0:04:40I did polar bears coming out of their den for Planet Earth.

0:04:40 > 0:04:43That was a really special shoot because there were only

0:04:43 > 0:04:46two of us who were allowed to go.

0:04:46 > 0:04:49That was an immense privilege to go there and be given this

0:04:49 > 0:04:52expanse of wilderness to look for bears.

0:04:59 > 0:05:02On the other hand, you know, those killer whales washing

0:05:02 > 0:05:05the seals off the ice floes that you saw in Frozen Planet -

0:05:05 > 0:05:09that just... You know, there aren't many stories left in the world

0:05:09 > 0:05:12that involve big, charismatic animals doing

0:05:12 > 0:05:17something as spectacular as that, which no-one has seen before.

0:05:17 > 0:05:19So that was a real big plus, to see that.

0:05:23 > 0:05:26We may not see any polar bears or killer whales today,

0:05:26 > 0:05:29but we will see some Scottish wildlife,

0:05:29 > 0:05:32and I just cannot wait. Join Doug and me later in the programme,

0:05:32 > 0:05:33when we take the plunge.

0:05:35 > 0:05:38Now, from the water to the air.

0:05:38 > 0:05:41Euan is also on the west coast, but he's bird-spotting.

0:05:41 > 0:05:44And it could be more dangerous than he thinks.

0:05:44 > 0:05:46GUN COCKS

0:05:46 > 0:05:47DISTANT GUNSHOTS

0:05:48 > 0:05:54Garelochhead in Argyle - this is the place where the military train.

0:05:54 > 0:05:57Surprisingly, despite all the noise

0:05:57 > 0:06:01and the activity, it's home to one of Scotland's rarest birds -

0:06:01 > 0:06:03the hen harrier.

0:06:03 > 0:06:06I'm here to meet Sergeant John Simpson.

0:06:06 > 0:06:07- John.- Hi, Euan, how are you?

0:06:09 > 0:06:12It's his job to monitor and look after the wildlife

0:06:12 > 0:06:14on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

0:06:14 > 0:06:17And he's taking me on one of his regular visits

0:06:17 > 0:06:19to a hen harrier nesting site.

0:06:20 > 0:06:24Believed to be one of the most heavily-persecuted birds of prey

0:06:24 > 0:06:26in the country, at the last count there were less

0:06:26 > 0:06:30than 600 breeding pairs of hen harriers in Scotland.

0:06:32 > 0:06:34We've got about five pairs here.

0:06:34 > 0:06:38Five active territories here. And there's three sitting females.

0:06:38 > 0:06:40That must be one of the...

0:06:40 > 0:06:43- biggest concentrations in Scotland. Is it?- It is.

0:06:43 > 0:06:47In Central Scottish terms, this is the only population.

0:06:47 > 0:06:50We've got troops all around us - this is a part of their

0:06:50 > 0:06:53normal training regime.

0:06:53 > 0:06:56This is enough of a deterrent for anybody who would have

0:06:56 > 0:07:00designs on harriers, be it eggs or the birds themselves.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07These training grounds overlook the nuclear submarine base at Faslane,

0:07:07 > 0:07:12making it one of the most heavily defended areas in the country.

0:07:12 > 0:07:16Well, as you can see, we are in the middle of a full-scale army exercise.

0:07:16 > 0:07:19Our hen harrier is just a little bit beyond.

0:07:19 > 0:07:22You cannot get better protection than the British Army.

0:07:25 > 0:07:29Disturbing nests of protected birds like the hen harrier is illegal.

0:07:29 > 0:07:33But John is licensed to carry out conservation work.

0:07:35 > 0:07:38Right, we're quite close to the nest now, we're at a secret location.

0:07:38 > 0:07:41We can see the submarine base down there, but we're

0:07:41 > 0:07:43not going to give away exactly where we are.

0:07:43 > 0:07:45So why are you coming to check it out?

0:07:45 > 0:07:47Presumably this is a vulnerable time for them?

0:07:47 > 0:07:51Very vulnerable. The weather that we've had has been extraordinary.

0:07:51 > 0:07:53Probably the worst spring we've had in many years.

0:07:53 > 0:07:56Most hen harrier sites that we've got are failing.

0:07:56 > 0:07:59So we need to check this site to see just how it's doing.

0:07:59 > 0:08:02So, we might actually find some bad news when we get round?

0:08:02 > 0:08:06We could, we could. And...every nest check, your heart's pounding,

0:08:06 > 0:08:08cos you just don't know what you're going to come into,

0:08:08 > 0:08:12particularly with ground-nesting raptors and owls - there's so many things that can affect them.

0:08:12 > 0:08:15- Just over that hill?- Just over that hill.- Exciting, isn't it?

0:08:20 > 0:08:24As we approach the nest, we disturb the female hen harrier.

0:08:26 > 0:08:29But that's the female, I presume, that's just flown off?

0:08:29 > 0:08:31- Is that a good sign? - That is a good sign.

0:08:31 > 0:08:34If the nest had failed, she wouldn't have been here.

0:08:34 > 0:08:36So I think we're in for a real surprise.

0:08:36 > 0:08:39- And... - It's not exactly accessible...

0:08:39 > 0:08:42- Wow!- Oh, fantastic. - Look at that!

0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Two freshly-hatched hen harrier chicks.- Hatched today?

0:08:45 > 0:08:49Hatched today. The one on the left, probably last night.

0:08:49 > 0:08:53And this one here...on the right-hand side, freshly hatched.

0:08:53 > 0:08:56- And three eggs still to go. - How lucky are we?

0:08:56 > 0:08:57I mean, when you look at them -

0:08:57 > 0:08:59big head, massive eyes and a proper beak.

0:08:59 > 0:09:04- I mean, you can tell that is a bird of prey right from the word go. - Absolutely, that is a raptor chick.

0:09:04 > 0:09:06CHICK TWEETS

0:09:06 > 0:09:09It's an absolute joy to see, one of the rarest sights

0:09:09 > 0:09:11in Central Scottish ornithology.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14Cos not many people will have seen what we're seeing just now.

0:09:14 > 0:09:15No, absolutely not.

0:09:15 > 0:09:17Within about a fortnight to three weeks,

0:09:17 > 0:09:20you can tell which chicks are male and which are female...

0:09:20 > 0:09:24by the talon size, but also the colour of their eyes.

0:09:24 > 0:09:26So we'll be able to come back in about two to three weeks' time

0:09:26 > 0:09:29and we ring them and put a sat tag on them.

0:09:29 > 0:09:30We'll be able to tell there's...

0:09:30 > 0:09:34- There's the mum up there... - There's the mum just keeping an eye on us.- She's still unhappy.

0:09:34 > 0:09:36So...you're that wee bit higher than me now, so you're

0:09:36 > 0:09:39- in the firing line! - I'd forgotten about that!

0:09:39 > 0:09:42So, presumably, we need to get out of here pretty quickly?

0:09:42 > 0:09:45We get out of here pretty quick. Now, as we said earlier on...

0:09:45 > 0:09:48That's the most important thing here, so we leave them in peace.

0:09:48 > 0:09:51The rarest sight in Scotland, the rarest sound in Scotland,

0:09:51 > 0:09:53and we arrived here on the day they were born.

0:09:53 > 0:09:56- John, you're a genius.- Thanks very much.- Thank you very much.

0:09:56 > 0:09:59- Let the mum come back. - I'm glad you're impressed!

0:10:01 > 0:10:04We've retired to a safe distance. The female's gone down,

0:10:04 > 0:10:07so she's checking the chicks out, making sure they're safe.

0:10:07 > 0:10:11The male's still up there - probably going to chase us off any minute now.

0:10:11 > 0:10:14But it's just so exciting, so privileged to be out here

0:10:14 > 0:10:16on this moorland, this extraordinary landscape

0:10:16 > 0:10:19with the submarine base behind us, troops on the hills.

0:10:19 > 0:10:22And seeing these chicks, you know - twice as rare as a golden eagle,

0:10:22 > 0:10:25ten times rarer than an osprey.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28No wonder I'm excited, it is fantastic.

0:10:32 > 0:10:34We'll be keeping an eye on the progress of these chicks

0:10:34 > 0:10:37and we'll let you know how they get on over the summer

0:10:37 > 0:10:39via our Facebook page.

0:10:39 > 0:10:43Now, to another rare species - the rural GP.

0:10:43 > 0:10:46Recruiting doctors to practise in remote areas has become

0:10:46 > 0:10:50so difficult that the Royal College of General Practitioners say

0:10:50 > 0:10:51it's reached crisis point.

0:10:53 > 0:10:55An NHS initiative is giving young doctors

0:10:55 > 0:10:57a taste of life in the country,

0:10:57 > 0:11:00in the hope they can be persuaded to relocate.

0:11:00 > 0:11:04Dr Rachel Crawford is trying it out, and she's invited us

0:11:04 > 0:11:06to Sutherland to follow her for the day.

0:11:08 > 0:11:12Today, I'm in Brora Surgery. I'll start the surgery about

0:11:12 > 0:11:16half past eight, starting with some emergency appointments.

0:11:18 > 0:11:21It always varies. You never get two days that are the same.

0:11:21 > 0:11:23Rachel's recently completed her

0:11:23 > 0:11:26General Practice Speciality Training,

0:11:26 > 0:11:29and was accepted for a NHS Rural Fellowship.

0:11:29 > 0:11:32Her placement in Sutherland lasts for a year,

0:11:32 > 0:11:36and the intention is for doctors like Rachel to gain experience

0:11:36 > 0:11:39in the unique challenges that rural practice demands.

0:11:39 > 0:11:42There's no rush-hour traffic to contend with

0:11:42 > 0:11:44as she joins the three other doctors

0:11:44 > 0:11:47at the Brora and Helmsdale Medical Practice.

0:11:47 > 0:11:49Want to come through?

0:11:49 > 0:11:51So, we'll start by going through some of the medicines that

0:11:51 > 0:11:53- you're on, is that all right? - Uh-hm, that's fine.

0:11:53 > 0:11:56'Once at her desk, Rachel can deal with anything,

0:11:56 > 0:11:59'from depression to drug overdose. But her first appointment today

0:11:59 > 0:12:00'is a simple checkup.'

0:12:00 > 0:12:03- You'll feel it going tight for a minute, OK?- Yes.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05'Rachel usually sees a dozen or so patients

0:12:05 > 0:12:07'during her morning surgery.'

0:12:07 > 0:12:09- OK, well, it's nice to see you. - Thank you.

0:12:09 > 0:12:12'And once that's over, it's time for home visits.'

0:12:12 > 0:12:15- Bye-bye. - 'Simple enough in an urban practice,

0:12:15 > 0:12:19'but with the surgery's 2,500 patients spread over a huge

0:12:19 > 0:12:23'geographical area, finding them can be a problem.'

0:12:25 > 0:12:27So, it's telling me to go up this way. But I actually know

0:12:27 > 0:12:30that his house is a croft and it's by the sea.

0:12:30 > 0:12:33'The rural location means that it can take some time for

0:12:33 > 0:12:36'an ambulance to arrive in an emergency.

0:12:36 > 0:12:38'So, Rachel may have to face

0:12:38 > 0:12:42'situations beyond the experience of a regular urban GP.

0:12:42 > 0:12:45'And for that, she needs to be prepared.'

0:12:45 > 0:12:48This is my Sandpiper bag.

0:12:48 > 0:12:52As a rural fellow, we get a sort of loan of the bag for the year,

0:12:52 > 0:12:56because we're so far away from hospital.

0:12:56 > 0:13:00It contains most of the emergency kit that we'd need

0:13:00 > 0:13:04as a first responder to an accident or an unwell patient.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07Hopefully, the bag won't be required this afternoon.

0:13:07 > 0:13:11Rachel's visiting a patient in Doll. It's only a couple of miles

0:13:11 > 0:13:14from Brora, but that doesn't make it any easier to find.

0:13:14 > 0:13:17I don't think there's any rhyme nor reason to the numbers

0:13:17 > 0:13:20on the houses here.

0:13:20 > 0:13:22Cos they are all crofts.

0:13:22 > 0:13:24We rely a lot on...

0:13:24 > 0:13:29sort of office staff and local people to direct you in the right direction.

0:13:29 > 0:13:31Send you in the right direction, anyway.

0:13:32 > 0:13:34PHONE RINGS

0:13:34 > 0:13:36Good afternoon, Brora Surgery...

0:13:39 > 0:13:41Pull into the field?

0:13:41 > 0:13:44Oh, right. So you have to actually walk over the railway?

0:13:44 > 0:13:46It's going to be an adventure.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50Up to the grate for a railway crossing...

0:13:50 > 0:13:52There's a tractor...

0:13:52 > 0:13:54Oh, I see a railway crossing there, actually.

0:13:54 > 0:13:56I'll have to remember that for my way out of here,

0:13:56 > 0:13:58cos I'm not sure!

0:13:58 > 0:14:02As long as I can see the sea that way, I'll be able to find my way back

0:14:02 > 0:14:06to the A9. Is that the railway crossing over there?

0:14:06 > 0:14:08Yeah, that must be the way to his house.

0:14:08 > 0:14:10There we go.

0:14:11 > 0:14:13Oh, yeah, there's the crossing.

0:14:17 > 0:14:20Rachel's patient is George Macbeath.

0:14:20 > 0:14:23Your garden's looking very nice and neat.

0:14:23 > 0:14:26'He's lived on this croft for 82 years.

0:14:26 > 0:14:29'Like the rest of Scotland, Rachel's practice is having to deal

0:14:29 > 0:14:33'with the increasing demands of an ageing population.'

0:14:34 > 0:14:37We've discussed that I would come out and visit you,

0:14:37 > 0:14:39just to do a general check over.

0:14:39 > 0:14:42Cos you haven't been feeling your best recently, have you?

0:14:42 > 0:14:45- You were feeling quite tired and... - Yes, I felt off-colour, a bit.

0:14:45 > 0:14:47I've had the car MOT'd

0:14:47 > 0:14:49- and I thought it was time I was getting an MOT myself.- Yes.

0:14:49 > 0:14:53Nice deep breaths in and out, we'll have a listen at the back.

0:14:53 > 0:14:56Yep, that sounds absolutely fine.

0:14:56 > 0:14:57'All's well with George,

0:14:57 > 0:15:01'but not all of Rachel's patients will be this straightforward.'

0:15:01 > 0:15:04She's had the pre-hospital emergency care training

0:15:04 > 0:15:06as part of the fellowship,

0:15:06 > 0:15:10but it's still nerve-racking being the only one on emergency call,

0:15:10 > 0:15:13hours from a major hospital.

0:15:13 > 0:15:15If you got a call and someone said, "Chest pain,"

0:15:15 > 0:15:18you could run into the surgery and get

0:15:18 > 0:15:22the defibrillator and cardiac drugs.

0:15:22 > 0:15:24Erm, so all the equipment is there.

0:15:24 > 0:15:26But that doesn't...

0:15:26 > 0:15:29For me, anyway, when I started, it didn't take away

0:15:29 > 0:15:33the sort of anxiety of being the only one left to

0:15:33 > 0:15:34treat the patient.

0:15:34 > 0:15:38You become a lot more confident in your decision-making ability,

0:15:38 > 0:15:41because you have to.

0:15:41 > 0:15:44The challenge of a remote practice has been an enjoyable one

0:15:44 > 0:15:47for Rachel, but the purpose of the fellowship is to encourage

0:15:47 > 0:15:51new doctors to consider relocating to outlying areas.

0:15:51 > 0:15:55So, has Rachel been seduced by the rural lifestyle?

0:15:55 > 0:15:59I actually plan to stay in Brora and Helmsdale for at least another

0:15:59 > 0:16:03six months after I finish the fellowship scheme.

0:16:03 > 0:16:06And then after that I'm not entirely sure where I'll end up.

0:16:06 > 0:16:08I do really like working in Sutherland,

0:16:08 > 0:16:13so I really would be quite happy to work in the area

0:16:13 > 0:16:15till I feel ready to settle down.

0:16:17 > 0:16:21Well, staying in Sutherland for the long-term seems a possibility,

0:16:21 > 0:16:25but whatever happens, I hope they buy her a sat nav.

0:16:31 > 0:16:34Well, we're still on our way to the dive site, but next week

0:16:34 > 0:16:36we'll be very firmly on dry land,

0:16:36 > 0:16:39because the biggest event in the rural calendar is taking place -

0:16:39 > 0:16:41the Royal Highland Show.

0:16:41 > 0:16:45For the first time ever, we'll be broadcasting two live programmes,

0:16:45 > 0:16:48capturing the best of what's on offer.

0:16:48 > 0:16:49And as Sarah's been finding out,

0:16:49 > 0:16:53preparations for the show are already well underway.

0:16:56 > 0:17:00Regular viewers of Landward may not recognise this place -

0:17:00 > 0:17:04in fact, I'm finding it a little weird, because this is Ingliston,

0:17:04 > 0:17:06the site of the Royal Highland Show,

0:17:06 > 0:17:10and for four days every June, this place is chock-a-block

0:17:10 > 0:17:12with people and animals.

0:17:12 > 0:17:14Shall we have a look around while it's quiet?

0:17:16 > 0:17:20The Highland is the showcase for the best the Scottish countryside

0:17:20 > 0:17:24has to offer. 170,000 people will descend on Ingliston

0:17:24 > 0:17:29to see everything from livestock to lumberjacks.

0:17:29 > 0:17:32Work is well underway on getting the place ready.

0:17:32 > 0:17:35The Highland Hall here will be full of some of the country's

0:17:35 > 0:17:37best livestock.

0:17:37 > 0:17:41This will be the 175th Highland Show and the organisers have a few

0:17:41 > 0:17:45special plans to celebrate the anniversary - and so does Landward.

0:17:45 > 0:17:49But you'll have to watch both of our live programmes to find out

0:17:49 > 0:17:51what they are.

0:17:51 > 0:17:53It does feel odd being here when there's no-one around,

0:17:53 > 0:17:57but I can assure you, this is definitely the calm before the storm,

0:17:57 > 0:18:01because in a week's time, this place is going to be buzzing,

0:18:01 > 0:18:04and we'll be here bringing you all the highlights.

0:18:06 > 0:18:09But that will all be taking place next week.

0:18:09 > 0:18:13'For now, I'm with wildlife cameraman Doug Allan.'

0:18:13 > 0:18:16We've come to the Sound of Mull for a snorkelling adventure.

0:18:16 > 0:18:20The water here is clearer than anywhere else in the UK,

0:18:20 > 0:18:22and it's home to an abundant and diverse range

0:18:22 > 0:18:24of marine wildlife.

0:18:24 > 0:18:26We are hoping to see some.

0:18:26 > 0:18:29Right, are you ready for this great adventure?

0:18:29 > 0:18:32I'm going to follow Doug. Hopefully we're going to film

0:18:32 > 0:18:34lots of wildlife, see wonderful things

0:18:34 > 0:18:38and have a bit of fun along the way. Beautiful day, looks glorious.

0:18:38 > 0:18:41But my goodness, that water looks freezing!

0:18:41 > 0:18:43Doug joins two support divers in the water.

0:18:45 > 0:18:47Then, it's my turn.

0:18:47 > 0:18:50You'll know me, I've got the yellow snorkel.

0:18:55 > 0:18:59Today, we're snorkelling rather than taking scuba-diving tanks,

0:18:59 > 0:19:01so we have to resurface to breathe.

0:19:01 > 0:19:07We're heading for HMS Dartmouth, a naval frigate that sunk in 1690.

0:19:12 > 0:19:15I've done quite a bit of snorkelling before,

0:19:15 > 0:19:19but I always love that moment when you first dive under the surface

0:19:19 > 0:19:22and a completely different world is revealed.

0:19:25 > 0:19:28My first encounter is with a purple jellyfish,

0:19:28 > 0:19:30gracefully moving through the water.

0:19:33 > 0:19:37There are three wrecks here, forming an artificial reef.

0:19:37 > 0:19:42The whole place is covered in a thick forest of kelp.

0:19:42 > 0:19:45This is a sign that the reef is in good health,

0:19:45 > 0:19:47and it's home to a myriad of marine life.

0:19:54 > 0:19:59Doug spots another jellyfish, this one with an entourage of small fish.

0:20:07 > 0:20:09- Those jellyfish are amazing. - Aye, they're nice, eh?

0:20:09 > 0:20:13- There's lots of the purple ones. - Yeah.

0:20:13 > 0:20:16There's at least two kinds - did you notice the other one?

0:20:16 > 0:20:18- Yeah, the one with the tentacles?- Yeah.

0:20:21 > 0:20:25This nearby rocky outcrop is home to a mixture of grey

0:20:25 > 0:20:30and common seals. Doug's hoping to get some underwater shots of them.

0:20:30 > 0:20:34We're surrounded by them, but they are camera-shy,

0:20:34 > 0:20:36and stay just out of range.

0:20:38 > 0:20:43A white-tailed sea eagle soars above, while cormorants look on.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46But shots of the seals elude us.

0:20:46 > 0:20:50And sadly, we don't have Doug's usual generous filming schedule.

0:20:51 > 0:20:56- It's such a shame.- They were right on the edge of visibility.

0:20:56 > 0:20:57DOUGIE LAUGHS

0:20:57 > 0:21:01- I could just see them and no more.- So frustrating.

0:21:01 > 0:21:04- About 20 to 30 feet away...- Aye.

0:21:04 > 0:21:08- You just couldn't see them very well. They just weren't in the mood. - No, they weren't.

0:21:08 > 0:21:11I don't know whether it was the changing tide, but...

0:21:11 > 0:21:13maybe better luck some other time.

0:21:13 > 0:21:15DOUGIE CHUCKLES

0:21:19 > 0:21:23So, no seals, but it's been a privilege to explore this

0:21:23 > 0:21:25amazing underwater world with Doug.

0:21:31 > 0:21:34I am exhausted. Cup of tea time, I reckon, yes?

0:21:36 > 0:21:38Do you honestly think that Scotland can compare to some

0:21:38 > 0:21:40of the places in the world you've dived?

0:21:40 > 0:21:45When the diving is at its best, when everything is cooperating,

0:21:45 > 0:21:46I tell you...

0:21:46 > 0:21:50Scotland can compare with anywhere. I really do believe that.

0:21:50 > 0:21:54- Doug, it's been an adventure. I've absolutely adored today. - That's great.

0:21:54 > 0:21:56Brilliant fun. We should really do this again some time.

0:21:56 > 0:21:59- I hope so. I'll take you up on that. Good man.- Good man.

0:21:59 > 0:22:02- Next week, maybe? - You're on, take care.

0:22:02 > 0:22:04THEY LAUGH

0:22:06 > 0:22:10After all that exertion, I'm ready for something hearty to eat.

0:22:12 > 0:22:16And Nick and the Landward food van might have just the thing.

0:22:22 > 0:22:25These days, roe deer are everywhere.

0:22:25 > 0:22:28The population has been steadily rising over the last decade,

0:22:28 > 0:22:30and with no natural predators,

0:22:30 > 0:22:34they are now the most common deer in Scotland.

0:22:34 > 0:22:37This week, Nick's in Aberdeen to take up the challenge

0:22:37 > 0:22:40to replace beef on the barbecue and create a tasty dish

0:22:40 > 0:22:42using roe buck meat.

0:22:42 > 0:22:47Then we'll give some lucky Aberdonians the chance to sample it.

0:22:47 > 0:22:50Roe is a fabulous, fabulous product. It's very healthy,

0:22:50 > 0:22:53- it's very lean.- Yep. - It's never out of season

0:22:53 > 0:22:56so it's the bucks now in the summertime, the does in the wintertime.

0:22:56 > 0:22:58And it is - if you've never tasted it before -

0:22:58 > 0:23:00one of the most delicious meats you'll ever eat,

0:23:00 > 0:23:02- just needs minimum cooking...- Yeah.

0:23:02 > 0:23:05So, we're going to make some little medallions on skewers,

0:23:05 > 0:23:08- like lollipops.- Hm.- And I would like you to cut the medallions.

0:23:08 > 0:23:12If we cut this in half - if you just look at the texture of the small...

0:23:12 > 0:23:15- Fantastic.- If you try and get them all the same thickness...

0:23:15 > 0:23:18- Uh-huh.- ..so they cook at the same speed.

0:23:18 > 0:23:21Whilst Chef Vipond is cutting the medallions of roe,

0:23:21 > 0:23:23I'm going to come up with a sauce to go with it.

0:23:23 > 0:23:26A very simple sauce. Cumberland sauce. I've got a pan on here,

0:23:26 > 0:23:30I've got some port - little bit of port into the pan.

0:23:30 > 0:23:32I'll let that reduce down.

0:23:32 > 0:23:35To that I'm going to add some redcurrant jelly...

0:23:35 > 0:23:38In it goes.

0:23:38 > 0:23:40Orange juice and orange zest. We're going to flavour it with

0:23:40 > 0:23:42a little bit of cinnamon stick.

0:23:42 > 0:23:46Thank you very much. And in with the orange juice as well.

0:23:46 > 0:23:50Finally, a little squeeze of English mustard. In it goes.

0:23:50 > 0:23:53Whisk the whole thing together and I'm going to simmer that

0:23:53 > 0:23:54for about ten minutes or so,

0:23:54 > 0:23:57until it's reduced down and really nice and thick.

0:23:57 > 0:24:00- So, how's that, Chef? - Very good, nice cutting.

0:24:00 > 0:24:03- I'm actually vaguely impressed. - Really?- Yeah.

0:24:03 > 0:24:05Don't be. So this is obviously

0:24:05 > 0:24:08the venison we're going to be cooking today, and this is roe.

0:24:08 > 0:24:10Does it taste different from red deer?

0:24:10 > 0:24:15Roe is slightly milder. Very, very tender, especially the loin.

0:24:15 > 0:24:17I don't think people will be able to tell the difference

0:24:17 > 0:24:22- between this and maybe, say, beef or even lamb.- Really?

0:24:22 > 0:24:25So what we need to do now is season them.

0:24:25 > 0:24:28- Look how tender that meat is.- It is stunning.- Beautiful texture.

0:24:28 > 0:24:30So, onto here...

0:24:30 > 0:24:34Little bit of oil - just ordinary veg oil, don't want anything too strong.

0:24:34 > 0:24:37And a bit of salt.

0:24:37 > 0:24:40- And fairly generous with the pepper.- Uh-huh.

0:24:40 > 0:24:43I like pepper on venison. Turn them over.

0:24:43 > 0:24:47Do the same on this side as well. Lovely. Pepper.

0:24:47 > 0:24:49Beautiful work, Chef Vipond.

0:24:49 > 0:24:52Have you ever worked in an Italian restaurant?

0:24:52 > 0:24:54So, a little bit of oil on the hotplate.

0:24:54 > 0:24:56Nice wee sizzle. On we go.

0:24:57 > 0:25:02So we use oil for heat and butter for colour and flavour.

0:25:02 > 0:25:04Just gives it a little glaze on the outside.

0:25:04 > 0:25:06A little bit of colour on the outside. Oh!

0:25:06 > 0:25:08Yes, yes, yes!

0:25:08 > 0:25:11When you see the juice starting to come to the top,

0:25:11 > 0:25:13it's time to flip them.

0:25:13 > 0:25:15Lots of barbecues these days have hotplates as well.

0:25:15 > 0:25:17I take it this is something you can do there?

0:25:17 > 0:25:20Absolutely. In fact, you could put these straight on the barbecue.

0:25:20 > 0:25:22- Oh, right. - These would be fantastic barbecued.

0:25:22 > 0:25:26In fact, venison is a really good barbecue alternative

0:25:26 > 0:25:27- for the summertime.- Yeah.

0:25:27 > 0:25:30And super healthy, because there's not a lot of fat content.

0:25:30 > 0:25:33Very, very lean. In fact, we're going to have to take these off

0:25:33 > 0:25:35fairly soon, cos we don't want to overcook them.

0:25:35 > 0:25:39Nice bit of colour on the outside, that caramelisation.

0:25:39 > 0:25:42- Loving this.- Smells so nice, doesn't it? Really, really great.

0:25:42 > 0:25:45- A little bit more colour on there. You don't want them too hot.- Yeah.

0:25:45 > 0:25:49You want to let them sit and relax until they're almost...warm.

0:25:49 > 0:25:52So you get the best flavour from them and the best texture.

0:25:52 > 0:25:54Just going to take the cocktail sticks...

0:25:54 > 0:25:59pop them in the venison. OK. And then people can just pick them up,

0:25:59 > 0:26:03- dip them in the Cumberland sauce, down the hatch we go.- Lollipops.

0:26:03 > 0:26:07And they will soon be good to take to the good citizens of Aberdeen.

0:26:07 > 0:26:09However, I think we should be first to go.

0:26:09 > 0:26:12I think we should have a taste, definitely.

0:26:12 > 0:26:13Oh, my goodness me.

0:26:17 > 0:26:19Oh, the meat is so succulent. My goodness!

0:26:19 > 0:26:22And that Cumberland sauce just sets them off beautifully.

0:26:22 > 0:26:25- Mm!- Very, very mild flavour, huh?

0:26:25 > 0:26:26I know that's venison...

0:26:28 > 0:26:30I don't know if these guys will.

0:26:30 > 0:26:33It's still delicate, but it's great.

0:26:33 > 0:26:36- Delicate is a really good word to describe the flavour of roe.- Hm.

0:26:36 > 0:26:40- Shall we get this out? - No, let's eat it all ourselves.

0:26:40 > 0:26:41NICK LAUGHS

0:26:47 > 0:26:50Would you like to try one of my little medallions of roe venison?

0:26:50 > 0:26:53- Tell me what you think. - So tender, it's amazing.

0:26:53 > 0:26:55Don't get it on that lovely coat.

0:26:55 > 0:26:57Superb.

0:26:57 > 0:27:01- Excellent.- Mm.- Do you like that? Would you know what that is?

0:27:01 > 0:27:04- I do, cos I saw it on the side! - We wrote it up on the side,

0:27:04 > 0:27:07- so it's kind of giving it away. - I've never had venison.

0:27:07 > 0:27:10- Very, very tender. Lovely.- Would you have known that was venison?

0:27:10 > 0:27:13- No, I would have said that was just beef.- Beef, yeah?

0:27:13 > 0:27:16- A really nice beef.- I might have one myself.- It's so soft.

0:27:16 > 0:27:18Have a wee bite, tell me what it is.

0:27:20 > 0:27:24- Beef.- That's really nice.- Yeah?

0:27:24 > 0:27:26- That sauce is delicious. - Oh!- Need a bit more ginger.

0:27:26 > 0:27:29- THEY CHUCKLE - It's the first time I've had it, it's really nice, though.

0:27:29 > 0:27:31Would you choose that over beef fillet?

0:27:31 > 0:27:34I would, yeah. If it's cooked as good as good as this, yeah!

0:27:34 > 0:27:37- NICK LAUGHS - If it's cooked as good as this, any day, yeah.

0:27:37 > 0:27:40- Doug?- Yes.- How were the good citizens of Aberdeen with your roe venison?

0:27:40 > 0:27:42Well, look at the plate, I think it tells you all.

0:27:42 > 0:27:45- Tells the story - clean.- Incredibly popular. People were loving it.

0:27:45 > 0:27:47A few people thought it might be beef,

0:27:47 > 0:27:50cos they obviously hadn't read what we'd written on there,

0:27:50 > 0:27:52but, no, amazingly successful.

0:27:52 > 0:27:54When you think this is a sustainable meat,

0:27:54 > 0:27:56- It's in season all year round... - Yeah.- ..it's very lean, healthy.

0:27:56 > 0:27:58Why don't we have more of it in the shops?

0:27:58 > 0:28:00In the meantime, before we get blown away, Nick...

0:28:00 > 0:28:04- It's, er, goodbye from me. - And goodbye from me. See you. Bye.