0:00:02 > 0:00:03- It's time to look back... - Take stock...
0:00:03 > 0:00:05And enjoy the Landward Christmas special.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27As we approach Christmas and New Year,
0:00:27 > 0:00:30we're going to be looking back at the last 12 months of Landward
0:00:30 > 0:00:32and picking out some of our personal highlights.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35We're back where we started this year in Ballater, one of the places
0:00:35 > 0:00:39that was devastated by the flooding that happened last Christmas.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Later in the programme, I'll be revisiting some of those
0:00:42 > 0:00:44who were worst hit
0:00:44 > 0:00:47and finding out how things are going 12 months on.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51It's been a year of political surprise and uncertainty.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54And here's just a brief flavour of what's coming up in our review
0:00:54 > 0:00:56of the Landward year.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59This is wild!
0:00:59 > 0:01:02It feels really good. Whoo! Whoo!
0:01:02 > 0:01:05It just felt part of being something really special.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12But before all that,
0:01:12 > 0:01:16we're going to find out about Ballater's year of recovery.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26December 30th, 2015.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Nonstop rainfall coupled with snowmelt from the hills
0:01:34 > 0:01:37caused the River Dee to burst its banks.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42The deluge destroyed bridges and roads,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46and left a trail of destruction the length of the river.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52The town of Ballater was devastated.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00The River Dee is calm and quiet today,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04but just under a year ago, it left its mark on the village.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Along Bridge Street, which is the main street in Ballater,
0:02:07 > 0:02:13cafes, shops, houses, hotels were overwhelmed by a torrent of water.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Although many shops are still empty,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22the village's recovery is well underway.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26- Hello.- Hello, Sarah. How are you?- How are you doing?
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- Welcome.- Good.- Wow!
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- Bit of a difference. - This looks fantastic.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Big, big difference from the last time you were here.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37John Sinclair runs the village butcher shop.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40It was badly damaged in the floods, as he told me
0:02:40 > 0:02:43when I visited just days after.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45£50,000 of stock we've binned.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Total devastation throughout the shop.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49There's nothing left at all.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53John got the business back up and running as quickly as he could
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and today, the shop is looking immaculate.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58We're 90% back to what we should be.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00We opened 13 weeks after the flood,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02so I think it was about the 3rd or 4th of April.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- So it was pretty spit spot, the turnaround.- It was indeed, aye.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07A lot of people work here.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11We've got about 15-20 people working here and their jobs...
0:03:11 > 0:03:14It was one of the most worrying things, will they still have jobs?
0:03:14 > 0:03:17And then, of course, you've got your customers.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19You don't want to let your customers down.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20I know the business was severely damaged,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23- but you had quite a few other premises that were affected.- Yes.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27My own house and I was president of the golf club at the time
0:03:27 > 0:03:31so I had three things to get sorted and it kept me busy.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35But at the same time, the village came closer together, I think.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38It's been a bad thing, but a good thing in a way as well.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It's brought the community closer together.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49For the hundreds of people who were displaced from their homes,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51it's been a difficult year.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Some had problems with insurance claims,
0:03:53 > 0:03:58with delays and even claims being refused.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Many families are still out of their homes.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- Hello.- Sarah, how are you doing? - Hi.- This looks great.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- Yeah, yeah.- Compared to the last time I saw it anyway.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Back in January, Gordon Duff was just realising
0:04:13 > 0:04:15the impact of the flood.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17- You can see from the watermark... - So the water was about waist high?
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- Yeah, yeah.- And then just everything...
0:04:19 > 0:04:23- Everything inside was ruined. - Total. Everything's gone.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28How has the year been? Tell me what you've been doing?
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Oh, it's just been... It's been an absolute nightmare really.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I mean, OK, it's good now, now we're back.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39We've probably got a better house now than we had before the flood.
0:04:39 > 0:04:43- What have the biggest challenges been?- Probably, erm...
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Probably our negotiations with the insurers.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50They looked at material things and not at our personal feelings.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52You know, the suffering that we'd have to go through.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56We really did have sleepless nights after it, thinking about it.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- I'm not surprised. - I mean, we lost...
0:04:58 > 0:05:00We lost all our possessions.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04We got out with just the stuff on our back, really. That was it.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- It's very fancy. Can I see the rest of it?- Yeah, sure.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07- It looks great.- Yeah.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09Because I remember the pans in there
0:05:09 > 0:05:11and emptying out the pans of water.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Well, I'm glad to see that you're back on your feet.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17It looks absolutely fantastic. You've done a great job.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Yeah, well... It's down to my wife, really.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21HE LAUGHS
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Perhaps the most dramatic scene in Ballater
0:05:30 > 0:05:33was the community-run caravan park.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38I think it was very important.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Brought a lot of tourists and they spent money in the shops,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43the restaurants and everything, you know.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46If we didn't open this next year, it's a disaster, really.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52That was volunteer Gordon Bruce speaking to us in January.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Although the park haven't managed to replace their static caravans,
0:05:55 > 0:05:59they have made some progress as Alistair Cassie explains.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04The touring site has been a very, very successful season.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07In fact, everyone has said it's better than it was before.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The toilets have been done up and the playpark was reinstated
0:06:10 > 0:06:13and a lot of money had to be spent on the place.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18The park hope to get their static caravan business
0:06:18 > 0:06:20started again next year
0:06:20 > 0:06:22which will help other tourist businesses
0:06:22 > 0:06:24such as local shops and restaurants.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29This is a village which is still very much dealing
0:06:29 > 0:06:31with the events of nearly a year ago.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35There's a lot of work still to be done to get back to where they were,
0:06:35 > 0:06:39but I've been so inspired by the people that we've revisited.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43They're determined to pick up the pieces and create
0:06:43 > 0:06:45a thriving community once again.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51And we'll be back in Ballater later in the programme as the town
0:06:51 > 0:06:53begins its Christmas celebration.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00On Landward, I'm always amazed at the special access we get into
0:07:00 > 0:07:02people's lives across the country.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05This year, I travelled to some far-flung islands
0:07:05 > 0:07:08and was witness to some unique ways of life.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12On each and every one, I was struck by the hard work and determination
0:07:12 > 0:07:14of the people who live there.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18On North Ronaldsay, I got the chance to take part rounding up their
0:07:18 > 0:07:20famous seaweed-eating sheep.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26The tups are going to market, so I'm going to give them a hand
0:07:26 > 0:07:30punding, which means driving the sheep into these punds behind me.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37While we put a guide fence into position,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39the sheep are driven along the shore.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41Here they come.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47So after half an hour chasing along the beach in this direction,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50we've now put out this wire fence, and here they come back.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51CLAPPING
0:07:58 > 0:08:02Octogenarian Sinclair Scott is more concerned about one of the sheep
0:08:02 > 0:08:04being past its best.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06He's getting on a bit. That's the trouble, you see.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09You look in here, I would guess that he's in his...
0:08:09 > 0:08:12- He'd be around about five now. - Right.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14And, erm, that's really the limit.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17- Once it six years old, it's...- Right.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19It needs to be cooked today for tomorrow.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22If you cook them properly, it's very, very tender indeed.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- It doesn't matter how old it is. - Right.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26But once they get to six year old,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- it's about time to maybe pension them off then.- Right.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31Reached the same age that I have.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34And it has to be cooked very slowly indeed if you want to save
0:08:34 > 0:08:36your teeth for the future.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38DOUGIE LAUGHS
0:08:40 > 0:08:43That was great fun, but unfortunately,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45not every tale has a happy ending.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49In June, I covered a story on the future of the dairy industry
0:08:49 > 0:08:53on the Isle of Bute and felt I was witnessing an entire way of life
0:08:53 > 0:08:55that's hanging by a thread.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58We reckon maybe 150, 200 years,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01there've been dairy cows in Drumachloy.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07Duncan Lyon still has 50 cows, but last year, he had 220.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12Soon, he'll be giving up dairy farming for good.
0:09:12 > 0:09:18It was probably the hardest decision ever to make.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22But you've got to be realistic in business and not be, erm...
0:09:23 > 0:09:25What's the word? Thinking of...
0:09:25 > 0:09:26Thinking of sentimentality.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Do away with sentimentality and think of your business
0:09:31 > 0:09:33and that's what I've had to do.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- Tough, though.- Awful.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36Absolutely awful.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Making the decision was just... unbelievable.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Actually having to unemploy my employees was worse.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47It's pretty tough, isn't it?
0:09:47 > 0:09:49I mean, it's clearly in your blood and...
0:09:49 > 0:09:52It's in my blood and that's what I've lived for, is work.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57That was my drive in life, working.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58It's been...
0:09:58 > 0:10:01The farm has been my hobby, my business and my life.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03It's very difficult to give it up.
0:10:08 > 0:10:13Later in the year, I had one of the best trips of my life -
0:10:13 > 0:10:15a summer tour of the Small Isles.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20On privately-owned Muck, I was particularly inspired by
0:10:20 > 0:10:24the dedication of the family to make the island a viable operation.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Muck has been in the ownership of the MacEwen family
0:10:29 > 0:10:32since the 19th century, and they're pretty hands-on.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Lawrence MacEwen is the current laird
0:10:35 > 0:10:39and his son Colin runs the island farm with his wife Ruth.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Colin's sister Mary runs the shooting lodge
0:10:41 > 0:10:46with her husband Toby, who manages shoots on both Muck and Rum.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Gallanach Lodge has, I think,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51one of the most spectacular views in the world.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55Mary and her family returned to the island to build and run it.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00I would imagine during the summer months lots of people come here,
0:11:00 > 0:11:01but how do you keep things going,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04keep things viable during the winter months?
0:11:04 > 0:11:07We started running a shoot here when we moved back home
0:11:07 > 0:11:10and we built up from that, so we now...
0:11:10 > 0:11:13From every weekend from the beginning of October to the end
0:11:13 > 0:11:17of January we have shooting parties, and midweek in October as well.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20The summer season out here is too short to make a living.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22And do you think that in 100 years' time
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Muck will still be within your family?
0:11:25 > 0:11:28Yeah, I'd certainly like to think so. With three sons,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32I'd like to hope that one of them would like to come back here.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I think there's nowhere better in the world, I would say.
0:11:35 > 0:11:36So, yeah, it's home.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44For me, 2016 has been a really big year
0:11:44 > 0:11:48and an incredible roller-coaster as far as emotions are concerned.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53On a real high, I was up close, really close, with a golden eagle.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55This is Stanley and he is beautiful.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59Look at that beak, look at the eyes, look at the feathers.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04'And I got the chance to feel Stanley's awesome power
0:12:04 > 0:12:07'as he was released to take some bait from my hand.'
0:12:08 > 0:12:09This is exciting.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21He's coming in quite fast, isn't he?
0:12:21 > 0:12:25- Here he comes. Good boy. - There you go.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Well, he comes in quite fast. Very, very different.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Much, much faster.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- Whoa! And he's off again. - That's enough of that.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Quite right, too.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39From the eagles soaring in the skies above the Cairngorms
0:12:39 > 0:12:42to actually getting in a glider and joining them.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Now, this may look like I'm having a ball,
0:12:44 > 0:12:47but trust me, I'm terrified of flying.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49I was seriously nervous.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Right, I've come off tow. There's going to be a big clunk...
0:12:55 > 0:12:57- Whoa! - ..when I put the undercarriage on.
0:12:57 > 0:12:58CLUNK Like that.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00So now we're gliding.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Put the undercarriage up so it's a little bit quieter.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05- So now we're on our own? - Now we're on our own.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11As someone who is afraid of heights and flying,
0:13:11 > 0:13:14it was a heady mix of pleasure and terror.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29A truly exhilarating experience, but I was relieved to be heading home.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Safely back on the ground,
0:13:35 > 0:13:40I stepped back in time for what was truly an emotional experience.
0:13:40 > 0:13:442016 marked the 40th anniversary of Landward.
0:13:48 > 0:13:54Flick through this edition of the Radio Times, April 1976,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56the one with the cast of Angels on the front,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59and you'll find the first-ever listing...
0:14:00 > 0:14:01..for the programme.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11The anniversary gave me the opportunity to delve into
0:14:11 > 0:14:14a rich archive for a trip down memory lane.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Over the last 40 years, we've met the characters,
0:14:22 > 0:14:26explored the issues and travelled across the country to bring you
0:14:26 > 0:14:30the viewer a unique insight into rural Scotland.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34And, as well as a look back at how Landward
0:14:34 > 0:14:38has examined the changes in our rural life,
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I made a poignant return to the scene of one of the most
0:14:41 > 0:14:44challenging stories we've ever covered -
0:14:44 > 0:14:45foot and mouth.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Dumfriesshire was where I met up with farmer Robin Spence
0:14:55 > 0:14:5915 years after the disease wiped out his herd of cattle.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04At the time, because of bio-security restrictions,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06we couldn't film on Robin's farm.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09We gave him a camera to record what happened.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14And we could talk to him at the end of his road.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Two places confirmed next to us on Sunday and it's all around about us.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21And we've sort of, you know...
0:15:22 > 0:15:23You hope and pray, but...
0:15:25 > 0:15:27We knew it was coming.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30This is the first time Robin has seen the footage
0:15:30 > 0:15:32since the programme was broadcast.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36- Does it bring back memories or is it kind of...?- It does, it does.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37I'm just swallowing there.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40It's quite surprising, how it takes you back.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42We rear livestock and look after them as best we can.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48But it's one of the most moving bits for me...
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I'm getting choked up at the moment thinking about it -
0:15:51 > 0:15:53It must have been horrendous for you.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56This is the cattle-burning.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Well, it was one of...
0:15:59 > 0:16:02We had a fantastic squad here for everything,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04and they came and said,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08"Would you like to light the fire?" and I sort of went, "Well..."
0:16:08 > 0:16:12And then I thought, "Well, no, it's my duty, the final act.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16"I've looked after them till now. You know...
0:16:16 > 0:16:20"You're there to the end and you do everything that's needed."
0:16:20 > 0:16:23But there was a huge degree of poignancy to it.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31On a lighter note, the reflection of 40 years of the programme
0:16:31 > 0:16:35took me back to my very first Landward appearance.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Many farmers are taking conservation increasingly seriously these days,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42but perhaps none quite as seriously...
0:16:42 > 0:16:45'For one thing, my dress code was certainly of its time.'
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Few trees, and even fewer hedges.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52But now, a series of 14 ponds stretches across the entire farm.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54A lot has changed. So young! So innocent!
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Another assignment that brought back my youthful exuberance
0:17:00 > 0:17:05was a nostalgic trip on one of the icons of the age of steam -
0:17:05 > 0:17:06the Flying Scotsman.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24The Flying Scotsman may have been the first locomotive to break
0:17:24 > 0:17:30the 100mph barrier, but today the old girl is limited to 75mph.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32But, you know, so what?
0:17:32 > 0:17:35That simply gives myself and the rest of the passengers
0:17:35 > 0:17:38more time to enjoy the golden age of steam.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Edinburgh and journey's end.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04As we arrive at Waverley, the crowds are out in force,
0:18:04 > 0:18:07as they have been throughout the trip,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11to welcome back the Flying Scotsman.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12What a trip.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16It just felt part of being something really special.
0:18:16 > 0:18:17Really special.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22One of the great things about Landward is that you sometimes get
0:18:22 > 0:18:26the chance to get stuck in and help and in 2016,
0:18:26 > 0:18:30there was no shortage of incredible experiences for me.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32And one of my favourites has to be when I met
0:18:32 > 0:18:34sheep farmer Joyce Campbell.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37In the spring, I went to help lamb some of her
0:18:37 > 0:18:42800 North Country Cheviot Sheep on her farm on Sutherland coast.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46What we've got is a back foot.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49'Some emergency midwifery was needed.'
0:18:49 > 0:18:52So, that's the tail there.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58And I need to be quite quick because the umbilical cord will break.
0:18:58 > 0:18:59OK, I'll just keep her...
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- All right, how's it looking? - Looking good.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04And he's got a lovely black foot.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06He's just a wee gurgly, so we'll just give him
0:19:06 > 0:19:10a wee upside down to get some fluid out of his lungs.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14It all fairly immediate, isn't it? It's hello, world, bish, bash, bosh.
0:19:14 > 0:19:15Yes.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- Hello!- Good morning.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22'And in the autumn, I caught up with Joyce again
0:19:22 > 0:19:24'at the Lairg sheep sales.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29'The tups' faces are the priority at the moment.'
0:19:29 > 0:19:31The way she's washing their faces is a bit like what I do
0:19:31 > 0:19:34to my kids before they head off to school in the morning -
0:19:34 > 0:19:36a good scrub.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40'Top breeders from across the country come to buy and sell here,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44'so it's no wonder Joyce wants her tups looking their best.'
0:19:44 > 0:19:47- Is there a competitive edge today? - Hellish.- Is it?- Oh, you've no idea.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49- So people are sussing you out? - The whole time, yeah.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- They're standing back because you're here. It's fine.- OK.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54Cos usually they'd be in milling around in our pens,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56but they're standing back, which is fine,
0:19:56 > 0:20:00so we're getting a good chance to get this done without them.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04'Joyce is hoping for at least £150 for her best yows.'
0:20:04 > 0:20:08They are 100%, and what a pen of yows.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12'The moment of truth has come. The price escalates quickly.'
0:20:12 > 0:20:16170, they go there at 170.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Last year's buyer.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Thank you very much. I'm off to sell tups.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Right, it just so happens that the tup sale coincides with
0:20:24 > 0:20:26the yow sale, which has just finished,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and Joyce is heading off to the other sale,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30so I'd better go and catch up.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39We arrived to find out the top tup sold for £5,000,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42a price that earns a picture in the paper.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Over the years, I've been to many shows and events
0:20:51 > 0:20:53where there are rosettes aplenty.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57But when I went to find out how they are made,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59I was in for a bit of a shock.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03We were thinking that since you were here,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07you could make the first Royal Highland Rosette for 2017.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- No pressure then.- None at all. - OK, we'll give it a go.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16I could pretend I'm doing something here, but I'm not.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18The machine's doing everything.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24'An experienced rosette maker can make up to 100 in an hour,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28'but I'm not an experienced rosette maker.'
0:21:28 > 0:21:31OK, not quite according to plan.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32We can easily start again.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Oh!
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Wrong bit. I'm going to be able to do this.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I made a jumpsuit in S6, I should be able to do a rosette.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44It's not moving.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46'Ah, it's faulty equipment.'
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Does it work the same way?
0:21:48 > 0:21:50'A change of machine and I'm off.'
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Ta-da!
0:21:53 > 0:21:55THEY CHEER
0:21:55 > 0:21:57That was harder than giving birth!
0:22:02 > 0:22:05But my standout experience has to be my trip to Lochan Uaine,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09or the Green Lochan, with wild swimmer Calum Maclean.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10I knew it was going to be cold,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14but I wasn't prepared for just how cold it actually was.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17But it's definitely something I won't forget in a hurry.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23'Following Calum's advice, I eased myself gently into the chilly loch.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29'But ultimately, we're not here to splash about.'
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- You ready? - 'We're here to swim.'
0:22:36 > 0:22:38THEY CHEER
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- How does the water feel to you? - I don't know, what would you say?
0:22:45 > 0:22:48I would say it's no' bad.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50- It's no' bad? - It's better than expected.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52It's no' Baltic, it's no' bad.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00This is great. It feels really good, and I'm not just saying that.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02- It feels good. - It does feel good, yeah.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09'And it doesn't just feel good, the Green Lochan is truly gorgeous.'
0:23:17 > 0:23:20But that's just some of our personal highlights.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28In 2016 we've covered every nook and cranny of Scotland.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Today I'm in Corran on the shores of Loch Hourn.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35The issues facing Stranraer are complex.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38So, what made you decide to bring a flock of Hebridean sheep
0:23:38 > 0:23:40back home to Elie?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42You need a boat to get to the pub.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43Welcome to Knoydart.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47Angus is the soft fruit capital of Scotland.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Carbeth soon became a haven for those wanting to escape city life.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53But the winner is Achmelvich.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Now, of course, every year,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01one of the biggest highlights is the Royal Highland Show.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04And we used the opportunity to catch up with some of
0:24:04 > 0:24:07the many presenters from Landward's long history.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10I've come to the Highland Hall to meet Nancy Nicolson,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14who is now farming editor of The Courier and probably one of
0:24:14 > 0:24:16the busiest people in the whole showground.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19That's true, Euan. Good to see you.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- Ken, sorry.- Oh! Hello. - Good to see you again.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24- Having a good day?- Yeah. How long were you on Landward?
0:24:25 > 0:24:27- Ross Muir.- Oh, Euan.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Landward's first-ever presenter.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30That's it, that's me.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35And they helped us celebrate our 40th anniversary.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38- Some cake and some champagne.- Sarah, would you like to cut the cake?
0:24:38 > 0:24:41Simply because you've got the knife and you're the only one
0:24:41 > 0:24:42we can actually trust with the cake.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44- Here we go. Will I give it a go? - Give it a go.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- This is amazing, isn't it? - It's beautiful.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Highland Show week also brought the momentous result
0:24:53 > 0:24:54of the UK Brexit vote.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59After the dust had settled, we gathered reaction from farmers
0:24:59 > 0:25:01as they worked to bring home the harvest.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Absolute surprise and horror.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08I think I never expected that it would happen.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10And three months on, how do you feel?
0:25:10 > 0:25:12We have to manage it.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I mean, it's not going to be very easy.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17If we lose the single market, I think it could be very disastrous.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21And later in the year,
0:25:21 > 0:25:25we spoke to Scottish fishermen who viewed the result very differently.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Skipper Jimmy Buchan was a vocal supporter of the Leave campaign.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35The fish are swimming in our waters.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40Brexit to me means a rebalance of a wrongdoing from 40 years ago.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47But away from the political storms, we've seen all kinds of weather.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49This is wild!
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- What's your assessment? - It's pretty minging, isn't it?
0:25:52 > 0:25:53It's just pants.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57And that's what these gadgets are designed to gather - light.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02And we've seen all kinds of amazing things.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04We've got a squirrel!
0:26:07 > 0:26:11The European Reversible Ploughing Championships, to be precise.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Wow. What a view.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Now, as promised, we're back in Ballater,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24which is getting into the festive spirit.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Now, don't the lights here in Ballater look absolutely fantastic?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31- Brilliant.- Our cameras were here a couple of weeks ago
0:26:31 > 0:26:32when they switched them on.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39The ceremony was played out to the tunes from
0:26:39 > 0:26:41the Ballater And District Pipe Band.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46It's helping the community to move on, as minister David Barr explains.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50Oh, it's been a roller-coaster.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52But one of the things that the flood,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55the terrible thing of the flood came, we didn't think that
0:26:55 > 0:26:59this little village, which is so tight, could be even tighter,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and it is. It's brought young and old together and people from
0:27:02 > 0:27:04one end of village to the other.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09And we had a focus, a focus that it wasn't going to beat us.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12THEY PLAY SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
0:27:18 > 0:27:21And local head teacher Louise Duckworth
0:27:21 > 0:27:23has also seen the mood shift.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25It's great for the community to come out.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27It's lovely to see everything lit up and looking...
0:27:27 > 0:27:29And everyone, you know, members of the community,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31but also lots of visitors joining us tonight.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33You know, it's been a pretty dark year in the village
0:27:33 > 0:27:36for lots of reasons, but it's lovely to see everything lit up
0:27:36 > 0:27:38and everybody out enjoying themselves
0:27:38 > 0:27:39and looking to the future.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45And it seems some of the younger residents have also adapted well.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Well, I got flooded,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51but I used to live on Albert Road and...
0:27:53 > 0:27:56But now I live somewhere else.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00We're back into our house but it looks really different now
0:28:00 > 0:28:04because we had different doors and stuff, so now it's...
0:28:04 > 0:28:07And different carpets, so now it's very different.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10We're in our old house but it looks new.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16And that festive note brings us to the end of the Landward year 2016.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19We'll be back in April, but we will start filming in the new year,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22so keep your stories coming in.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24So, from all the Landward team,
0:28:24 > 0:28:27have a very merry Christmas and a great New Year.
0:28:27 > 0:28:28ALL: Merry Christmas.