0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello and a very warm welcome to Landward,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07where Arlene and I are going to undertake a marathon road trip
0:00:07 > 0:00:09around the south-west of Scotland.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Landward is on the move this week, with a difference.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39With a ban on all new petrol and diesel cars in prospect from 2040,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Arlene is joining me in Dumfries and Galloway on a trip into the future
0:00:42 > 0:00:45of driving.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47You can see how we get on in a minute, but first,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51here's what else you can look forward to.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55Euan is in the hills to meet the locals who want to take over Cairngorm Mountain.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Technology has come on a long way and so we would look to
0:00:58 > 0:00:59manufacture snow and farm snow.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03While Anne is in a forest visiting a community who have already taken
0:01:03 > 0:01:05control of the land.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09So the horse can really be effective in these conditions.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12- He's gorgeous.- Yes, he's a good horse, isn't he?- Yeah.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16And we look at the unique challenges facing a guide dog in the countryside.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19The last thing you would want is for his tail to be run over.
0:01:23 > 0:01:28But now, Landward is on a road trip to the glorious south-west.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30But before we can get moving,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Arlene and I are tracking down our transport in Dumfries.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Over the years on Landward we've walked, run,
0:01:38 > 0:01:42cycled and driven some of the most fantastic roads and routes across
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- the country.- One of the most famous routes is the North Coast 500,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49that Dougie did, completed successfully, in both car and motorbike.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50It is a wonderful route,
0:01:50 > 0:01:53but now in the south of the country there is a new one to rival it.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Yes, the South West 300, a circular 300 mile route,
0:01:57 > 0:02:02starting in Dumfries and taking in Kirkcudbright, Newton Stewart...
0:02:02 > 0:02:07Cairnryan, Stranraer, Girvan, New Cumnock, Moffat, and then Lockerbie.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08- Well remembered.- Thank you.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10And how are we going to tackle this route?
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Well, by car, but it's not that simple.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Not that simple at all because the car we're going to is over here
0:02:16 > 0:02:18by the charger. It's an electric car.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22- Yes.- This one, and the man from Nissan is Chris Baxter,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24who is going to take us through it. Nice to see you.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- Hello, Chris.- Hello.- Now, how much battery power do we have?
0:02:27 > 0:02:29How many miles are we going to go on one charge?
0:02:29 > 0:02:32You will get up to 124 miles from one charge.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- OK, that's all right. - It really couldn't be simpler.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38You can charge up to 80% of the battery in only 30 minutes,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41so with a bit of planning there's absolutely no reason you can't complete
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- this route.- Yeah. And what about charging points?
0:02:43 > 0:02:45- How easy are they to find? - Very easy.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48You download an app to your phone, it will tell you where they are.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49You just drive up to them, plug in.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52I'm not very good with gadgets. Can you talk us through it, please?
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Absolutely. Let's show you how to get charged.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57- OK.- Straight into the socket and push in till it clicks.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02- And you...- Have you hurt your hand?
0:03:02 > 0:03:03No!
0:03:05 > 0:03:06How are you feeling? Are you ready?
0:03:06 > 0:03:08- I'm excited.- Yeah, 300 miles.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11- Yeah.- We've got a fully charged car.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14And we have some macaroons, as well, in case we get hungry.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15- We're good to go.- Hit it.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Right.
0:03:17 > 0:03:18Whoa!
0:03:18 > 0:03:20THEY LAUGH
0:03:24 > 0:03:28- Have you ever driven an electric car before?- No, I've never driven an electric before,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30and I've still never driven an electric car.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33No, well, I'm sorry, you weren't there when he said,
0:03:33 > 0:03:35"Who's driving first?" So I volunteered.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37No, I'm very happy to have a snooze, actually.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41No time for snoozing on this trip, Dougie,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44because the journey takes in some of the best sights the south-west has
0:03:44 > 0:03:47to offer, and we'll be stopping off at a few of them on the way.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Travelling clockwise from Dumfries,
0:03:51 > 0:03:52we'll be hugging the coastline
0:03:52 > 0:03:54for much of the route.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58There's lots to see, but so far the novelty of the car hasn't
0:03:58 > 0:03:59worn off.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04I was talking to someone who said that they took their electric car
0:04:04 > 0:04:09up to Orkney and they think it cost them £12.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Wow, that is amazing.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Yeah, yeah, and that's driving from Dumfries to Orkney and back.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20In Scotland, with an annual subscription,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24it can cost as little as £20 a year to run this car,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26but if you pay as you go it's more expensive.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32We've got plenty of miles left on the battery as we approach our first
0:04:32 > 0:04:34stopping off point of the day,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36this amazing lighthouse on the Solway Firth.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Approaching Southerness Lighthouse.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43On a clear day. We're not going to be able to see it today,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46because it's a wee bit hazy, but Cumbria.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49All the way to Cumbria, yeah.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52It's a weird shape for a lighthouse.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- It's really old, isn't it?- 1748.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Decommissioned in 1936.
0:05:04 > 0:05:05Only time for a quick look around
0:05:05 > 0:05:08before we head onto our next destination.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14VOICEOVER: And I finally get a chance at the wheel.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16Keeping in mind the car's limited range.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21So 54 on the doodah, and 31 to go,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24so we're going to have some slack.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- That all depends... - Not an awful lot.- Yeah,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- it all depends on whether I'm driving economically or not.- Yes.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35We are heading for the 12th century Dundrennan Abbey near Kirkcudbright.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43There are lots of abbeys on this route but Dundrennan is a particularly beautiful one.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46It is. And quite a historic one as well.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Mary, Queen of Scots spending her final night here before taking
0:05:50 > 0:05:56a boat across, and her life being ended by Queen Elizabeth.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59She took a boat across to Maryport.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02I wonder whether Maryport was named after the fact that she was
0:06:02 > 0:06:04going across in the boat.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Amazing it's been built with that hard grey stone
0:06:15 > 0:06:17so lots of it still remains.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20And I think in the village they've recycled the stone and there's
0:06:20 > 0:06:24a lot of it to be seen. Well, they call it recycling.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- Yeah.- I don't think it's supposed to have been removed but it is
0:06:27 > 0:06:28absolutely beautiful.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Sadly, we don't have time to have a wander about,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33because we have a date with a mountain bike.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Oh, right. Going to have to reverse.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37How do we do that again?
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Find out if I found reverse
0:06:40 > 0:06:42and if we have enough battery power to visit
0:06:42 > 0:06:47one of the South West 300's outdoor gems later in the programme.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Now, from the south-west to Cairngorm.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00It's a popular skiing resort but as Euan's finding out,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03some believe its potential is being squandered.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07Scotland's land is a precious asset.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And the Scottish Government want local people to take more control
0:07:13 > 0:07:18over land in their area. Back in 2015, they set a target.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23By 2020, they want community groups to own at least one million acres.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29There are lots of different reasons why communities will want to take
0:07:29 > 0:07:30control of land.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35Here, it is dissatisfaction with the way the ski hill is being managed.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38The ski resort is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise
0:07:38 > 0:07:41and managed by a tenant called Natural Retreats.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Together they decided to scrap two of the chairlifts here.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Now the chairs are being sold off to hang in people's gardens,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55with no prospect of the lift systems being replaced.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59It's a very sad sight, isn't it?
0:07:59 > 0:08:01That frustrates Michael Dearman
0:08:01 > 0:08:05from the Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07I remember coming here as a child,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10when I was maybe seven years old and coming to the car park,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12going up the chairlift,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14you know, it was a magical time for Scottish snow sports.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16And now all we are seeing is decline.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17It is very sad to see.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21But does it matter because, you know, the pub is still there,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23there's loads of chairlifts, got the funicular on the other side,
0:08:23 > 0:08:28does it really matter if one set of equipment comes out?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31It's... Snow sports is only going one way at the moment
0:08:31 > 0:08:33in Aviemore and that is in decline, sadly.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37There's this belief that snow sports is not viable, well,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40that's kind of coming to fruition because of the policies
0:08:40 > 0:08:42that have been in place here for the last 20 years.
0:08:42 > 0:08:43So what would you do differently?
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Because you do have a sitting tenant at the moment.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49That's right. There is a tenant in place at the moment and, as the landowner, we would have to
0:08:49 > 0:08:53honour that lease, so we would look to support the tenant in terms of
0:08:53 > 0:08:57their use of the snow sports infrastructure and in growing the snow sports
0:08:57 > 0:09:00business, and we would look to put new technologies into place.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02There is now snow making equipment
0:09:02 > 0:09:06which will allow us to manufacture snow in up to 20 degrees centigrade
0:09:06 > 0:09:08and so we would look to manufacture snow and farm snow
0:09:08 > 0:09:13in order to keep the lower runs full throughout the season.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16So, we could, in theory, guarantee some level of skiing over Christmas
0:09:16 > 0:09:18and over the half-term and over Easter.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22And every hospitality provider in the area will tell you that is the Holy Grail.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24They make their money over those periods.
0:09:25 > 0:09:31The community trust wants to use a legal power called asset transfer to
0:09:31 > 0:09:33take control of Cairngorm.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35In a bizarre bureaucratic quirk,
0:09:35 > 0:09:40Highlands and Islands Enterprise not only owns the mountain
0:09:40 > 0:09:45but also advises communities on how asset transfer works.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46That's Sandra Holmes' job.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Asset transfer is new legislation that came into being in January of
0:09:51 > 0:09:55this year, and it is concerned with assets that are generally in the ownership
0:09:55 > 0:09:59of public authorities, such as organisations like Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02It gives communities an opportunity to seek to purchase or to
0:10:02 > 0:10:06lease or to use assets in public ownership where the community can
0:10:06 > 0:10:10demonstrate they can provide added value and make more productive use
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- of the asset.- Is this not quite a complex situation?
0:10:13 > 0:10:18Because you are advising those who may want to take part in an asset
0:10:18 > 0:10:21transfer but you are also advising ministers as to whether it should go
0:10:21 > 0:10:24ahead or not. There is a potential conflict of interest...
0:10:24 > 0:10:29It might be perceived as being quite complicated, but I think within High we are quite a large organisation.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31My role in High is very much community facing,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35so my job is to support communities in developing their aspirations,
0:10:35 > 0:10:36irrespective of who owns it,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40so from my perspective, the fact that High is the owner doesn't affect what
0:10:40 > 0:10:43I do, I have other colleagues that look after High's ownership interests.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47And in this case that is Susan Smith.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50She says High had no choice but to remove the chairlifts.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55We got an engineer's report which condemned the infrastructure in the
0:10:55 > 0:11:01piste and our fundamental priority is that of health and safety,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05and it was for these reasons alone that we acted with pace
0:11:05 > 0:11:08to clear that legacy infrastructure.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12But Susan assures me that they are committed to
0:11:12 > 0:11:16winter sports, as she reveals an addition for the coming season.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Well, I am very excited today to tell you
0:11:18 > 0:11:20of a new snow factory trial which
0:11:20 > 0:11:25we are bringing forward in December and January along with the operator,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28and I have to say this is the first technology of its kind
0:11:28 > 0:11:30to be implemented in Scotland today.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Despite that announcement from Susan,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36the community trust still plan to
0:11:36 > 0:11:38pursue the asset transfer and Landward
0:11:38 > 0:11:41will continue to follow this story as the bid proceeds.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51While the campaign to take control of Cairngorm is at an early stage,
0:11:51 > 0:11:55figures show that groups across the country are heeding the call to take
0:11:55 > 0:11:57land into community ownership.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59We sent Anne to the Highlands,
0:11:59 > 0:12:03one of the areas that stands out as embracing the idea,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06to see how some of these new owners are getting along.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Nearly half a million acres of land in Scotland
0:12:13 > 0:12:15is now owned by community groups.
0:12:17 > 0:12:22In the Highlands alone, more than 120 different community groups have
0:12:22 > 0:12:27bought up parcels of land, and all of this is owned by one of them -
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Aigas Community Forest - and I can hear some work going on now.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38Sitting in Lower Strathglass, between Glen Affric and Beauly,
0:12:38 > 0:12:42the locals felt they could do a better job of managing the forest
0:12:42 > 0:12:49and bought the 640 acre site from the Forestry Commission in 2015.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Hello. Hello, how're you doing?
0:12:51 > 0:12:53- How are you?- It's quite noisy here, shall we go and have a chat?
0:12:53 > 0:12:55- Let's have a wee chat. - Have a walk around.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03Helge Hansen, born and brought up in the woods of Germany, is the forest
0:13:03 > 0:13:07manager here, and is responsible for implementing the community's plan to
0:13:07 > 0:13:10restructure and restore the woodland.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15OK, Helge, so what are we seeing here now?
0:13:15 > 0:13:19We are amongst old and middle-aged Scots pine trees and some of them
0:13:19 > 0:13:21have been planted round 1900.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27So what we try to encourage is to promote the native tree species,
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Scots pine, in here and try to get rid of some non-native conifers that
0:13:32 > 0:13:35have been planted over the last century, basically.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38You have an example of the type of trees you are trying to get rid of
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- over here.- Yes, just behind you, over there.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Well, this is a big imposing bit of machinery here.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Tell me a little bit about what exactly he is doing here.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56This whole area is designated ancient woodland, so what we are trying to do
0:13:56 > 0:13:59is to remove a small pocket of Sitka spruce in here.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03It has to be said that Sitka spruce is a very important commercial
0:14:03 > 0:14:04species in Scotland.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06We just don't want it right in this place in here,
0:14:06 > 0:14:11because there's only about 55,000 hectares of ancient woodland left in
0:14:11 > 0:14:16Scotland, which is less than 3% of the total wooded area.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23Removing these non-native trees and thinning the remaining Scots pines
0:14:23 > 0:14:25will create more space and light,
0:14:25 > 0:14:30hopefully encouraging back other members of Scotland's ancient woodland.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34But not all the horsepower doing the work is diesel driven.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41So you use modern machinery for the work that you do here,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44but also this fabulous beast?
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Yeah, obviously being a community woodland,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48we try to work with local people as well,
0:14:48 > 0:14:52and to give them employment opportunities to become involved with the forest.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56So the horse log assignment is a very good example of somebody who lives
0:14:56 > 0:14:59local, has trained recently to use horses.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02So a great opportunity for him to work with us.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05And he will also become very valuable for us if we do harvesting on steep
0:15:05 > 0:15:09slopes, where the modern machinery are struggling in terms of safety.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14So a horse can really be effective in these conditions.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- He's gorgeous.- He's a good horse, isn't he?- Yeah.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22And the felled timber doesn't go to waste.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Bigger logs are sold to the construction industry,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28whilst the community get their hands on the smaller ones.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34This is part of our firewood business that we are starting at the moment.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37We have different sides of barks, like smaller barks,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40like people might come up to the forest and pick up their own barks.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44We also have large sized barks and we will deliver them.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47It's just basically adding value to the timber we have.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Now this is one of the biggest community forests in the whole of Scotland.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55What would be the benefits to the community of this type of thing?
0:15:55 > 0:15:59I think there was a very strong desire from the local people to get
0:15:59 > 0:16:00more engaged with this forest.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Some of the people that live in there, have actually planted trees in here, like,
0:16:04 > 0:16:0750 years ago, and they can still remember that.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10We also engage with two local primary schools.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12What we do with them is we take the kids into the forest,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15try to teach them what kind of species we have in here.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17But we also do fun stuff with them.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Does that take you back?
0:16:18 > 0:16:22I believe you are a man of the forest.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24That's true, actually. I grew up in the forest myself,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27and my father is a forest manager in Germany.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31I spent my childhood doing stuff, like fun stuff.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32It sounds magical.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33Yeah, it was magic, yeah.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I bet you didn't have midges in Germany.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38We don't have midges, we have ticks, but no midges.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Our bag's full. I'm not sure if I've got the muscle power to help you
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- lift it, but... - I'll give you a hand.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45And I think we should go for some lunch after that.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- I'll do that.- Oh, really?!
0:16:47 > 0:16:48Thank you.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Undoubtedly there is an awful lot of work required in this type of
0:16:56 > 0:16:59project. But, you never know, it might serve as inspiration
0:16:59 > 0:17:03for any communities who want to take up the challenge.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Now, making her way around the forest was pretty straightforward
0:17:09 > 0:17:14for Anne. But what if you are one of the nearly 200,000 visually impaired
0:17:14 > 0:17:19Scots who live in, or want to enjoy the countryside?
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Sam Little, who investigated disability access for Landward earlier in the
0:17:23 > 0:17:26year, is back to show us how it can be done,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29with a little help from man's, or woman's, best friend.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36This is Ziggy, a recent addition to my life.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Over the past few months we've bonded brilliantly,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44and we've become really good pals.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Ziggy, up. Good boy. Straight on.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50We've both been trained to deal with road,
0:17:50 > 0:17:54pavement and whatever an urban setting can throw at us.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58But as somebody who lives in a rural area and loves the great outdoors,
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I want to find out how we should be navigating the countryside,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04and what we need to consider when we're out and about.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11Ziggy did his basic training here at Scotland's only guide dog training centre in Forfar.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16- Hello!- How are you doing?
0:18:16 > 0:18:18I'm very well, thank you.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20- How are you?- Good to see you.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22- Will we head through? - Yes, let's do it.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27And trainer Gemma Findlay is going to show us how to get the most out
0:18:27 > 0:18:30- of the countryside. - So we're just going to head in here, just to your right.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32- I'll get that door for you.- OK.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Thank you. OK, Ziggy, straight on.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Oh, yeah, he definitely knows where he's going, doesn't he?
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Definitely. He's been here quite a lot.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42So if you just get him to sit.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Ziggy, sit. So what do we need to consider when we're out and about in
0:18:46 > 0:18:50the countryside, compared to working in the urban areas?
0:18:50 > 0:18:53In the countryside it is quite a bit different because
0:18:53 > 0:18:54there's a high level of distraction.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56There's going to be lots of animals,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58lots of smells that they just won't be familiar with.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01What we'll do is we'll have a chat about all of that when we get outside
0:19:01 > 0:19:05- and get into the country.- Ziggy, are you ready for the countryside?
0:19:09 > 0:19:14Yeah, you can tell he's taking in all those country smells. Good boy.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19OK, the first thing you need to bear in mind is that in the urban settings,
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Ziggy is trained to walk centrally in a pavement.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24We are on a road that has no pavement,
0:19:24 > 0:19:28so he's going to try to walk you in the centre of the road.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30You stick to the right-hand side,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33so you're walking towards the oncoming traffic.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Keep the lead in your right hand.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37You need to keep encouraging him to stay in to the right.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41So it's actually been quite nerve-racking walking up here,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44because you're not sure if a car is going to come.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46I'm surprised at how good he is doing.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48He has been a really good boy today.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51He has, especially when we've got distractions.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Ziggy, sit. Like these horses.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Yeah. If he does sit, make sure his tail is off-road,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58even if you just shift his tail in.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02The last thing you would want is for his tail to be run over.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06So what do you need to do to ensure that a guide dog reacts like this
0:20:06 > 0:20:08when he comes across a farm animal?
0:20:08 > 0:20:09When he comes into early training,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11his guide dog trainer will have done country walks with him,
0:20:11 > 0:20:13and she'll have done quite a few of them.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16There's a couple of farms that we do use that often have cattle in the
0:20:16 > 0:20:19cow sheds, depending on the time of the year.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20Can we go to one today?
0:20:20 > 0:20:21We can go to one today, yeah.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23OK, brilliant. Let's go.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28So you've got cows on your left.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31And he's not that fussed by them at all, which is really good.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- Good boy.- I definitely don't feel as relaxed.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39There's a lot more obstacles and the terrain is really uneven as well.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44- Yeah.- I do definitely feel the difference in him here,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46compared to when we were walking on the country road.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50You are going to have the animals.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51You've also possibly got a farm dog.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55And, you know, they might often have a cat as well.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Some dogs aren't very good with cats.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59They might be great with horses, but not with cats.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01So these are the kind of things you need to consider.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03And also your traffic.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06You've got your tractors, your pickups,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08all this different stuff that you could come across.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12So it is possible to live in the countryside and have a guide dog?
0:21:12 > 0:21:17Absolutely. You can live an independent life with a guide dog if you were to live rural.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Well, it's obvious we've still got a bit more training to do.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26But being able to get out and enjoy the countryside safely
0:21:26 > 0:21:29gives Ziggy and I a whole new sense of freedom,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32independence and the chance to get our feet a wee bit muddy.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34OK, Ziggy? Up.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46Earlier in the programme, Arlene and I began our journey round the
0:21:46 > 0:21:50South West 300, trying to manage it in an electric car.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53With all its unfamiliar doodahs.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59This is the new thing, isn't it, because we are in the B mode.
0:21:59 > 0:22:00Am I in B? No, I'm not.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- Oh, you're not, you're in D. - SHE GASPS
0:22:03 > 0:22:06We've already been sightseeing and now we're heading away from the
0:22:06 > 0:22:08coast for a bit of exercise.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14- Where is it we're going?- Um...
0:22:14 > 0:22:16- Kirroughtree.- Is that how you pronounce it?
0:22:16 > 0:22:17Kirroughtree. Kirroughtree.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19- I don't know.- Kirroughtree.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Kirroughtree it is, for a spot of cycling.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28I haven't mountain biked since I was about 13.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33The last time I mountain biked I came off and knocked myself out.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36So tips, advice, on how to do it safely?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Yeah. Keep your head above your ankles and you'll be fine.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Kirroughtree is one of the 7Stanes mountain biking trails on
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Forestry Commission land across the south of Scotland.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59There are a range of routes here and it's the perfect antidote to sitting
0:22:59 > 0:23:00in the car.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15These trails attract visitors from all over and it's hoped
0:23:15 > 0:23:18the South West 300 will push numbers up.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22And for the less fit amongst us, there is battery-powered help here,
0:23:22 > 0:23:23as well as in the car.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30So, Sam, owner of Brake Pad Bike Shop here at Kirroughtree,
0:23:30 > 0:23:32which is just fantastic,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35I've had an absolute blast going round some of the trails here.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Thank you very much. And, given that I haven't been on a bike for a very
0:23:38 > 0:23:40long time, I thought I did quite well.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Might have something to do with the bike though.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46- Well, this is Trek's Powerfly, which is an e-bike.- Ah.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49And the ebike is power assisted.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52It's not just a press button and you go, you have to pedal,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55but you can adjust the assistance that you get, the level of assistance,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57so it's battery-operated.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00How much of a difference will the marketing of the South West 300
0:24:00 > 0:24:02- make to you?- Oh, tonnes.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04We want as many visitors here as possible.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09It's such a beautiful area and the more the merrier.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14We cater for events at the moment and lots of people,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19roughly about 75,000 people here a year, so having more people,
0:24:19 > 0:24:22- the more the merrier. - Well, thank you very much indeed.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25I'm definitely hooked on one of these, but I need to go and find Dougie because he
0:24:25 > 0:24:27was supposed to be joining us and I've no idea where he is,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29so I'm going to leave you with this.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31- Thank you very much.- Thank you, Sam. And I'm heading out this way.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- Glad you had fun.- Thanks so much. - Cheers.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38While Arlene has been enjoying the pleasures of Kirroughtree,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40I've been doing a bit of pedalling on my own.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43Did you have a nice time?
0:24:43 > 0:24:45I did, I had a great time, thanks.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- What are you doing?- Somebody had to charge the battery while you were
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- having fun.- Have you been at it all this time?
0:24:52 > 0:24:53You could say that, yes.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00If only the car was as easy to charge as it is to fool Arlene.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04Hopefully though the battery has enough left in it to get us to our
0:25:04 > 0:25:08stop for the night, but it is going to be close.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09- Oh.- What did it say there?
0:25:09 > 0:25:11A warning light has come on.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13- A low battery light.- Oh, no.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16It's flashing at 16.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19How far is it to Newton Stewart?
0:25:19 > 0:25:20I don't know.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25This, I believe, is what they call range anxiety.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Well-known to electric car owners.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34That is really off-putting, seeing that thing flashing at you.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43However, we do make it to Newton Stewart,
0:25:43 > 0:25:46but once we get there we've still to find a charging point.
0:25:49 > 0:25:50100 metres.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54We've arrived at the destination.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56- No, we haven't.- No.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57- No.- Oh, there it is.- Can you see it?
0:25:57 > 0:25:58Yes, I can. Left, left, left.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Yes, yes, yes.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02And fortunately there's a free space.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06Oh.
0:26:09 > 0:26:10SHE SIGHS
0:26:10 > 0:26:13'But the day is far from over.'
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Right.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20So, to start session, present your...
0:26:20 > 0:26:22What?
0:26:22 > 0:26:26'Accessing the charge point isn't as easy as we were told.'
0:26:27 > 0:26:28No. No.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31What?
0:26:31 > 0:26:32That didn't work.
0:26:32 > 0:26:36'With the number to pay not working, we tried the helpline,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38'which is less than helpful.'
0:26:38 > 0:26:43What's the number for "Oh, my goodness this is a disaster",
0:26:43 > 0:26:45what's that number? 01912...
0:26:45 > 0:26:46Have you got a pen?
0:26:46 > 0:26:48THEY LAUGH
0:26:48 > 0:26:4901...
0:26:49 > 0:26:53'As night falls, the frustration rises.'
0:26:53 > 0:26:57- OVER PHONE:- ..The recharging session has taken place.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00- Oh, God.- If you'd like us to text you the location of the nearest charge point
0:27:00 > 0:27:03to use this service, please press five.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06If you would like to speak to us, please call the
0:27:06 > 0:27:08helpline number on the charge point.
0:27:08 > 0:27:09We're phoning...
0:27:09 > 0:27:12We've phoned the helpline number twice.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14- You wouldn't want to be doing this in a rain storm, would you?- No.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17'While we endeavour to plug in our car,
0:27:17 > 0:27:18'there's just time to tell you
0:27:18 > 0:27:21'what's coming up on next week's programme.'
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Euan is on the Cromarty Firth
0:27:24 > 0:27:26to see the results of a wildlife experiment.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28It's very, very much like a marsh.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33It's a real surprise to us about how quickly that's come about.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Ann meets scientists uncovering the story hidden in the soil.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42So this is an indicator that humans have altered the soils and have used
0:27:42 > 0:27:44the soil and grown crops here.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48And Arlene and I try some cheese with a difference.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49How easy is it to milk a sheep?
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Oh, it's much easier because there's only two teats.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56But that's next time.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59How are we getting on back at Newton Stewart?
0:27:59 > 0:28:00I'm not chirpy any more.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02No, me neither.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Let's plug this in and let's see if this app works.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07If this baby doesn't work, I might swear.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Starting charging, this may take a moment.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15Come on!
0:28:18 > 0:28:19We've got a blue light in the car.
0:28:20 > 0:28:21It's working.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26So we will be continuing our journey on the South West 300
0:28:26 > 0:28:27next Monday.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Night-night.