Episode 1

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0:00:06 > 0:00:11Imagine living the good life as a 21st-century beachcomber.

0:00:11 > 0:00:13Getting really close to nature.

0:00:16 > 0:00:19Whoa! I've just spotted an otter.

0:00:21 > 0:00:24I'm Monty Halls and for six months, I'm swapping this...

0:00:26 > 0:00:29..for this, the west coast of Scotland.

0:00:31 > 0:00:33Look at that,

0:00:33 > 0:00:36just stunning.

0:00:36 > 0:00:39I've travelled the world as a marine biologist and diver.

0:00:39 > 0:00:40But for me, there's one place

0:00:40 > 0:00:43that is more beautiful than any other place on the planet

0:00:43 > 0:00:46and it's here, the west coast of Scotland.

0:00:49 > 0:00:50Yeah!

0:00:50 > 0:00:55I've dreamed of escaping the city for years and finally, I'm doing just that.

0:00:55 > 0:00:59Whoa! God, that's cold!

0:00:59 > 0:01:03I want to see if the reality lives up to the dream.

0:01:03 > 0:01:06Reubs!

0:01:06 > 0:01:10This is where the road ends, the adventure begins,

0:01:10 > 0:01:14and the nearest supermarket is over an hour away.

0:01:17 > 0:01:20Welcome to Beachcomber Cottage.

0:01:37 > 0:01:43It's early April. I've rented out my Bristol house and driven 500 miles north,

0:01:43 > 0:01:45swapping the bustle of the city

0:01:45 > 0:01:49for the peace of the most remote coastline in Britain.

0:01:52 > 0:01:55There's a lovely moment when you try and do something like this

0:01:55 > 0:01:59and it's this moment right now, I think, where it's all ahead of you,

0:01:59 > 0:02:02and it's all your dreams,

0:02:02 > 0:02:06and it's all stuff that's happening in front of you

0:02:06 > 0:02:08and it's a really sweet moment.

0:02:12 > 0:02:15The journey up here was just an epic.

0:02:15 > 0:02:18The dog's really cheesed off. I think the dog thought

0:02:18 > 0:02:21it was going for a walk when I put it in the car,

0:02:21 > 0:02:23and 15 hours later, we're still going.

0:02:23 > 0:02:28But the nice thing about that is you really feel the remoteness of it,

0:02:28 > 0:02:31because you've done every mile yourself.

0:02:35 > 0:02:38I think I've found a great place to stay,

0:02:38 > 0:02:41but I've only seen photographs,

0:02:41 > 0:02:44so this is a real leap of faith.

0:02:44 > 0:02:46I've always held in my mind's eye

0:02:46 > 0:02:50a perfect vision of what I want from this cottage.

0:02:50 > 0:02:53And the vision is a big sweep of white sand,

0:02:53 > 0:02:58some hills in the background, the sea, a little bit of isolation,

0:02:58 > 0:03:03not too isolated, but a little bit of isolation with a community nearby, that I can get to know.

0:03:03 > 0:03:06But I'm not going to lose that little vision I've got.

0:03:09 > 0:03:12This is when it starts to get gnarly.

0:03:20 > 0:03:22This is Bealach Na Ba,

0:03:22 > 0:03:26the pass of the cattle and it's the highest road in Britain.

0:03:26 > 0:03:29It's the highest mountain pass in Britain. It's over 2,000 feet.

0:03:38 > 0:03:42They used to actually bring the cattle up through this pass.

0:03:42 > 0:03:44The aim was to do ten miles a day,

0:03:44 > 0:03:51so imagine doing ten miles a day over this terrain, working your cattle, trying to keep them going.

0:03:51 > 0:03:54These were hardy folk, tough folk.

0:03:57 > 0:03:59Nearly at the top.

0:04:03 > 0:04:05Look at that,

0:04:05 > 0:04:07just stunning.

0:04:12 > 0:04:14The funny thing is it's a view in the British Isles.

0:04:14 > 0:04:16You don't expect that in the British Isles.

0:04:16 > 0:04:21It looks like New Zealand or Greenland or Scandinavia. Stunning.

0:04:21 > 0:04:23Stunning.

0:04:28 > 0:04:31What do you think, Reubs? Look at that view. Look at that!

0:04:31 > 0:04:32Views are lost on dogs.

0:04:36 > 0:04:37Come on, Reuben!

0:04:39 > 0:04:41Reubs!

0:04:43 > 0:04:45Come on!

0:04:45 > 0:04:50Up until about ten days ago, he was actually in a rescue centre.

0:04:50 > 0:04:52Oh, ha-ha!

0:04:52 > 0:04:56So his whole life has consisted of a little, kind of, concrete pen.

0:04:56 > 0:04:58That's not right at all, is it?

0:04:58 > 0:04:59That's just not right at all.

0:05:01 > 0:05:04That's just all wrong.

0:05:04 > 0:05:06Imagine the sensory overload he's going through at the moment.

0:05:06 > 0:05:08Reuben!

0:05:08 > 0:05:11Reuben!

0:05:11 > 0:05:13What on earth are you doing?

0:05:13 > 0:05:18I'm over 2,000 feet here, and it's still in the grip of winter,

0:05:18 > 0:05:22but I'm heading in that direction, to a community called Applecross

0:05:22 > 0:05:27and Applecross is down at sea level, so hopefully it will be spring down there.

0:05:27 > 0:05:29Come on, Reubs! Come on! Let's go.

0:05:30 > 0:05:32HE WHISTLES A TUNE

0:05:39 > 0:05:43Just think of the contrast, between what I can see out

0:05:43 > 0:05:46the window now and what I could see out of the window

0:05:46 > 0:05:48five minutes ago when I was twisting down the pass.

0:05:48 > 0:05:51And the daffs are springing up

0:05:51 > 0:05:54and if you look, there's lambs in the fields.

0:05:54 > 0:05:56It's spring in Applecross.

0:06:04 > 0:06:07We've got the sea in the background, the Isle of Skye there

0:06:07 > 0:06:12and I am beside myself about hopefully what I'm going to see round the corner.

0:06:15 > 0:06:19So this is... I'm just coming to it now.

0:06:19 > 0:06:22Mow down a couple of walkers.

0:06:25 > 0:06:26That...

0:06:26 > 0:06:28I think is it.

0:06:28 > 0:06:32That tiny, little rundown cottage.

0:06:32 > 0:06:35Here we are, dog. Home sweet home.

0:06:35 > 0:06:37The dog's lost the will to live.

0:06:37 > 0:06:39He's had enough of Radio 4 for 15 hours.

0:06:39 > 0:06:42This is it. Come on then. Come on, Reubs!

0:06:42 > 0:06:44Come on. Good boy. Good boy.

0:06:47 > 0:06:51In my mind's eye, how I dreamed it would look,

0:06:51 > 0:06:53this is pretty much it really.

0:06:53 > 0:06:57Reubs! Reubs, you ready? You see that?

0:06:57 > 0:07:00That's the sea. Go on then, Reubs! Go on.

0:07:00 > 0:07:02Go on. Come on. Come on. Come on.

0:07:02 > 0:07:04All I can see right now is the roof

0:07:04 > 0:07:08and it does look amazingly run down.

0:07:10 > 0:07:14I mean, obviously there's a huge amount of work to be done to it.

0:07:14 > 0:07:17But for me that is part of it, a little bit.

0:07:18 > 0:07:20What do you think, Reubs?

0:07:22 > 0:07:24Looks as though it's been shelled.

0:07:24 > 0:07:27A fairly major naval barrage. Reubs!

0:07:27 > 0:07:29What you doing?

0:07:29 > 0:07:31Reubs, come on.

0:07:31 > 0:07:33Come on.

0:07:33 > 0:07:38My idea is to get livestock here and try and carve a living here,

0:07:38 > 0:07:41and the raw material, the basic template is here.

0:07:41 > 0:07:45And it's just up to me to try and build on it.

0:07:45 > 0:07:48Right, let's go and have a little look round the estate.

0:07:48 > 0:07:51That's the end of the cowshed and the thing you'll notice

0:07:51 > 0:07:54is the absence of a window.

0:07:54 > 0:07:58The maddening part of that, imagine living there,

0:07:58 > 0:08:00and not being able to see that.

0:08:00 > 0:08:04This channel is a super highway for some of the giants of the ocean -

0:08:04 > 0:08:07things like orcas, basking sharks and minke whales.

0:08:07 > 0:08:12I want to be a position where I can see stuff appearing and actually nip out and have a little look at it,

0:08:12 > 0:08:15so I want a window, that's the number one priority.

0:08:17 > 0:08:20The land belongs to the Applecross Estate.

0:08:20 > 0:08:25Before I can touch a thing, I've got to convince this man, Mike Summers.

0:08:25 > 0:08:27Hello, Mike. Nice to meet you. I'm Monty.

0:08:27 > 0:08:31'I am nervous about how locals will react to me as a wannabe crofter.

0:08:31 > 0:08:35'So this is my first chance to make a good impression.'

0:08:35 > 0:08:38Mike, what WOULDN'T you like me to do to it?

0:08:38 > 0:08:42Well, I'd say no to your window in the gable.

0:08:42 > 0:08:45It's a big job, so...I wouldn't tackle it.

0:08:45 > 0:08:49I think I knew it was a bit of a forlorn request, you know.

0:08:49 > 0:08:53When I stepped outside and saw the view, I was like, it's stunning.

0:08:53 > 0:08:57People built houses for shelter in the old days and the view

0:08:57 > 0:08:59was for looking at outside.Yeah.

0:08:59 > 0:09:03Nobody sat in the house looking at the views like they do these days.

0:09:03 > 0:09:07If you couldn't put a window in, is there anything you could...

0:09:07 > 0:09:10albeit temporarily, stick on the outside?

0:09:10 > 0:09:14I mean, I'm not talking a massive conservatory!

0:09:14 > 0:09:17Yeah! I just think...

0:09:17 > 0:09:19'This isn't exactly going well.'

0:09:19 > 0:09:22And in terms of animals, what would you suggest might be...?

0:09:22 > 0:09:27Pigs might do well in that pen there. And I was thinking of some chickens.

0:09:27 > 0:09:29Hens. We call them here.

0:09:29 > 0:09:30Hens.

0:09:30 > 0:09:38So, chickens are called hens and cowsheds don't have conservatories.

0:09:38 > 0:09:40So much to learn.

0:09:46 > 0:09:49The bay's about three miles along the coast from Applecross

0:09:49 > 0:09:52where I'm staying while the cottage is being converted.

0:09:56 > 0:10:00The beating heart of the village is the Applecross Inn.

0:10:00 > 0:10:06You get people coming here who have wanted to see, say, three things in Scotland.

0:10:06 > 0:10:12They've wanted to see Stirling Castle, Edinburgh and The Applecross Inn.

0:10:14 > 0:10:19It's a kind of old-style pub where the locals mix with the visitors.

0:10:19 > 0:10:23Do you know what the forecast is for the next few days?

0:10:23 > 0:10:25Is it?

0:10:25 > 0:10:27The fee of information is a dram,

0:10:27 > 0:10:29so you pay them the dram

0:10:29 > 0:10:32and suddenly whole world of how to catch fish opens up to you.

0:10:35 > 0:10:41But the moment I walked in, straightaway everyone was chatting, stroking Reuben,

0:10:41 > 0:10:45people coming up, having a natter, interested in what I was doing.

0:10:45 > 0:10:48So I think that's been really significant, because obviously

0:10:48 > 0:10:51I need a huge amount of labour, for what I'm doing,

0:10:51 > 0:10:53and there's no way I'm going to do this on my own.

0:10:53 > 0:10:58I'm going to rely 100% on local people helping me out.

0:11:00 > 0:11:04And the one person who can really help me find these people is Judy Fish.

0:11:04 > 0:11:08She's been the landlady here for 20 years.

0:11:08 > 0:11:12Can I have, er, a glass of red wine for Judy, please?

0:11:12 > 0:11:16For lots of various reasons we are the social centre.

0:11:16 > 0:11:21I do know everybody that lives in the village, because you care.

0:11:21 > 0:11:25I think everybody's a lot to give, everybody fits into Applecross in some way.

0:11:25 > 0:11:29Judy's assured me it won't take long to rally some workers.

0:11:38 > 0:11:42While she's spreading the word, Mike and I are starting

0:11:42 > 0:11:45on the transformation of Beachcomber Cottage.

0:11:45 > 0:11:50The short-term aim of this is to get in, then work from the inside out.

0:11:50 > 0:11:54The long-term aim is to get it running as a working small holding.

0:11:54 > 0:12:00It's a cracking spring day, it's perfect weather for doing this

0:12:00 > 0:12:05and we need to make hay while the sun shines, basically. So it's great fun.

0:12:05 > 0:12:09The controlled application of extreme violence.

0:12:15 > 0:12:19It's mid-April and I want to have the cottage ready by the end of the month.

0:12:25 > 0:12:27But things do keep getting in the way.

0:12:30 > 0:12:34Whilst I was coming down here this morning, I found something

0:12:34 > 0:12:38on the side of the road looking very, very sorry for itself.

0:12:38 > 0:12:41Now Reubs, be nice, be nice.

0:12:41 > 0:12:43Now, he's badly bust his wing.

0:12:43 > 0:12:46Reuben. Beautiful plumage and everything.

0:12:46 > 0:12:48You see the red dot there, the red dot on the bill.

0:12:48 > 0:12:50That's for the young to peck at.

0:12:50 > 0:12:53What do you think, Reubs? He's lovely, isn't he?

0:12:53 > 0:12:56That is not lunch, incidentally.

0:12:56 > 0:13:00So we'll see what we can do for him and you know, hopefully turn him around.

0:13:00 > 0:13:04But he's badly broken a wing, it was really trailing.

0:13:14 > 0:13:16Reuben!

0:13:16 > 0:13:18What on earth are you doing?

0:13:19 > 0:13:24What the gull needs is a good feed, and happily there's loads of limpets on the beach.

0:13:26 > 0:13:29The correct technique to get a limpet off a rock,

0:13:29 > 0:13:32is you've got to creep up on it and give it a good sharp kick.

0:13:35 > 0:13:39The Latin name is Patella vulgata and the reason is

0:13:39 > 0:13:42they're the same shape as your kneecap, the patella.

0:13:42 > 0:13:47A shell is a little miracle of engineering because it's designed to resist wave action

0:13:48 > 0:13:54and engineers have looked at that design and realised it's the optimum design for dissipating power.

0:13:54 > 0:13:57The other thing, if you look underneath.

0:13:57 > 0:13:58It's got the foot here,

0:13:58 > 0:14:03but it's also got a radula which is like a little conveyer belt of teeth

0:14:03 > 0:14:08that eats into the rock and creates a home for them, a place that's exactly their shape.

0:14:08 > 0:14:11It sits in its scar, then goes off

0:14:11 > 0:14:14on little forays around the beach

0:14:14 > 0:14:20looking for algae and things like that to eat, and always finds its way back to the same scar.

0:14:22 > 0:14:27And for decades, scientists had no idea how these things always found

0:14:27 > 0:14:31their way back to the same scar, and it turns out it's the slime.

0:14:31 > 0:14:36They can tell by crossing their slime trail which direction it is. They cross the outgoing slime trail

0:14:36 > 0:14:40and say, "That's going that way, so that way's home," and back they go.

0:14:40 > 0:14:44So, an amazing little animal, which I'm about to feed to the gull.

0:14:44 > 0:14:46Good boy, Reubs, good boy.

0:14:48 > 0:14:53I'm sure there's a more rugsy-tugsy, SAS survival method of getting

0:14:53 > 0:14:56your limpet out than using a pair of small nail scissors but...

0:14:57 > 0:15:00if he's feeding, it will be a really good sign.

0:15:02 > 0:15:05I'm just trying to drop it into him. There you go.

0:15:07 > 0:15:10Whoa! Nearly took my finger off!

0:15:10 > 0:15:14This is a good moment to point out that I'm not some survival expert

0:15:14 > 0:15:18who can rub two squirrels together and make a fire

0:15:18 > 0:15:22and knit my own pants from kelp and things like that.

0:15:22 > 0:15:24Here we are, gull.

0:15:24 > 0:15:26Good grief! Just gone!

0:15:26 > 0:15:29One of the interesting things about these gulls is their head

0:15:29 > 0:15:33actually hinges way past where the beak stops.

0:15:33 > 0:15:35You see the whole head opens.

0:15:35 > 0:15:40These guys, they'll eat a mackerel almost as big as themselves.

0:15:41 > 0:15:44Reubs! You'll get your nose bitten.

0:15:45 > 0:15:48Oh! Ha-ha!

0:16:03 > 0:16:08The Western Isles is an amazing archipelago of islands and so is the West Coast.

0:16:09 > 0:16:12The West coast is these sets of convoluted bays, inlets and things.

0:16:12 > 0:16:16And the best way to get around is by boat, unequivocally.

0:16:16 > 0:16:18I'm off to see a guy called Pete,

0:16:18 > 0:16:23who runs whale and dolphin spotting tours, as it were,

0:16:23 > 0:16:28who's got a rigid inflatable boat that I might buy off him.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31Hello, Pete, how's it going? Not bad.Good.

0:16:31 > 0:16:34Is that the rib, Pete? Yes.Ah. Excellent.

0:16:34 > 0:16:36Ah, it looks in great nick.

0:16:36 > 0:16:39Well, it's a good size. You can do everything you want with it.

0:16:39 > 0:16:42Perfect. Well, I'll take it.

0:16:42 > 0:16:46Well, what's the plan? Do we have a plan?No.No? Let's just get out there and thrash around in it

0:16:46 > 0:16:50and see how we get on and then we'll go and negotiate in the pub.

0:16:50 > 0:16:52Yeah, all right then.

0:16:52 > 0:16:57Don't underestimate the incredible range of wildlife that's right on our doorstep.

0:16:57 > 0:17:01Besides minke whales, orcas, dolphins and basking sharks,

0:17:01 > 0:17:07the west coast of Scotland has an array of reef animals, birds and of course otters.

0:17:07 > 0:17:10You really can't hope to see them without a boat.

0:17:10 > 0:17:13It's even better to have the local knowledge of someone like Pete.

0:17:13 > 0:17:15Minke whales are the main ones we get.

0:17:15 > 0:17:20We've had the odd humpback but the main time for whales really is mid-June, July and August.

0:17:20 > 0:17:23Humpbacks like to tail-slap. They've got very big white front fins

0:17:23 > 0:17:26and they like to slap. They like to play a lot.

0:17:26 > 0:17:28They call them Megaptera novaeangliae,

0:17:28 > 0:17:32the Winged New Englander, because they're absolutely huge.

0:17:32 > 0:17:36OK? You ready?I'm completely ready.

0:17:42 > 0:17:47We're going to give it a bit of welly just to see how the boat handles the sea.

0:18:01 > 0:18:03Fantastic.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06It's a great bit of design, the rib. They're fantastic.

0:18:08 > 0:18:13I'm trying to be all cool, calm and phlegmatic about the entire thing,

0:18:13 > 0:18:18but I defy anyone to drive around out here, such a stunning location,

0:18:18 > 0:18:22and not have a big cheeky grin on their face.

0:18:38 > 0:18:42There's a great example for you, some seals sitting over here.

0:18:42 > 0:18:47These fellows are common seals - the grey seals have a much chunkier head.

0:18:47 > 0:18:49These have a bit of a Labrador head.

0:18:49 > 0:18:52Well, it's a big group this. This little group never used to be here.

0:18:52 > 0:18:54It's getting bigger. Is this a breeding group?

0:18:54 > 0:18:59Well, a lot of what these ones tend to do is, they have their pups Around the tail end of June, July

0:19:00 > 0:19:03and then they form these little kind of creches everywhere.Yeah.

0:19:03 > 0:19:05So they're very protective. There's no male here at the minute.

0:19:05 > 0:19:07The males are very big.

0:19:07 > 0:19:09And this is quite a new colony? It's getting bigger.

0:19:09 > 0:19:13There's always been some here, but there's got to be 50 or 60 here now.

0:19:13 > 0:19:16Yeah.They've got no natural predators, of course.No? Of course.

0:19:16 > 0:19:21You get the odd killer whale, but... Supposedly, if you sing to them they come quite near.

0:19:21 > 0:19:22What do you sing to them, Pete? Me? I leave that to my passengers. That's up to you, you see.

0:19:22 > 0:19:26What do you sing to them, Pete? Me? I leave that to my passengers. That's up to you, you see.

0:19:26 > 0:19:29Any number by Seal? I think they quite like that.

0:19:40 > 0:19:45I'm not sure I needed too much convincing to buy the boat

0:19:45 > 0:19:49but it's a useful tool for fishing and travelling around the islands.

0:19:53 > 0:19:56Right now, the priority is getting a roof on the cottage

0:19:56 > 0:19:57and moving in.

0:20:16 > 0:20:19Basically it's all happening at the moment.

0:20:21 > 0:20:24So we've got all the timber being delivered.

0:20:24 > 0:20:28It's going to put flesh on the bones.

0:20:31 > 0:20:36The pubs proved a great recruiting ground for all the skills I need.

0:20:36 > 0:20:40And while the guys aren't helping out for free they are continuing a local tradition

0:20:40 > 0:20:44where everybody helps each other out to build their houses.

0:20:49 > 0:20:50Here's the team.

0:20:50 > 0:20:55Mike One, you've already met, and then there's Mike Two, a local mountain guide and kayak instructor.

0:20:55 > 0:20:58I can certainly see some trips with him in the future.

0:20:58 > 0:20:59Not even a squeak.

0:20:59 > 0:21:06And Andy the biker. He and his family came here on holiday and somehow never left.

0:21:06 > 0:21:09And have you ever nailed yourself with a nail gun?

0:21:09 > 0:21:13Yes. Yes, a few weeks ago I nailed these two fingers together.

0:21:13 > 0:21:16It's been a hundred miles from the nearest hospital.

0:21:16 > 0:21:18It's a do-it-yourself job.

0:21:18 > 0:21:21Did you use some bad words? Oh, yeah.

0:21:21 > 0:21:25'As if on cue, Mike Two reports in with the first injury.

0:21:25 > 0:21:27'He's cut his finger on a shard of glass.'

0:21:27 > 0:21:30So if you want to slip your clothes off and, er...

0:21:30 > 0:21:32Now this is going to sting like...

0:21:35 > 0:21:37You'll get a lollipop after this.

0:21:37 > 0:21:43This is obviously quite a minor injury although obviously Mike's making a colossal fuss of it,

0:21:43 > 0:21:46But, serious injuries for the crofters of old -

0:21:46 > 0:21:49and if you think about it was a really physical lifestyle,

0:21:49 > 0:21:52they were managing stock, they were putting these walls up.

0:21:52 > 0:21:54So yeah, injuries in the days of yore,

0:21:54 > 0:21:57in the crofting, were very serious, very serious indeed.

0:21:57 > 0:22:01You know, a broken ankle, while you're out with the stock, potentially life threatening.

0:22:06 > 0:22:09I did get my way with the extension but the experts

0:22:09 > 0:22:12will get on better without me and Reuben getting in the way.

0:22:19 > 0:22:23A hugely significant thing for the livestock is a good water supply.

0:22:23 > 0:22:25Pigs in particular drink a lot of water.

0:22:25 > 0:22:28Now interestingly, the whole area down there,

0:22:28 > 0:22:30we haven't been able to find a water supply

0:22:30 > 0:22:33so I've come up here and I'm actually outside the fence now.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36I've found this burn that runs down, this little stream

0:22:36 > 0:22:40that runs down and I've dug a well, kind of dug a well,

0:22:40 > 0:22:43but you just get down to bed rock so quickly here

0:22:43 > 0:22:48so all I've done here is create a, essentially a large muddy puddle, which is slowly filling up and then

0:22:48 > 0:22:55hopefully, the really exciting thing about this, is this is higher than the fang and with any luck I'll be

0:22:55 > 0:23:01able to create a pipe system, a guttering system, that actually gets water down to the fang.

0:23:01 > 0:23:04Reub loves it! It's like a little Jacuzzi for Reubs.

0:23:04 > 0:23:07He's been in it relentlessly. Reubs!

0:23:07 > 0:23:10Reubs! Out, out, out! Good boy.

0:23:25 > 0:23:29The roof's started to go on, and this has all happened quite quickly.

0:23:29 > 0:23:32The lads are working really quickly and these sheets will go on.

0:23:32 > 0:23:35And as soon as the sheets go on you've got a proper little haven.

0:23:35 > 0:23:37I can't wait. Can't wait.

0:23:47 > 0:23:50Certainly, in terms of the build, we're getting to

0:23:50 > 0:23:54the last stages of the fundamental things of getting me in.

0:23:54 > 0:23:57I've got to say, it's been an. amazing effort by everyone locally.

0:23:57 > 0:24:02They've all just come down here and helped me out and it's in the finest traditions of crofting

0:24:02 > 0:24:07And I've really grateful, I'm really touched that everyone's helped out so much.

0:24:08 > 0:24:12So what I'm going to do, is to throw a little party and again,

0:24:12 > 0:24:15there's a long tradition in that, it's the topping-off ceremony

0:24:15 > 0:24:19when the roof's on for the first time and someone moves in.

0:24:19 > 0:24:25The tradition is that you get everyone together and celebrate so we'll get a bit of seafood

0:24:25 > 0:24:31and do a big old cook-up, get out on the shore there and toast the new place, but it's been a great effort.

0:24:48 > 0:24:51It's been a completely chaotic few days.

0:24:51 > 0:24:53Come on, Reubs.

0:24:53 > 0:24:55But the shell is there now.

0:24:55 > 0:25:02So I can start basically, getting odds and bobs, down here and pretty much moving in, this is it.

0:25:02 > 0:25:05This by the way, is full of Reuben's toys.

0:25:10 > 0:25:13Reubs, you're not making this easy.

0:25:13 > 0:25:15It's quite nice to do this actually.

0:25:15 > 0:25:18When it's really, really raw, er, it's like camping

0:25:18 > 0:25:21in your back garden on the back lawn when you are a kid.

0:25:21 > 0:25:23Can you remember how exciting that was?

0:25:26 > 0:25:29Right, you may recall the gull with the broken wing, poor old fella.

0:25:29 > 0:25:32So, I just thought I'd let you know how all that turned out,

0:25:32 > 0:25:37and if you don't want to know the result, look away now.

0:25:37 > 0:25:42Sadly, Gazza the Gull is following the great trawler in the sky, because the vet took one look at him

0:25:43 > 0:25:46and said no, the wings just completely broken and there we are.

0:25:46 > 0:25:49One of those things, it's very sad, but we tried

0:25:49 > 0:25:51and we gave him an extra couple of days and when I got back,

0:25:51 > 0:25:57one of the locals had very kindly given me a Gazza the Gull substitute cos they could see I was pining.

0:25:57 > 0:26:02So I'm just going to stick him up on the shelf there, he'll have a place of honour.

0:26:02 > 0:26:06That will be Gazza the Gull's place.

0:26:14 > 0:26:15What a spot, hey.

0:26:15 > 0:26:21With that cottage behind me, that view in front of me and the dog over there.

0:26:22 > 0:26:28So this is a very special moment to finally be in Beachcomber Cottage, this night.

0:26:28 > 0:26:31You just couldn't ask for a better night, could you?

0:26:31 > 0:26:37And the thing that really comes through on a night like this is you're anything but alone here.

0:26:38 > 0:26:43There's cormorants out there, I've been watching cormorants and seals coming past checking you out.

0:26:43 > 0:26:43What's that, Reubs? Reubs? And a stag lives up the top here, saw a couple of stags.

0:26:43 > 0:26:48What's that, Reubs? Reubs? And a stag lives up the top here, saw a couple of stags.

0:26:50 > 0:26:53And I think there's moments like this that you look back on,

0:26:53 > 0:26:56when the times are hard and you just think, wow, it's great.

0:27:09 > 0:27:14It's my first meal, and I'm completely alone, and everyone's gone.

0:27:14 > 0:27:18I know I should be eating whelks and winkles and foraging and things,

0:27:18 > 0:27:21but instead I made myself a bacon sandwich.

0:27:21 > 0:27:24In fact, I made myself two bacon sandwiches,

0:27:24 > 0:27:28went to get something, and Reuben nicked one of them.

0:27:28 > 0:27:33So he's in the Land Rover having a little think about himself at the moment. But this one's delicious.

0:27:34 > 0:27:38So it's me and Reubs, alone with our thoughts.

0:27:53 > 0:27:57It's May, and the weather's fantastic.

0:27:57 > 0:28:00And to go with my new home, there's a whole new routine.

0:28:00 > 0:28:03I vowed to run up that sand dune three times a day.

0:28:03 > 0:28:06OK, here we go. Come on then, Reubs! Come on then, up, up, up.

0:28:25 > 0:28:27That's horrible.

0:28:27 > 0:28:29Hell of a view, though.

0:28:31 > 0:28:33That's my little empire.

0:28:33 > 0:28:37Amazing, you know. OK, come on, Reubs! Down we go!

0:28:37 > 0:28:41I'll just do a couple as obviously I don't want to wear the dog out.

0:28:44 > 0:28:48I'm going to jump in for a swim cos I haven't had a shower for three days.

0:28:55 > 0:29:01When I was back home in Bristol, my dream of escaping to the West Coast looked exactly like this.

0:29:04 > 0:29:07It really does feel like I've left the city behind.

0:29:10 > 0:29:14It's icy cold, but it's great, it's good for the soul.

0:29:14 > 0:29:18I'm sure it's good for the soul and I smell considerably nicer now

0:29:18 > 0:29:24than I did 30 seconds ago so great, great stuff, lovely feeling, life-enhancing.

0:29:24 > 0:29:26Isn't it, Reubs?

0:29:26 > 0:29:28Hey, hey?

0:29:28 > 0:29:32It's a great feeling to be in, but there's still a huge amount of graft ahead of me.

0:29:32 > 0:29:37I've got to plant the vegetables, got to get the animals in, and I've got to get the system to work.

0:29:39 > 0:29:41I'm only half way there.

0:29:41 > 0:29:44I want to be as self-sufficient as I can.

0:29:44 > 0:29:49I hope by the end of my time here, I'm really,

0:29:49 > 0:29:56pretty much, self-contained, maybe this, I can make this omelette again at the end and it be my own bacon.

0:29:57 > 0:30:00So, my next goal is getting some livestock.

0:30:00 > 0:30:06I need pigs for bacon, hens for eggs and of course, a vegetable patch for my own chives.

0:30:06 > 0:30:08Do you want some, Reubs?

0:30:08 > 0:30:11Go on, I'll give you a little bit. Because you've been a good dog.

0:30:11 > 0:30:18And if there was any left over, I could barter my produce for other things in the village.

0:30:18 > 0:30:22But for now the only thing I have to offer is my own labour

0:30:22 > 0:30:25and I'm in desperate need of some advice from the Applecross Estate.

0:30:33 > 0:30:41My first trade is at the beautifully restored Victorian garden, run by Peter and Jackie.

0:30:41 > 0:30:44Oh, well, he's looking pretty good.

0:30:44 > 0:30:47They've got me helping out with the manual labour.

0:30:52 > 0:30:57I'll be looking forward to going down and having a look, see what he's up to, yes.

0:30:57 > 0:30:58Oh, yes, sounds very exciting.

0:30:58 > 0:31:02The gardens are a brilliant place to come for a break

0:31:02 > 0:31:06and the caff does a fantastic cappuccino and walnut cake.

0:31:06 > 0:31:09Jackie, it's beautiful garden here.

0:31:09 > 0:31:10It really is a really peaceful spot.

0:31:14 > 0:31:16Shouldn't have had that...

0:31:16 > 0:31:18There you go!Shouldn't have had that piece of cake!

0:31:18 > 0:31:21It was the last piece of cake, coffee and walnut.

0:31:21 > 0:31:24Just goes straight to the bottom, apparently.

0:31:24 > 0:31:28I'm about to turn my garden around hopefully.

0:31:28 > 0:31:31Now, you would've been through the emotion

0:31:31 > 0:31:37of actually going from a fairly raw state to what you see around us now.

0:31:37 > 0:31:42Thinking about the position you're in, I'd have thought there's a lot of heatherand rushes

0:31:42 > 0:31:46and stuff like that, which is going to be quite difficult really.

0:31:46 > 0:31:50Are you going to have chickens?Yes. Oh, well, that's wonderful manure.

0:31:50 > 0:31:52Really?And are you going to have pigs?Yes.

0:31:52 > 0:31:55That will clear all that heather and stuff we were talking about.

0:31:55 > 0:31:58So I've heard. They are the constant gardeners, aren't they?

0:31:58 > 0:32:01You just put them onto a patch and the guy who actually owns the...

0:32:04 > 0:32:09I'm hoping to get my pigs and sheep from a couple on Skye I've been in touch with.

0:32:09 > 0:32:12As the crow flies, it's barely 30 miles,

0:32:12 > 0:32:15but by road, it's three times the distance.

0:32:24 > 0:32:27From where I am in Applecross, there's two ways to get across

0:32:27 > 0:32:29to the Isle of Skye.

0:32:29 > 0:32:32One is you take the coast road and if you're slightly dull,

0:32:32 > 0:32:35you then go over the bridge.

0:32:35 > 0:32:38But if you have a hint of romance or poetry in your soul,

0:32:38 > 0:32:40you take the ferry and that's where I'm going now.

0:32:47 > 0:32:52Is that it? That's it.

0:32:52 > 0:32:55It's a small, bijou ferry.

0:32:55 > 0:32:58This ferry has been here for a very, very long time indeed.

0:32:58 > 0:33:03Obviously, not that particular one but this little route has been a crossing point

0:33:03 > 0:33:07for 400 years so this an historic crossing that I'm about to do now.

0:33:12 > 0:33:16These ferries have always played a vital part in the Highlands way of life.

0:33:16 > 0:33:21The West Coast is fractured by long sea lochs so they're often the quickest and easiest way,

0:33:21 > 0:33:25sometimes to get just a few hundred metres away.

0:33:25 > 0:33:29Er, this is one of the few turntable ferries left still operating

0:33:29 > 0:33:32so it's a pretty historic and special bit of kit this.

0:33:36 > 0:33:40It's a flat, calm day but this crossing is still one the trickiest in Britain.

0:33:43 > 0:33:47This might look like just a simple, 800 metres crossing, but there's

0:33:47 > 0:33:53massive tidal movement, really races through here and these boys really have to know what they're doing.

0:33:54 > 0:33:56You can see as we go across we're pointing at 45 degrees

0:33:56 > 0:34:01and the reason is we're charging through this race. There's a seal just there, look!

0:34:02 > 0:34:07The amazing thing is that people used to drive cattle across here, so the cattle had to swim.

0:34:07 > 0:34:13In fact they went from Skye across to the mainland and there's a rock just around the corner there

0:34:13 > 0:34:17called Calf Rock and what's thought is that

0:34:17 > 0:34:21they'd actually row a calf across, put him on the rock there and the

0:34:21 > 0:34:27calf would moo its little heart out and the rest of the herd would hear it and then start swimming across.

0:34:27 > 0:34:30So I'm following in some very, very ancient footsteps.

0:34:50 > 0:34:53You've only got to take one look at this countryside and this

0:34:53 > 0:34:58scenery around me to realise that the animals here need to be really tough.

0:34:58 > 0:35:01And I'm off to see a couple of crofters called

0:35:01 > 0:35:06Keith and Rachel Jackson who raise pigs and they raise breeds

0:35:06 > 0:35:11that can actually deal with these sorts of terrain,

0:35:11 > 0:35:16and obviously I need to chat to them to find out what pigs I need to get down in my croft.

0:35:16 > 0:35:20I'm hoping Keith and Rachel will become my long term mentors

0:35:20 > 0:35:22and will keep an eye on my efforts over the course of the summer.

0:35:22 > 0:35:25Hello, hi there. How's it going?

0:35:25 > 0:35:27Hello, how are you?

0:35:27 > 0:35:29Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

0:35:29 > 0:35:31I'm Rachel. Hi there, good to meet you Rachel.

0:35:31 > 0:35:33Hi there, nice to meet you Keith.

0:35:33 > 0:35:35And that's Reuben in the car.

0:35:35 > 0:35:38He's cute. Yeah, would you like to say hello?

0:35:38 > 0:35:40Behave yourself, be nice.

0:35:40 > 0:35:42Hello.

0:35:42 > 0:35:49When I was looking for someone to buy pigs and sheep from, Keith's name came up time and time again.

0:35:49 > 0:35:52He and Rachel are hugely respected around here.

0:35:52 > 0:35:55The idea is that hopefully I'm going to buy a couple of pigs off Keith

0:35:55 > 0:35:59but he's going to talk me through the best breeds and the best ones to...

0:35:59 > 0:36:01Find one that likes you!Exactly.

0:36:01 > 0:36:02Exactly.

0:36:05 > 0:36:08These are not your normal pigs.

0:36:08 > 0:36:12Their father's a wild boar and their mother is a Tamworth,

0:36:12 > 0:36:15an equally ancient breed, just a little bit more sociable.

0:36:15 > 0:36:17It's an old traditional, British breed,

0:36:17 > 0:36:21not a commercial breed by any means but a flavoursome breed

0:36:21 > 0:36:25and a hardy breed and yeah, a docile pig.

0:36:25 > 0:36:30Easy pig to keep, friendly pig, she's having her breakfast and she's not speaking but...

0:36:30 > 0:36:33And in terms of actually keeping them, as in me keeping them,

0:36:33 > 0:36:37I'm coming at it from a layman's point of view almost...

0:36:37 > 0:36:38You learn very quickly.

0:36:41 > 0:36:43Keith picks me out two young females,

0:36:43 > 0:36:47which I'll fatten up and eat at the end of the summer.

0:36:51 > 0:36:53Next on the shopping list, sheep.

0:36:54 > 0:36:57Keith, these are the real

0:36:54 > 0:36:57deal, aren't they?

0:36:57 > 0:37:01The Soay sheep are the... Hard-arsed sheep?

0:37:01 > 0:37:02Hard-arsed sheep.

0:37:02 > 0:37:05That's the wild breed in them. These guys know there's predators around.

0:37:05 > 0:37:06They know there's eagles,

0:37:06 > 0:37:08and the commercial breeds don't.

0:37:08 > 0:37:10They haven't got that instinctive knowledge.

0:37:10 > 0:37:16Predators like eagles will pick off huge numbers of new lambs but not Soay lambs.

0:37:16 > 0:37:19Their natural instinct, they actually go away and hide their lambs

0:37:19 > 0:37:23in an environment where they can't be seen from above or whatever.

0:37:23 > 0:37:26The survival rate's phenomenal.

0:37:26 > 0:37:30They should be pretty bomb-proof. They're a, you know, native breed.

0:37:30 > 0:37:33Is that another way of saying idiot-proof?

0:37:33 > 0:37:34Idiot-proof? Yeah.Yeah.

0:37:34 > 0:37:37Soays are definitely my kind of sheep.

0:37:37 > 0:37:41So, I take a ram, six ewes and four of this year's lambs.

0:37:43 > 0:37:47So much knowledge tied up in Keith and Rachel because they've done all this themselves.

0:37:47 > 0:37:52Now what they've got here is a working croft and there's actually very few crofts around here,

0:37:52 > 0:37:55that the money is generated purely by the crofts and the livestock.

0:37:55 > 0:38:00Generally, the guys that run the crofts have other jobs as well but not Keith and Rachel.

0:38:00 > 0:38:02They've really pulled off something fantastic here.

0:38:02 > 0:38:05Keith kills and butchers all the family meat on the croft

0:38:05 > 0:38:08and they're virtually self-sufficient for food.

0:38:08 > 0:38:12If you want to work the land and you want to farm

0:38:12 > 0:38:14and you want to be successful, you have to work hard.

0:38:14 > 0:38:16Yeah, there's no shortcuts.

0:38:16 > 0:38:19No, no, there's not. You have to do things properly.

0:38:19 > 0:38:22You know, and that means hard work.

0:38:22 > 0:38:24I guess you get out what you put in, don't you?

0:38:24 > 0:38:30So if you're putting natural stuff in and you've got a contented animal, you know, has been

0:38:30 > 0:38:34raised as natural way as possible, of course, you're going to get some fairly decent meat.

0:38:34 > 0:38:37Good meat, which is hopefully what you will have, Monty.

0:38:37 > 0:38:40Yeah, of course. Of course.

0:38:40 > 0:38:45As the evening wears on, Keith and Rachel let me in on some of the secrets of pig husbandry.

0:38:45 > 0:38:48Feed them regularly.

0:38:45 > 0:38:48Feed them in the morning.

0:38:48 > 0:38:50You need to feed them at the same time.

0:38:50 > 0:38:52The same time every day.Every day. Right.

0:38:52 > 0:38:53And if you don't, they'll be...

0:38:53 > 0:38:56They'll come looking for you. They'll be shouting on you.

0:38:56 > 0:38:57Really?They'll be in your bedroom!

0:38:57 > 0:39:00And if you like, you can have like, lovey-dovey chats as well.

0:39:00 > 0:39:04You make nice noises with her and she'll take them as being nice noises.Yeah.

0:39:04 > 0:39:07And likes that, you know?Yeah!

0:39:07 > 0:39:11'Over the next five months, Keith and Rachel will be vital

0:39:11 > 0:39:16'to the success of my own croft and in the process become good friends.'

0:39:27 > 0:39:32I've literally just got up, got up about two minutes ago

0:39:32 > 0:39:33just to see the sun come up.

0:39:33 > 0:39:36You almost go back to old rhythms.

0:39:36 > 0:39:39You get woken up by lights, up by the sun.

0:39:43 > 0:39:45I can't think of a nicer place on earth,

0:39:45 > 0:39:47on the planet, to wake up.

0:40:01 > 0:40:06This is beyond how I imagined it.

0:40:06 > 0:40:11Er, I'm really enjoying the pace of this. You just can't rush it.

0:40:16 > 0:40:21One advantage of rising with the sun is seeing animals likered deer near the cottage.

0:40:21 > 0:40:25This is just before they headoff into the hills for the day.

0:40:25 > 0:40:29This is such an important time for the stags, the young stags,

0:40:29 > 0:40:33cos they're trying to take on as much food as possible

0:40:33 > 0:40:35to get big and strong,

0:40:35 > 0:40:38because we're only a few months awayfrom the rut

0:40:38 > 0:40:40when they'll have tofight for the females.

0:40:40 > 0:40:43They'll have to fight for the hinds.

0:40:43 > 0:40:48You can see them growing their antlers at the moment but these are velvet antlers,

0:40:48 > 0:40:53and they'll start shedding the velvet off thoseantlers leaving only the bone

0:40:53 > 0:40:56and it's really impressive to see the antlers.

0:40:56 > 0:40:59But actually it's thebody size and bulk of the red deer

0:40:59 > 0:41:02that's more important than the size of the antlers.

0:41:03 > 0:41:06These animals have been hunted by man throughout

0:41:06 > 0:41:09their evolutionary history,

0:41:09 > 0:41:14and all they associate with human beings is fear and death.

0:41:15 > 0:41:19So getting close to them is going to be really, really tricky.

0:41:28 > 0:41:30They're incredible skittish, you know.

0:41:30 > 0:41:33People in dark clothing creeping up on them,

0:41:33 > 0:41:36as far as they're concerned, means only one thing.

0:41:36 > 0:41:38Meanssomeone's trying to shoot them.

0:41:38 > 0:41:41The deer roam pretty much where theylike

0:41:41 > 0:41:42and that'll include my land

0:41:42 > 0:41:45if I don't build afence to keep them out.

0:41:45 > 0:41:48And if you want a deer fence, Bob's your man.

0:41:48 > 0:41:52Hi, Bob. How's it going? Allright.Good.

0:41:52 > 0:41:55So what would happen if this fence wasn't up

0:41:55 > 0:41:58and I started planting my crops, how long would they last?

0:41:58 > 0:42:01You would come out one morning and have nothing left.

0:42:01 > 0:42:04Really? Yeah. There's deer everywhere, aren't there?

0:42:04 > 0:42:06Oh, yeah, everywhere. Yeah.

0:42:13 > 0:42:15As much as I'd love to stay and help,

0:42:15 > 0:42:18I've got togo and see a man about some hens.

0:42:18 > 0:42:20Bob, Gary, thank you very much.

0:42:20 > 0:42:23Thank you.It's been an education.

0:42:23 > 0:42:26I'd watch out for those five posts if I were you.

0:42:26 > 0:42:30When you'restringing the fence, yeah, yeah.

0:42:30 > 0:42:33After another hundred, they'll be spot on.

0:42:44 > 0:42:46I'm off to see a bit of a local legend

0:42:46 > 0:42:51calledDonald the Hen McDonald,

0:42:51 > 0:42:54so I'm assuming from that nickname he's going to know all about hens.

0:42:56 > 0:42:57Long drive.

0:42:57 > 0:42:59Hello, Donald.All right.

0:43:00 > 0:43:02Pleased tomeet you.You too.

0:43:03 > 0:43:09I'm after enough hens to give me a surplus of eggs that I canbarter with the locals,

0:43:09 > 0:43:12and a rooster to protect the flock from predators.

0:43:12 > 0:43:14Do you want me to give you a hand?

0:43:14 > 0:43:17Er, I'll get 'em. I've got me own device here to get them.

0:43:20 > 0:43:21Here it comes.

0:43:30 > 0:43:32Well done, Donald.

0:43:32 > 0:43:35You've plainly done that a few times before.

0:43:35 > 0:43:37I have. I'll put them in there.

0:43:37 > 0:43:40Would you like a hand?Would you like me to...If you open the box.

0:43:40 > 0:43:42Now, for the hens.

0:43:42 > 0:43:44One there.

0:43:44 > 0:43:49In there as well? Each should lay an egg a day so ten should be plenty.

0:43:49 > 0:43:51In you go chaps. I'm very excited! I'm trying to be

0:43:51 > 0:43:56cool and calm and professional about the whole thing but I've never owned chickens before.

0:43:56 > 0:44:02The truth is, I'm getting hens justbecause I like the idea of havingthem around the croft

0:44:02 > 0:44:04and as Jackie from the Walled Garden said,

0:44:04 > 0:44:07theirdroppings are pure compost gold.

0:44:09 > 0:44:11Thanks, Donald.

0:44:15 > 0:44:19So it's exciting stuff, getting the chickens,

0:44:19 > 0:44:21because I now feel I've got responsibility.

0:44:21 > 0:44:24So I know they're only chickens

0:44:24 > 0:44:27but to me they're very significant chickens.

0:44:27 > 0:44:30And I'm really looking to getting over there

0:44:30 > 0:44:32and actually getting them settled in.

0:44:32 > 0:44:36These chickens have a bit of an adventure coming over the next few hours,

0:44:36 > 0:44:38but hopefully it will all be worth it.

0:44:38 > 0:44:41It will be lovely to see them in there. My first stock.

0:44:44 > 0:44:48Up until now,I've just been a weirdo living inan old cowshed,

0:44:48 > 0:44:50but the arrival of the hens changes everything.

0:44:50 > 0:44:53I've taken one stepcloser to being a crofter.

0:44:59 > 0:45:01Do you want to have a little look?

0:45:03 > 0:45:04They all look faintly stunned.

0:45:04 > 0:45:09Apparently it takes a few hours before they pluck up thecourage, if you pardon the pun,

0:45:09 > 0:45:12to actually move out ofthe little hole there.

0:45:12 > 0:45:17Ok, I'll get a bit of feedin there, water and we're off.

0:45:17 > 0:45:21Eventually, one pioneering hen andthe rooster,

0:45:21 > 0:45:24stick their heads out and immediately regret it.

0:45:25 > 0:45:26Reuben!

0:45:27 > 0:45:29Reuben!

0:45:31 > 0:45:33Reuben!

0:45:33 > 0:45:35I feel a complete fool for lettingthe dog run riot

0:45:35 > 0:45:37but at least he never caught any of them.

0:45:39 > 0:45:43I guess the both of us have still got a lot to learn.

0:45:45 > 0:45:48I've just shut Reuben in the Land Rover to get a little peace,

0:45:48 > 0:45:51and I found this in the Land Rover, which is an old toy I gave him,

0:45:51 > 0:45:53which is a rubber chicken,

0:45:53 > 0:45:56so I can see where he gets his ideas that chickens are,

0:45:56 > 0:45:57you know, there to be played with.

0:45:59 > 0:46:03Now I'vegot to catch the whole flock.

0:46:03 > 0:46:04Ok, easy, easy, easy.

0:46:05 > 0:46:07Good, good, good.

0:46:11 > 0:46:12That's good.

0:46:12 > 0:46:14That's good. That's one.

0:46:14 > 0:46:16Now let's find the other one.

0:46:16 > 0:46:18Right, young lady.

0:46:21 > 0:46:23That's it, that way, that way, that way.

0:46:23 > 0:46:26Go on, goon, go on, good, good, good, good.

0:46:26 > 0:46:28Two.

0:46:30 > 0:46:33Come on. Over that end. Go that end.

0:46:33 > 0:46:36I've obviously got very wilful chickens.

0:46:45 > 0:46:48Keith will deliver the pigs andsheep in a few days' time

0:46:48 > 0:46:50so the raceis on to have everything ready.

0:46:52 > 0:46:54How are you, Bob?

0:46:54 > 0:46:55Breakfast, is it?

0:46:55 > 0:46:58It is. I'm just about to make acoffee. Would you like a coffee?

0:46:58 > 0:47:01I'm fine, thanks.Are you sure? Yeah, I better get on.

0:47:01 > 0:47:06How are you getting on with the fencing?It will be finished today.Brilliant. Great stuff.

0:47:07 > 0:47:11This is pretty much thelast day when the guys willbe working on the house.

0:47:11 > 0:47:14After that, it's all left to me so I won't get in the way.

0:47:14 > 0:47:17I'll let them get stuck in and let them do what they do best.

0:47:17 > 0:47:21I'm just going to feed them relentlessly, bacon sandwiches.

0:47:21 > 0:47:22Here we go.Cheers.

0:47:22 > 0:47:25Thank you very much. No worries, my pleasure.

0:47:34 > 0:47:38This, as Reubs just discovered because he's dug down to it, is very sandy,

0:47:38 > 0:47:40and this is no good for growing stuff in.

0:47:40 > 0:47:42When the Highland Clearances took place

0:47:42 > 0:47:45and the crofting communities had to move to the coast

0:47:45 > 0:47:48they really struggled on the coast so they ended up

0:47:48 > 0:47:51having to carry soil on their backs from the highlands,

0:47:51 > 0:47:54down to the coastal regions, to actuallylay beds that were viable,

0:47:54 > 0:47:57that they could grow crops in, which iskind of what we're doing,

0:47:57 > 0:48:00albeit a distance of 50 metres.

0:48:00 > 0:48:04We're taking this topsoil, which is reasonable stuff, down into our raised beds,

0:48:04 > 0:48:07but it replicates whathappened in the crafting communities.

0:48:07 > 0:48:11This was one reason there was so muchbitterness about the clearances.

0:48:11 > 0:48:16They were moved off the good ground and down onto this infertile ground on the coast.

0:48:17 > 0:48:22I've got grand plans for a vegetable patch in one of the old animal pens

0:48:22 > 0:48:24but there's more rock than soil.

0:48:24 > 0:48:28Sam's done amazing work here turning this ground over.

0:48:28 > 0:48:30This ground'sreally, really hard to turnover.

0:48:30 > 0:48:33I first met Sam through Judyin the inn

0:48:33 > 0:48:36and he's rapidly becoming my right-hand man.

0:48:36 > 0:48:38Sam's single-handedly moved all of these rocks.

0:48:38 > 0:48:40He's like a force of nature.

0:48:40 > 0:48:42There's some a bit glacial about Sam

0:48:42 > 0:48:44but he's found a rock that's defeated him

0:48:44 > 0:48:46so he'sgiving me a shout. It's a monster.

0:48:46 > 0:48:49It is a bit of a monster.

0:48:49 > 0:48:50OK, OK.

0:48:51 > 0:48:54OK, ready? One two, three, roll.

0:48:54 > 0:48:56Brilliant. Brilliant.

0:48:56 > 0:48:57Excellent.

0:48:57 > 0:49:02Because this was an old animalpen the soil's actually very fertile

0:49:02 > 0:49:06and should give me agood crop of veggies.

0:49:06 > 0:49:11And right on time, Peter and Jackie arrive with some spare plants from the Walled Garden.

0:49:14 > 0:49:16What do you think for the raised beds?

0:49:16 > 0:49:19I was thinking, you'd be better, we'd be better off with the salads

0:49:19 > 0:49:24and things that we're going to, you know, that won't be in the ground too long.

0:49:24 > 0:49:26So you think things like lettuce and salad?Yep.

0:49:26 > 0:49:30That's for the raised beds. Also, Ithought a sacrificial crop

0:49:30 > 0:49:33so, here I've got some nasturtiums and some marigolds

0:49:33 > 0:49:37so that the slugs mightthose before they eat your lettuce.

0:49:37 > 0:49:40And you don't think I need to put wire or anything over the top?

0:49:40 > 0:49:42Birds won't be an issue?

0:49:42 > 0:49:45Actually, maybe a scarecrow would be a good idea.

0:49:45 > 0:49:46That might be a good idea. Yeah.

0:49:46 > 0:49:51Or I could train Reuben to just, stand, like that.

0:49:51 > 0:49:53And in terms of me watering these?

0:49:53 > 0:49:57Well, these will definitely need watering every day

0:49:57 > 0:50:00for the next few days until they're established.

0:50:00 > 0:50:03You know the worst thing that could happen?What's that?

0:50:03 > 0:50:05Reuben dancing on it. Oh, really? Right.

0:50:05 > 0:50:07So this is a no-go zone for Reubs.

0:50:07 > 0:50:09Definitely. Yes.Right, OK.

0:50:09 > 0:50:12You see how they'rewaving in the wind?

0:50:12 > 0:50:14They're trembling inanticipation of you guys leaving

0:50:14 > 0:50:18and being left alone in my tender care. They're terrified.

0:50:20 > 0:50:23I've got beetroot, chives, spring onion, rocket,

0:50:23 > 0:50:27and at leastthree different types of lettuce.

0:50:27 > 0:50:29Hello, chap.

0:50:29 > 0:50:31Oi! Go away!

0:50:31 > 0:50:34Off, off, off, off, off. Thank you.

0:50:34 > 0:50:37I will do unspeakable things to you with this trowel

0:50:37 > 0:50:39ifyou trash my cabbages.

0:50:39 > 0:50:44Even my house plants back in Bristol normally die instantly under my care

0:50:44 > 0:50:48so these plants should be very nervous indeed.

0:50:48 > 0:50:52But tomorrow's another first as Keith and Rachael deliver my livestock.

0:51:05 > 0:51:08It's been a flat-out effort to get everything ready for the stock

0:51:08 > 0:51:11because the stock's arriving today

0:51:11 > 0:51:14and it's been last-minutestuff getting the old fence in,

0:51:14 > 0:51:17getting the walls built up, getting the trough's ready,

0:51:17 > 0:51:20getting the shelters ready, the gates on but I think I'm there.

0:51:20 > 0:51:24Er, but we'll soon find out, because Keith and Rachael, and the kids,

0:51:24 > 0:51:28are turning up with the pigs and thesheep, imminently.

0:51:32 > 0:51:34Keith wants to move here. I want to live here.

0:51:34 > 0:51:37I'll be moving in when Monty moves out.

0:51:40 > 0:51:42Cobblers! Ah, come on.

0:51:46 > 0:51:49City boy trying to reverse a trailer.

0:51:52 > 0:51:54Other way, other way.

0:51:54 > 0:51:55Go on.

0:52:00 > 0:52:02Fantastic.Come on, girls. Fantastic.

0:52:02 > 0:52:05These pigs maybe destined for shortlives over the summer,

0:52:05 > 0:52:07but I'mdetermined they'll be happy lives.

0:52:07 > 0:52:11Come on, girls. Come on, piggies!

0:52:13 > 0:52:14Great stuff. Have they got names?

0:52:14 > 0:52:19We were actually having aconversation about names yesterday, weren't we Keith?

0:52:19 > 0:52:22Doris.Doris?

0:52:22 > 0:52:24A really good pig name. It is, isn't it?

0:52:24 > 0:52:27Yep, Doris.Gemma, I think it's a good name for a pig.

0:52:27 > 0:52:29All right, Gemma and Doris it is.

0:52:29 > 0:52:30Gemma and Doris.

0:52:32 > 0:52:37And then there's the sheep who'll get the run of my two acre's estate.

0:52:37 > 0:52:41Thank you so much.That's all right. No bother.That's fantastic.

0:52:41 > 0:52:43Good luck with them.Thank you.

0:52:43 > 0:52:47Will you pop back?If you pop back I'll...Oh, definitely.Brilliant.

0:52:47 > 0:52:49We'll keep an eye on them.

0:52:52 > 0:52:55Keith and his family willalways be welcome but for now,

0:52:55 > 0:52:58it'snice to have the place to myself.

0:53:00 > 0:53:04This is a really special time for me. This is a really precious time.

0:53:04 > 0:53:10It's so quiet and suddenly you remember why you've come up here.

0:53:12 > 0:53:15Cos actually, the activity during the course ofthe day,

0:53:15 > 0:53:17there's so much going on.

0:53:17 > 0:53:19There's loads of chores andthings to do.

0:53:19 > 0:53:21There's still lots of DIY to be done.

0:53:23 > 0:53:25But then you sit here at the end of the day

0:53:25 > 0:53:28andit's just so peaceful, so quiet.

0:53:33 > 0:53:35Reubs! Come on!

0:53:35 > 0:53:37Go on, and your bum!

0:53:37 > 0:53:40Come on, Reuben! Go on. That's better.

0:53:40 > 0:53:43Today is the day of the toppingout party

0:53:43 > 0:53:46to say thank you toeveryone who's helped me out.

0:53:46 > 0:53:48We could have lamb this evening.

0:53:51 > 0:53:53The plan is

0:53:53 > 0:53:57to go and see a local fisherman,

0:53:57 > 0:54:01and actually meet him as he's coming in from lifting his creels

0:54:01 > 0:54:03and just see what he's got,

0:54:03 > 0:54:06the idea is to make a massivepaella.

0:54:19 > 0:54:21Hi.Do you want me to take a line?

0:54:21 > 0:54:23Thanks.No worries.

0:54:23 > 0:54:26Sorry, I haven'tintroduced myself. I'm Monty.

0:54:26 > 0:54:28Oh, you're Monty, are you?I'm Monty.

0:54:32 > 0:54:35Yeah, they're all langoustine. Price, price-wise,

0:54:35 > 0:54:37the bigger they are, the more you get for them.

0:54:37 > 0:54:39Of course.You're just going for...

0:54:39 > 0:54:43I'll take a few of these off your hands, without a doubt.

0:54:43 > 0:54:46What about things like, you mentioned you've got prawns.

0:54:46 > 0:54:47That's what we call prawns.

0:54:47 > 0:54:50Do you know, that's the interesting thing about langoustine.

0:54:50 > 0:54:53You go around the world, and they'vegot loads...

0:54:53 > 0:54:56Cos they're called Dublin bay prawns as well.

0:54:56 > 0:54:59Dublin Bay prawns, langoustine, langostino, Norway lobsters.

0:54:59 > 0:55:01Norwaylobster, yeah. That's another one.

0:55:01 > 0:55:05So, I'm going to feed, I think, about15 people tonight so....

0:55:05 > 0:55:08Yeah, I could probably do half and half, prawns and squats.Perfect.

0:55:08 > 0:55:11What? 15 whole ones?

0:55:11 > 0:55:14Fantastic. They'll all get eaten.

0:55:14 > 0:55:17They'll all get eaten. I'm sure they will.

0:55:18 > 0:55:20That's fantastic, Ihope I do them justice.

0:55:22 > 0:55:25Yep, see you later, good to meet you.

0:55:34 > 0:55:37To help me make a really special meal I recruited Marion.

0:55:37 > 0:55:40Now, treat me like a,sort of, blunt instrument.

0:55:40 > 0:55:42OK, then. Excellent.

0:55:42 > 0:55:46She's a chef at the pub which frequently wins awards for its seafood.

0:55:46 > 0:55:52You just wouldn't get something that fresh and that beautiful in a restaurant somewhere else.

0:55:52 > 0:55:56It's literally leaping out of the pan as you're cooking it, it's so fresh.

0:55:56 > 0:55:58We'll get this nice and hot again.

0:56:02 > 0:56:04You think that's tasty, Reuben?

0:56:05 > 0:56:07Mind your nose, Reubs!

0:56:07 > 0:56:09I'm going to cut these down the middle

0:56:09 > 0:56:13and you see the first cut I made was straight down there which...

0:56:13 > 0:56:15Just kills it.Kills it, yes, yes.

0:56:15 > 0:56:16You want them in...

0:56:16 > 0:56:19We'll do some in here as we won't fit all of these

0:56:19 > 0:56:21on top of that pan of paella. And then the other ones,

0:56:21 > 0:56:23we'll lay on the top of the rice

0:56:23 > 0:56:26before we put the lid over so they'll just steam gently on top.

0:56:26 > 0:56:29Shall I have a go at one? Yeah, definitely, definitely.

0:56:29 > 0:56:32Just grab him by the front claw. Grab him by the front claws

0:56:32 > 0:56:35and you chop down just there?Yep. Perfect. That's it.

0:56:35 > 0:56:39And then you just use your hands to split it open, the rest of way.

0:56:39 > 0:56:40Right.Look at those.

0:56:40 > 0:56:44And do you do much outdoor cooking? Do you ever come down the beach?

0:56:44 > 0:56:46Totally.Really?All the time.

0:56:46 > 0:56:47That's what I want to do here.

0:56:47 > 0:56:51It's one of my favourite things to do, is come down here to the beach,

0:56:51 > 0:56:54get some cockles and mussels, a bit of foil and get them on the fire.

0:56:56 > 0:57:00Langoustine, Sam on the pipes, and the local community pitching in.

0:57:00 > 0:57:03This is exactly how I hoped myWest Coast experience would be.

0:57:07 > 0:57:08Look at that!

0:57:08 > 0:57:10Look at those prawns.

0:57:10 > 0:57:12That's like a proper feast.

0:57:12 > 0:57:14It is.

0:57:14 > 0:57:19I think a bit more salt and pepper, maybe a bit of lemon juice, but that's not bad otherwise.

0:57:19 > 0:57:22That's just what you need after a hard day on the beach, isn't it?

0:57:22 > 0:57:27It can be a dangerous thing tochase your dreams,

0:57:27 > 0:57:29but right now, life couldn't be better.

0:57:30 > 0:57:35It's really nice, it's beautiful, it is very good, actually.

0:57:35 > 0:57:39It's a beautiful evening and finally I'm living in Beachcomber Cottage

0:57:39 > 0:57:41and as you can see from behind me,

0:57:41 > 0:57:44all the local community have justcompletely got stuck in

0:57:44 > 0:57:47and they're right behind me and helping me out here,

0:57:47 > 0:57:51and that's really significant and really important to me.

0:57:51 > 0:57:53And I've got to say life's pretty good.

0:57:56 > 0:57:57Next time...

0:57:57 > 0:58:00I knew that was going to happen!

0:58:00 > 0:58:02..I go out fishing, with Snoddy.

0:58:04 > 0:58:06Huge. That's as good as it gets.Wow!

0:58:06 > 0:58:09This is shinty.

0:58:09 > 0:58:14It was invented back in the mists of time to prepare warriors for battle.

0:58:14 > 0:58:17I'm getting divots the size ofcow pats.

0:58:17 > 0:58:20And at last, get the chance to get out in the boat

0:58:20 > 0:58:22and see some spectacular wildlife.

0:58:22 > 0:58:24Hey!

0:58:31 > 0:58:34Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:58:34 > 0:58:37Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk