Hill of Dreams: bringing transhumance back to the Highlands
Richard Baynes visits a conservation-minded estate where unique grazing systems are being trialled to return productivity and life to Scotland鈥檚 high country
Transhumance died out in Scotland鈥檚 Highlands in the 19th century when small farmers were cleared from the land to make way for sheep. Now with the backing of owner, Hugh Raven, on the Ardtornish estate in the remote Morvern peninsula, Lizzie Mackenzie and Alec Heywood are reviving the practice of moving cattle with the seasons onto the high ground to graze. Semi-wild ponies are also being used to revive the estate鈥檚 uplands, but conservation enthusiast Raven must also balance the books with tourist enterprises and agricultural production. Can it all work?
Presented and produced by Richard Baynes
On radio
Broadcast
- Sun 1 Nov 2026 06:35麻豆社 Radio 4