Countryfile

Highlands (27x49)

Air date: Dec 06, 2015

Ellie Harrison and Joe Crowley are exploring the NC500 - a new 500 mile scenic loop that takes in some of Scotland's remotest and most beautiful places. Ellie is in the west near Applecross where she comes face to face with the fearsome Belach na Ba - the 'Pass of the Cattle'. At more than 2,000 feet, it's Britain's highest road. Lucky for her, she gets to ride pillion on a motorbike to the top of the pass, where she meets Mark Beaumont, who has cycled the full 500 mile route non-stop in 37 hours. Ellie then snakes up the coast to Ullapool to find out how one small native fish could be the answer to the salmon-farming industry's prayers. Joe Crowley is in the east, riding the NC500 through Sutherland's fertile planes. He stops off to meet the young couple who have jacked it all in to live the crofting life and discovers they are just two of an increasing number of young people going back to the land. He then drives on to the Black Isle - so called because of its rich black fertile soils. Here, he meets the farmers growing premium barley destined for the whiskey industry. Tom's investigating the high number of traffic accidents that happen on our rural roads, whilst Adam discovers that the future of UK energy production may be straw powered!