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ISLE OF MAN
The Isle of Man is like a microcosm of the UK’s countryside and coast – with a wide variety of landscapes. It has everything from mountain to moorland all surrounded by a spectacular coastline.
Isle of Man website
Julia meets the first woman to win the Isle of Man TT race to discover the attrition of this unique event. While Matt visits a farm to see what the future holds for the native Manx Loaghtan sheep with their distinctive two, four or sometimes even six, horns.
The Isle of Man diverse landscape provides the perfect habitat for the Hen Harrier. In fact, there are more Harriers here than the whole of the UK. Julia visits a site where they are thriving to see what's been done to encourage them to continue to use the island. But it’s not just wildlife benefiting from what the island has to offer. Many film makers have used the Isle of Man to double up as other parts of Britain and Ireland. Cregneash Village is a living working museum of a Manx crofting community that played the part of an Irish village. Matt visits Cregneash to help with a couple of seasonal farming jobs. -
MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE
The landscape around the Nevis Range is perfect for a huge range of outdoor activities so it’s no surprise that the area draws 2.5 million visitors every year. Last April up near the summit of Aonach Mor, Matt learnt about mountain survival skills.
Munro Magic: Ben Nevis -
LOST PLANES
The landscape of Dark Peak is known for its beauty and is a great attraction to ramblers. But in the 30s 40s and 50s, the area was the scene of over 130 deaths from plane crashes. Earlier in the year Jules Hudson visited to see the remains of many of these planes that have been left where they fell and can still be seen in plane ‘graveyards’ scattered around the peaks.
Peak District Air Accident Research website -
COASTEERING
Pembrokeshire has many miles of fantastic coastline which is most likely why the sport of “coasteering” was pioneered here. It consists of swimming, scrambling, jumping - and generally using the sea and the rocky cliffs as a playground. Back in July, Julia donned her wetsuit and helmet to discover why it’s one of the fastest-growing adventure sports.
British Coasteering Federation website -
SWIM HIKING
Also during the summer Katie tried her hand at swim hiking, where you walk, run and swim your way across the countryside. She packed her clothes in a waterproof knapsack and crossed Derwentwater with an expert who claims to have invented a new country sport.
Walking and Hiking website: What is SwimHiking? -
RE-WILDING
Beavers have been successfully re-introduced to the wild in this country four hundred years after they were hunted to extinction. A notable success for the wildlife experts involved, but not everyone agrees that re-introducing a lost species - known as re-wilding - is such a good idea. Landowners fear the damage beavers can do as they gnaw down trees for food and to build their lodges. And sceptical scientists say we're attempting to return to a mythical 'Garden of Eden' concept of how we once lived, in June John carried out an investigation.
Scottish Beaver Trial website -
ADAM’S FARM
Every week during 2009 Countryfile joined our resident Cotswold farmer Adam Henson to experience life on his farm. Back in November he travelled to Devon to collect some of the rarest sheep in the country. If this tiny flock of Whitefaced Dartmoors were to be wiped out by a disease - such as foot and mouth - the breed would become extinct. So by taking sixteen of them back to his Gloucestershire farm he’s doing his bit to ensure their survival.
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PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
The Durham Dales are one of the country’s best kept secrets. There are hundreds of miles of countryside and not much traffic to break the silence. It’s therefore not surprising that the area ranks near the top of the list when it comes to the most peaceful and tranquil locations in the country - back in September Matt experienced it for himself.
Campaign to Protect Rural England website: Our tranquillity map explained -
ANCIENT TREES
It’s estimated that 80% of Northern Europe’s ancient trees are located in the UK. Exact numbers aren’t known because there isn’t a register. During the summer plant expert James Wong joined members of the Woodland Trust as they carried out a survey, which involved some hairy moments scrambling up and down steep slopes and scaling tall trees.
Woodland Trust website: Cornwall reveals its peculiar tree secrets -
ULSTER WAY
Back in October Julia took to the newly re-launched Ulster Way Route. It’s a 625 Mile walking route that takes walkers through the most beautiful parts of the Mourne Mountains. The route led her through Tollymore Forest Park, where she met some of its most famous residents – red squirrels.
The Ulster Way website
Credits
- Presenter
- Julia Bradbury
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Presenter
- Jules Hudson
- Presenter
- Katie Knapman
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- James Wong
- Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Executive Producer
- Andrew Thorman
