The Edge of the Land - The North West Highlands

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• The Edge of the Land - The North West Highlands

  In 1877 Queen Victoria referred to this part of Scotland as ‘the end of the world’. It’s easy to see why.
  
  This part of the Edge of the Land’s aerial journey around the Scottish coast starts at Shieldaig with its picturesque, whitewashed houses and heads up the coastline to the most north-westerly part of mainland Scotland – Cape Wrath. On the way it passes over Loch Torridon, Poolewe, Lochinver, and Kinlochbervie. In between is mile upon mile of spectacular mountain scenery and some of the world’s oldest hills.
  
  This aerial journey reveals how fishing was key to early settlement in this region, and shows how in 1996 when the series was produced, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver and Ullapool were busy fishing harbours with Kinlochbervie being the third biggest harbour in Britain for fish landings. Today the fishing industry is still at the heart of this region’s economic life and whilst there has been a decline in the traditional white fish landings, the humble langoustine has now taken the seafood markets by storm.
  
  The infamous Gruinard Island is featured in this episode. It was here, during the Second World War that British scientists conducted a major biological warfare test. Eighty sheep were taken to the island and then bombs filled with anthrax spores were exploded nearby. The sheep began to die within days.
  
  However, the spores were so virulent that Gruinard Island had to be quarantined for many years. It was 1986 before there was determined action to decontaminate the island and it was finally declared safe in April, 1990.
  
  This aerial journey also takes in Poolewe and the beautiful Inverewe Garden. Now in the custody of the National Trust for Scotland, these gardens were the lifetime work of Osgood Mackenzie. In 1862 aged just 20, he found himself the owner of some 2,000 acres of wasteland which he gradually transformed into one of the world’s greatest gardens. Today the Inverewe Garden is a popular visitor attraction where thanks to the Gulf Stream, Osgood’s sub-tropical garden continues to flourish.

• Video Tags

  loch torridon, honda island bird reserve, inverewe gardens, cape wrath, gairloch

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