Hopes for the Future

Series following a year in the life of the most southerly islands of the Outer Hebrides, off the north west coast of Scotland.

It is autumn and Father John Paul sets out on the arduous annual pilgrimage to Barra's highest point to polish up the island's iconic statue. Below, a heated public meeting is on the cards to argue over government plans for a huge and possibly job-threatening conservation area off the islands.

Meantime Coppertop, one of the local fishermen, investigates a unique plan of his own to make money from the sea.