A Eureka Moment on Eigg

Available for over a year

It's not easy getting on and off the Hebridean Isle of Eigg. Although it's only 15 miles from the mainland, the ferry service is regularly interrupted by bad weather, technical difficulties and staffing issues. It's an inconvenience for visitors, but a major headache for the islanders. For the farmers and crofters, getting feed supplies, transporting animals to and from market, arranging appointments with the vet, sorting out machinery repairs and equipment deliveries are all subject to the ferry timetables. They are challenges which former music journalist turned hill farmer, Sarah Boden, has learned to live with. Her family moved away from Eigg when she was a child but she has a deep love of the island and decided to return fifteen years ago when she was offered redundancy from her job as a music critic on a London newspaper. "I come from a farming background and I always loved being out on the hills," she says. "When the redundancy offer came up I saw it as an opportunity to come back." Sarah joined her father, Alex, in the tenancy of a 2,500 acre farm, owned by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. Together they reared sheep and cattle and managed a number of bio-diversity schemes. Now Sarah is in charge has made a major decision about its future – a switch from sheep to cattle. Presented by Kathleen Carragher Produced by John Deering