Daily life in the beautiful south west - from the viewpoint of locals, villagers, farmers, fishermen, shop-keepers and the tourist industry.
In this first episode, Devonian fisherman Stephen Perham shows what life is like in the tiny, perfectly preserved fishing village of Clovelly. Stephen's family have lived and fished in the village for generations. Stephen is the harbour master, tour guide and bin man, and has a novel way of getting things up and down the main street. The village rowing team take part in the annual regatta. Fifth-generation master-thatcher Richard Dray needs to replace a roof in Cockington. In Cornwall, local handywoman Lynn Batten completes last-minute preparations at the famous Minack Theatre, as tourists from around the world are about to arrive for the triumphant season finale. And champion beef breeders Bridgette and Steve Clamp prepare their local pedigree cows for the Camborne agricultural show.
In Devon, the Alfords are one of the last farming families to tend Dartmoor's wild ponies. Demand for the ponies is on the wane, and they must rely on other livestock for their living and nervously await the TB testing of their cattle. On the north Jurassic coast, local adventurers Mark Bullock and George Malkin take on the famous spectacular climb of Black Church Rock. In Cornwall, surfing pioneer Gwyn Haslock gives a tour while preparing for the World Belly Board Championships. Further west, in Poldark country, former miner Les Rowe makes a poignant return to the colliery where he laboured years ago, bringing the Cape Cornwall singers to Geevor to celebrate their shared Cornish heritage in song.
On the serene waterways of Mylor Creek, south Cornwall, lifelong friends and mariners Jess Harris and Charlotte Whyte welcome diners aboard their custom-built floating restaurant. It's opening week following months of planning and hard graft. Diver and conservationist Rob Thompson leads a team of volunteers to sweep up the man-made rubbish in the coves around Lansallos. On the southern edge of Dartmoor, sheep farmers Jess and Russell Steer prepare for their first trip to Devon's historic Widecombe fair. Near Exmoor, farmer Cyril Cole is determined to give back to the land he once farmed.
In Brixham, South Devon, trawlerman Dave Driver sets out to sea on his boat in search of cuttlefish. Sea fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in Britain. Dave and his crew travel out 25 miles from the shore for an 18-hour shift. On the southern edge of Bodmin Moor, Mark and Isobelle Delbridge, one of Cornwall's youngest tenant farming couples, are determined to make a success of their new dairy farm. They are keeping things traditional and their hand-delivered bottle milk is growing in popularity. On the northern reaches of Dartmoor National Park, horseback farmers Crispin Alford, his wife Diana and son Steve are preparing to sell their hill ponies. And back in Brixham, there's a visit to a guillemot colony.
In Clovelly, north Devon, fisherman Stephen Perham is preparing for his most lucrative day of the year - the Clovelly Lobster Festival. Sam Robins and her family have managed to bag a fisherman's cottage with a sea view in the village where her grandparents took their honeymoon 80 years ago. In Torquay, harbourmaster Nick Burns awaits the world's largest residential cruise ship. Market gardener Stephen Keighley faces a big problem only six weeks into his new venture: he desperately needs rain, and lots of it, to save his wilting vegetables. On Bodmin Moor, display pilot Corrine Dennis prepares to entertain the masses at St Mawes' boat show.
On the tidal island of St Michael's Mount, west Cornwall, boatman Josh Sedgeman must ready the island's amphibious vessel for winter. In north Devon, Clovelly fisherman Stephen Perham is looking forward to the start of the herring season. In Lanlivery, Cornwall, potato farmer Steve Dustow has developed a vodka distillery using home-grown spuds and is devising a new line in bespoke gin. There's wild camping on Dartmoor and a search for blue sharks off the Isles of Scilly.
On St Mary's, on the Isles of Scilly, Charlotte Hicks has returned to her place of birth to become the islands' one and only midwife, and the first mum due to give birth off the Cornish coast is her childhood pal Meriel King. At the edge of Dartmoor National Park, woodman John Williamson has taken on new apprentice Jordan Harris, and the pair are making a batch of charcoal that they hope to sell to local restaurants. On the south Devon coast, Torquay's harbour master Nick Burns needs to replace a 140-metre section of the harbour that will help protect the millions of pounds worth of yachts berthing here in the winter months.
A vineyard owner plans to draw winter tourists to Scilly. Devon boat builders turn a clinker into a lugger. Unwanted apples make money. And a geologist goes fossil hunting.
John Nettles
Self - Narrator
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