Broadcaster Anne explores her coastal connections

Presenter Anne Lundon travels from the west coast mainland of Scotland to the easterly coast of the Outer Hebrides to discover how the rich culture of our coastal waters is always evolving and is kept alive by those who live beside them.

 

"attachment_589005" "" "300"] Presenter Anne Loudon.

 

A series of six programmes, An Cuan Sgith – Minch was produced for BBC ALBA by Stornoway based Mast-Ard Studio and starts on Monday November 1.

 

Scottish media broadcaster Anne said: 'I could see out to the Minch every day growing up near Stornoway so this body of water is close to my heart.

 

'As an islander, it’s what separates and connects us to the mainland.

 

'For many it's their economic, social and cultural lifeline and its coastal and marine environments sustain a multitude of important activities.

 

'This was a particularly special programme for me to work on with my own connection to it; meeting people who make their living from the Minch and those who take inspiration from it for their work was an experience I'll never forget.

 

'Lots of boats, the best scenery and wildlife you could wish for and meeting interesting people along the way – what’s not to love?'

 

During her travels, Anne also meets Gill Williams, a retired police diver now living in Skye, who still dives regularly and creates stunning underwater photographs for a project called ‘Below the Skyline’, a collaboration between her and Geraint Ashton Jones.

 

While the water looks pretty dull on the surface, she discovers there are some beautiful creatures and colours underneath.

 

In Harris, Anne meets Neil 'Neilly' Maclean, a young fisherman who has set up a shellfish business with his cousins, and in Lewis she visits a boatyard started by a young man in his home village which he has grown into a successful business.

 

The series also includes a photoshoot with knitting designer Alice Starmore and her daughter Jade. Alice has an international profile for her new ‘Virtual Yarns’, which she runs from the edge of the Minch on the Isle of Lewis. Her products are rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Hebrides and are sent directly from Scotland to her customers throughout the world.

 

An Cuan Sgith – The Minch is on BBC ALBA every Monday at 8.30pm from November 1 with each episode available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards.

 

Main photograph (NO_F44_TheMinch_Anne Lundon_Alice Starmore_Emma MacRae photo courtesy of Jade Starmore): Presenter Anne Lundon meets up with Virtual Yarns founder Alice Starmore and model Emma MacRae on the Isle of Lewis. Photograph: Jade Starmore.