Southern Outer Hebrides
Ben Fogle explores Catholic island life and whether the physical aspect of the landscape makes it easier to make spiritual connections.
Arriving on the Isle of Barra, Ben discovers how his own hand-knitted Gansey fisherman’s jumper is inspired by the hazardous life on these islands.
We find Ben aboard a fishing boat in a wild sea, heading for the remote and deserted Mingulay – the Isle of Whispering Ghosts. He learns how the extremes of life here forced the community to abandon it.
Travelling across a causeway, Ben reaches South Uist and joins Paul McCallum - the Singing Crofter, who composes Gaelic hymns, singing them as he works. He believes that faith, work and song all go together.
Journeying north, Ben finds the island’s iconic 30ft Our Lady of the Isles statue, which overlooks a Nato missile base to remind the military that a greater power watches them.
Prince Charles came to the Hebrides for a week in 1987 to escape media scrutiny. No-one leaked his presence to the press, and Ben drops in for morning tea with the prince’s host, 90-year-old Gloria MacKillop, to learn the art of keeping a secret.
Ben then camps down for the night on Hosta Beach to reflect on this stage of his pilgrimage and what he has gained from it.
Last on
Music Played
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Andreas Prittwitz
Sailing (Navegando)
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Ben Fogle |
Executive Producer | Harry Bell |
Executive Producer | Brendan Hughes |
Director | Craig Collinson |
Producer | Craig Collinson |
Broadcasts
- Tue 12 Oct 2021 20:00
- Wed 13 Oct 2021 19:00
- Sun 17 Oct 2021 11:30
- Wed 29 Dec 2021 02:05
- Wed 30 Mar 2022 20:00
- Mon 4 Apr 2022 14:30
- Sun 27 Nov 2022 19:15
- Mon 5 Dec 2022 14:00
- Sun 15 Jan 2023 11:30
- Wed 16 Aug 2023 19:00
- Mon 15 Jan 2024 20:00
- Thu 18 Jan 2024 19:00
- Mon 22 Jul 2024 15:00
Watch Ben Fogle’s exclusive interview with The Open University
Ben Fogle discusses spirituality and mindfulness with The Open University.