PODCAST: With its school at risk of closing and residents feeling ignored, what does the future hold for Britain’s coldest village?
BySusy MacAulay
Pieter Bakker, land manager of Altnaharra estate, Sutherland.
Our series of summer podcasts around the Highlands with local government reporter Susy MacAulay continues in Altnaharra.
She has travelled around the Highlands finding out what life is really like in its diverse communities, scattered across a landmass said to be as big as Belgium.
Altnaharra, a hamlet of some 20 homes, is at the heart of a large estate in Strathnaver, Sutherland.
It’s busy in the season with fishing and stalking, and the estate has big plans to harness wind energy, but until that happens, Altnaharra’s status can truly be deemed fragile.
Its school has been mothballed, with locals accepting that closure is inevitable.
Susy MacAulay visited the area this summer and by the shores of the River Naver talked to estate manager Pieter Bakker about the challenges of living in Altnaharra.
This is the fourth in a new series of podcasts from across the Highlands. Keep an eye on our website for the next episode.
PODCAST: With its school at risk of closing and residents feeling ignored, what does the future hold for Britain’s coldest village?
