New: Island Crossings

Island Crossings

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A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland

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The story of the ferry service that is vital to Scotland's west coast and its islands.

Caledonian MacBrayne serve 26 islands along Scotland’s west coast with their 35 ferries. Island Crossings tells the stories of staff and islanders whose lives and livelihoods depend on them.

BBC Scotland

Dougray Scott

Mark Downie

Abi Judge

Aideen O'Driscoll

Island Crossings: Series 1: Craggy Island Triathlon

Craggy Island Triathlon

Series 1

BBC Scotland - Island Crossings, Series 1, Craggy Island Triathlon

Bad weather halts the ferry, risking Kerrera Island’s annual triathlon.

Kerrera Island’s annual triathlon is at risk due to bad weather weather, while a folk legend explains why being a binman on Barra makes him proud.

It's the Isle of Kerrera's annual Craggy Island Triathlon, an event that attracts of competitors and spectators to the tiny island located just 600 metres off the mainland at Oban. Despite the proximity to the mainland, providing supplies and the infrastructure for such a big event, as well as the competitors and spectators across to the island, is no mean feat for MV Carvori, CalMac’s smallest ferry. Bad weather threatens the event and puts pressure on everyone involved as they do their best to erect the catering marquee and lay out the course ahead of the big weekend.

Meanwhile, on Barra, islander Donnie has been doing his dream job as a binman for 23 years and he takes great pride in his work. A man of many talents, he also moonlights as a drummer in well-loved folk band The Vatersay Boys. Donnie’s bin route is an epic 120-mile round trip from Barra to Vatersay, on to Eriskay, and by CalMac ferry to South Uist and Benbecula, where he deposits the rubbish and recycling before returning home. Donnie reminisces about his days performing with the band at festivals and venues across the world, and we learn about his passion for his home island of Vatersay.

Meanwhile, on the MV Seaforth, the crew are dealing with a tight turnaround and an abnormal load on a busy night between Stornoway and Ullapool. Under pressure to get a delayed service back on track, lead deckhand Roddy Mackenzie and his team hit a snag when a lorry breaks down on the ramp. Before the additional abnormal-sized freight can be loaded, the ship has to pull a tricky 180-degree turn in the port to allow the massive construction equipment to board via the wider stern door.

After 38 years at sea, 28 of them working for CalMac, MV Argyle deckhand motorman 'Gentleman Roy’ is retiring. On his final few shifts between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay, Roy reminisces about his life at sea, recalling the highs and lows of living half the year away from friends and family. In an emotional farewell, his Roy's CalMac colleagues present him with a gift from the whole crew.

Island Crossings: Series 1

A BBC TV channel for Scotland which will broadcast every evening and will show drama, factual, comedy and news programmes made in Scotland


Caledonian MacBrayne serve 26 islands along Scotland’s west coast with their 35 ferries. This series tells the stories of staff & islanders whose lives and livelihoods depend on them.

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Island Crossings

Series 1

Craggy Island Triathlon

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