Goats, Aspirations and a Pick Up Truck: HERDING SHEEP

Several farmers have grazing rights for their sheep on various parts of the mountains. The sheep - or at least most of them are brought down to lowlands over winter for better grazing and preparation for lambing,

It was the turn of our local farmer to bring his sheep down. We offered him help which he gratefully accepted, as herding sheep from 600 acres of uneven mountainous terrain can be a very long job.

The mountains over which the sheep are scattered

Although herding sheep is clearly a specialised skill, it never appeared to me to be that difficult for those with the know-how, as they whistle while their dogs do all the work controlling sheep across luxurious green pastures. Herding sheep on our terrain is nothing short of near impossible, with no green fields in sight, we scrambled through bogs, bracken, gorse, heather, woods, bilberry bushes, fords, shale and old deserted quarry buildings up and down slopes that would make Ben Nevis quake!

The intention was for me, Will, Jenna, the farmer, his two sheepdogs and my compulsory camera to drive up to the top of the mountain in two vehicles and then 'walk' down, herding sheep on the way, directing them towards an area to be fenced off by the farmer. We soon realised that these mountains hold many hiding places and escape routes, the whereabouts of which, only the sheep know and they (so we quickly discovered) are excellent escapologists. One of the ram lambs clearly had his own intentions, and eloped up the mountain with a stray ewe from a neighbouring farm, never to be seen again!

We were positioned by the farmer in strategic places around the mountain.

As the day passed it was great to slowly observe small groups of sheep emerging, closely followed by one of us with arms flailing madly about. And even better when these small groups became bigger groups, and eventually a whole flock heading through gaps in walls in the direction precisely where the farmer had intended.

As the sheep neared their destination, the aim was to get them all through the gate in this wall.

All was going to plan with us strategically placed like scarecrows preventing the sheep from taking unplanned routes through any gaps.

How satisfying it was to see 70 sheep guided by two dogs charging straight towards the final gate and ...

... straight passed it and an out-witted Will, and back up the mountain!

Fortunately a very fast-paced farmer with faithful hounds quickly re-negotiated them back around, and through the gate into the small pen.

Gate closed - bang! And they're in!

Next step - to fetch the farmer's 4x4 along with ours from their parking spots up the hill and off-road them down to the pen to collect the sheep and weary dogs while the farmer separated his sheep from the hangers-on we had inadvertently collected.