Snowdonia: A Year on the Farm Season 1: Episode Guide & Ratings

It’s winter in Snowdonia. As storms batter the mountains of Eryri, five farming families battle the elements to rear their animals as they prepare for a year like no other. On the slopes of Cadair Idris, husband and wife Ken and Lisa Markham are gathering their flock of Welsh mountain sheep into the pens, but with the wind and rain beating down, herding their animals is challenging work for them and their team of trusty sheepdogs. Near the village of Ysbyty Ifan, 24-year-old Beca Roberts works alongside her father Glyn and her mother Eleri. She’s the fourth of five children but the only one working on the family farm. They’re preparing the shed for lambing and cleaning out the sty for Beca’s pet pig.

It’s lambing season in Snowdonia, but as Covid-19 spreads across the world, Wales is in lockdown. The five farming families are left to film themselves during one of the busiest times of year. For the farmers of Eryri, spring means the joy of seeing new life arrive on the farms and in the fields. Their flocks of Welsh mountain sheep will all lamb within just a few weeks and many of the cattle are also in calf. It means long hours and lots of hard work for the families.

As summer arrives in Snowdonia, it’s time for the farmers to gather their sheep off the mountain slopes ready for shearing. With a lot of livestock to round up and much ground to cover, a team of good dogs and good shepherds is vital. Ken and Lisa Markham leave their own farm behind to help Ken’s cousin Wil gather his sheep as they do every year - a favour that will be returned later in the season. It’s wild and rugged terrain, too steep for quad bikes, so the only way to round up the flock is on foot with a gang of sheepdogs.

It’s the height of summer in Snowdonia, and for hill farmers that means shearing time. Although it’s an important job, it's also a chance for families and friends to come together. Near Ysbyty Ifan, Beca Glyn and her family load their trailer to head up to the mountain where they shear their flock. Helping out is Beca’s cousin Meredudd, a superstar shearer who travels the world with his trade. Beca hasn’t picked up a set of shears in a few years, but she’s determined to improve her skills. Geraint Davies has hired Hywel, an old friend and specialist shearer, to lend a hand. Geraint’s young daughters Kiti and Betsi are always keen to be involved, so are tasked with rolling up the fleeces. However, like most things in farming, there’s a knack which the girls will have to master if they want to become pro-shearers.

With summer making way for autumn, the farmers of Eryri begin to reap the fruits of their labour as they send their livestock to market and prepare for the winter months. On the slopes of Cadair Idris, husband and wife team Ken and Lisa Markham are rounding up their ram lambs. A local livestock buyer is coming to select the cream of the Markhams' crop. Near Bala, Geraint Davies is sorting his lambs ready to be sent to the abattoir. His biggest lambs will end up on supermarket shelves across the UK, but some of his lighter lambs will exported to mainland Europe, a market that could be at risk post-Brexit.

Winter is around the corner, and for the Snowdonia farmers it’s time to look back on an extraordinary year and start planning for next year when the farming calendar begins again.