BBC ALBA’s exploration of rural housing offers unique insight into Scotland’s history

A new four-part series on BBC ALBA is to examine the dramatic development of rural housing in Scotland over the years.

Rural Housing / Taigheadas Dùthchail explores the many unique elements of our built landscapes, and their influence on the dwellings we live in today.

Builder Ewen MacKinnon, who has a passion for the beauty of construction, takes viewers on a fascinating and revealing journey through Scotland’s rural housing landscape – telling a story of place, people and home.

The history of traditional buildings in the Highlands and Islands resonates particularly with people today as an increasing number of people are choosing to build new homes using the materials from early 19th century homes and in line with much-loved styles such as the blackhouse.

The first programme takes a look at some examples of the earliest dwellings in Scotland, dating back to the Iron Age. The programme explores their key qualities, and what they teach us about those who lived there. Over the generations, the changing relationship between crofters and their animals is evident, as is the changing status of crofters and the relationship between Islanders and outside influences.

Amongst the buildings visited – the impressive Isle of Lewis stone structures, the Bosta Iron Age House on Great Bernera, Uig the Norse Mill in nearby Shawbost, the s-shaped house named Oran na Mara on Harris, the Hebridean Earth House on South Uist and the Carloway broch, Isle of Lewis. These structures have also inspired numerous impressive new island homes.

MacKinnon also finds out about the fascinating wooden crannogs, which were built on stilts on Scotland’s lochs, the restored Gearrannan Blackhouse Village on Lewis which has a new life as holiday accommodation and visit a unique reconstruction in Perthshire.

Rural Housing, a four-part series produced by MacTV for BBC ALBA, will be broadcast on Monday 23 January, 8.30pm – 9pm and thereafter on Monday 30th January, 6th February and 13th February at 8.30pm.