Beyond the postcard view, rural Scotland faces a depopulation crisis.
In Mackay Country, in North West Sutherland, host Will Sadler joins local students to investigate why young people are leaving the region and what it will take for them to stay or return.
Through conversations with people tasked to encourage resettlment, the Scottish Land Commission, local business owners and regional campaigns for community self-agency, the students discuss the pressing issues facing the Scottish Highlands today; whether housing shortages, insecure jobs, struggling schools and concentrated land ownership.
From the legacy of the Highland Clearances, to modern community-led action, discover the modern stories of resiliance and the fight for a sustinable future for this beautiful place.
Highlands Reimagined is commissioned by https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/ (Strathnaver Museum), produced byhttps://www.anyamedia.net/ ( Anya Media) and published in partnership with the https://www.wildforscotland.com/ (Wild for Scotland podcast.)
Find out more at https://highlandsreimagined.com (highlandsreimagined.com)
Hello everyone, it’s Will here, the presenter of Highlands Reimagined podcast. Our original 3 part miniseries asked what needs to change to encourage Mackay Country’s young people to stay or return, build their futures here, and start to reverse generations of population decline - a problem experienced by rural areas all over the world.
Unfortunately, due to some pretty major health issues that started at the end of last year, the Highlands Reimagined feed has been pretty quiet. But I’m just popping in to let you know two things.
Firstly, we are still intending to get new content on here - maybe not soon as such - because I’m still very much in the recovery phase. But please stay subscribed so that our show will pop up to the top of your feed when we do have new content to share.
And secondly, I’m delighted to say that Highlands Reimagined has been shortlisted for the Scottish Podcast Awards 2026 in two categories - best documentary and best community impact. We’ll find out the results on June 25th, but for now, we are just delighted to have been selected alongside such a diverse range of the best audio content to have come out of Scotland over the past year.
Thank you for listening, and please help to spread the word about the podcast by sharing the episodes so far with your friends and family.
6 Nov 2025
Highlands Reimagined: Behind the Scenes, with Kathi Kamleitner, Will Sadler & Fiona Mackenzie.
Hello, it’s Will here, the presenter and producer of Highlands Reimagined.
I’m pleased to share with you a great conversation that Fiona Mackenzie and I had on the Wild for Scotland podcast with host: Kathi Kamleitner.
Kathi was interested to find out more from me about how the series was made and dig a little further into some of the topics that emerged from it.
Fiona gave her perspective as Development Manager of Strathnaver Museum which commissioned the podcast series.
I hope you enjoy the podcast and stay subscribed to the Highlands Reimagined feed for more bonus content in the future!
Check out Highlands Reimaged at http://highlandsreimagined.com/ (highlandsreimagined.com)
Check out the Wild for Scotland podcast at https://www.wildforscotland.com/ (wildforscotland.com)
2 Sept 2025
Listen to this if you’d like to hear more from Highlands Reimagined!
Listen to this if you’d like to hear more from Highlands Reimagined!
Highlands Reimagined is an https://www.anyamedia.net/ (Anya Media) production, commissioned by https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/ (Strathnaver Museum) and published in partnership with the https://www.wildforscotland.com/ (Wild for Scotland) podcast. Find out more at https://highlandsreimagined.com/ (highlandsreimagined.com)
2 Sept 2025
Episode 3 - From the Ground Up
Who holds the power to shape the future of Mackay Country?
In this final episode, the students of Farr High School are determined to find out.
They take their questions about land ownership and how it impacts all of the issues we’ve discussed so far directly to the Scottish Land Commission.
They learn from an Irish island community’s inspiring story how high-speed broadband could create new tech jobs in Mackay Country.
From debating wind farms to designing new ways for their voices to be heard, the students explore how their generation can take control and build a future from the ground up.
Highlands Reimagined is an https://www.anyamedia.net/ (Anya Media) production, commissioned by https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/ (Strathnaver Museum) and published in partnership with the https://www.wildforscotland.com/ (Wild for Scotland) podcast. Find out more at https://highlandsreimagined.com/ (highlandsreimagined.com)
2 Sept 2025
Episode 2 - Home Truths
While community is a powerful reason to stay, if young people do feel the need to leave, then what might encourage them to return?
After exploring their deep connection to home, the students of Farr High School now confront the reasons they might have to leave.
To understand their options, they get firsthand accounts from two people who made the journey back, learning what it takes to forge a career here.
The students also tackle the tough issue of affordable housing in a frank conversation with a local council officer.
This episode gets to the heart of what needs to change for the next generation to build a future in Mackay Country.
Highlands Reimagined is an https://www.anyamedia.net/ (Anya Media) production, commissioned by https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/ (Strathnaver Museum) and published in partnership with the https://www.wildforscotland.com/ (Wild for Scotland) podcast. Find out more at https://highlandsreimagined.com/ (highlandsreimagined.com)
2 Sept 2025
Episode 1 - Not Just a Pretty Place
Why do so many young people feel they have to leave the Scottish Highlands?
Will Sadler’s first question when he visits Farr High School in Mackay Country isn’t what makes the students want to leave - but what makes them want to stay?
He explores how romantic stereotypes of a wild, empty landscape clash with the young people’s lived reality that places people at the very centre of their experience.
He’ll find out how traumatic historical events such as the Highland Clearances mean that the question of whether to leave or to stay is nothing new.
He will discover why, despite the challenges of rural life, a strong sense of community and connection to place remains the most powerful reason for young people to call this beautiful part of the world their home.
Highlands Reimagined is an https://www.anyamedia.net/ (Anya Media) production, commissioned by https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/ (Strathnaver Museum) and published in partnership with the https://www.wildforscotland.com/ (Wild for Scotland) podcast. Find out more at https://highlandsreimagined.com/ (highlandsreimagined.com)
11 Aug 2025
Highlands Reimagined: The Trailer
Beyond the postcard view, rural Scotland faces a depopulation crisis.
As parts of the Scottish Highlands tackle ongoing population decline, this podcast series spends time with students of Farr High School in Sutherland’s Mackay Country. Why do they feel the need to leave and what might encourage them to stay or return to build their futures here?
From the aftermath of the Highland Clearances to modern community-led action, Highlands Reimagined highlights the ongoing fight to build a sustainable future for this beautiful place.
To listen, search Highlands Reimagined on your favourite podcast app, or visit highlandsreimagined.com (https://highlandsreimagined.com/)
Commissioned by Strathnaver Museum. (https://www.strathnavermuseum.org.uk/)
Published in partnership with the Wild for Scotland Podcast (https://pod.link/1554657285)
Listen by searching “Highlands Reimagined” on your favourite podcast app or see below.
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