Crowdie and Cream (Gruth is Uachder)

A BBC Scotland Production

Location

Filmed in South Harris in the Outer Hebrides, this production used many of the exact locations and buildings mentioned in the book. Finlay J Macdonald grew up in Scarista, a small crofting village fifteen miles from Tarbert on the south west coast of Harris. Toe Head, Tarbert, and the Northton machairs were the main locations. There was also a two-week shoot in Glasgow and Argyll. See our location map for further details.

Story Line:

This television series is an adaptation of the famous novel 'Crowdie and Cream' which is an autobiographical account of Finlay J MacDonald's childhood, growing up in the 1930s on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It is a rite of passage tale, a boisterous comedy with poignant moments. The story follows Finlay from his pre-school years right through to when he left his idyllic island for school on the Isle of Skye. It is a compassionate story told with humour and affection about Hebridean island life and colourful characters that were unforgettable in their strength and kindness. The story begins in 1930 when Finlay's father, a soldier, returns from war and stakes out new croft lands in an attempt to make a living. Although set against the backdrop of the great depression and the shadow of the 2nd World War, Finlay's memories of his childhood are happy ones which tell of the sharing, compassion and friendship which existed in this rural community at the edge of the Atlantic. There are stories of engagement parties, mischievous tales from school and coming of age realisations.

Born in 1924 - Finlay J Macdonald was brought up in Scarista. He was educated in Harris and Portree on the Isle of Skye and then went to Glasgow University to study Divinity. After his first year of study, Macdonald started at the BBC as a Gaelic radio producer. He went on to write the famous trilogy of 'Crowdie and Cream', 'The Corncrake and the Lysander' and 'Crotal and White'.

Cast

Kenny Macrae, Donna Morrison, Domhnall Ruadh, Domhnall Carlin, Simon Mackenzie, Dolina Maclennan, Pauline Little, Anna Murray, Ewan Mackinnon, Razwan Shafi, Calum Cameron, Annie Macleod, Cailean MacQuarrie, Alaisdair Maclennan, Donnie Finlayson, Tom Maciver, Jonathon Battersby