The River (2016)

Welcome to life along the River Tweed. A borders land of characters. From rugby to racehorses, common ridings to mountain biking, salmon fishing to a chocolate factory. The River has it all. It's mid-spring along the River Tweed with folk gearing up for a hectic summer ahead. In this episode, the Floors stud team are waiting for their final expectant mare Dusty Answer to foal, it's the first home birth for several years and one that the entire stud team will be needed for. In Melrose, Rugby Sevens coach John Dalziel is preparing his team for their home Sevens championships. Player Nyle Godsmark is hoping to make an impression and stake a claim for a place in John's team. On the river, ghillie Mick Charlton is trying to help land fishing client Jeremy his first Tweed salmon off the beat. In tough fishing conditions, Mick uses all his ghillie knowledge to give Jeremy the best chance of catching that wily Tweed salmon. In the heart of Kelso, businesses are spring cleaning ahead of peak season, The Ednam House hotel has rooms to renovate and the local tackle shop, Tweedside Tackle, is busy fitting out customers in fishing waders.

The heart and soul of many a border town, the rugby sevens' spiritual home is Melrose. In this episode, manager John Dalziel finds out if his players have what it takes to win their home sevens championships, as player Nyle Godsmark and his teammates carry the huge weight of expectations on their young shoulders. UK world chocolate master Ruth Hinks gets help in her chocolate factory from her children, Aiden and Delphine, production is at capacity and between running her factory and cafe Ruth is desperately trying to finish work on a new chocolate school in the heart of Peebles. On the river, Tweed Commission bailiffs are out in force making sure the rivers Tweedcode is being adhered too. Superintendent river bailiff Eddie Weatherly oversees an operation to tackle two codebreakers. In Kelso, owners of Tweedside Tackle, Tim and Caroline Pilcher have been told their lease is up, some help is on hand though, as neighbouring hotelier Margaret offers them a property to keep their business alive. And at Floors Estate, stud manager David Trouton checks on his latest arrival, foal Sunshine, as it steps outside into the lush green paddocks for the first time.

Fishing and horse riding are staple pastimes in the Borders, along the River Tweed horses are ingrained in people's lives as much as the clear water running through the river and this is certainly the case for trainer Katie Scott. This episode sees Katie prepare horses for Kelso races in horrific rainy and sleety conditions, she she battles through it and manages to get three horses to the races. On the river, ghillie Colin Bell has some returning fishing clients to get to the best pools on the Upper Floors fishing beat. Colin has high expectations and uses traditional 'hand lining' skills to get his client a majestic Tweed salmon. In Kelso, Tweedside Tackle are moving their fishing tackle shop across the road and will need to move over 20,000 hooks, reels, rods and waders. And in Peebles, as the Tweedlove festival gets underway, organisers Neil and Fiona Dalgleish make sure all the valleys biking fanatics head off in style.

For thousands of years prized salmon stocks have faced a varying degree of threats to their existence. In this episode, Eddie Weatherly and his river bailiff team respond to more calls that salmon poachers are active along the river, the search is on and, under the cover of darkness, the team lie in wait to see if the poachers turn up. In Kelso, it's one of the busiest weekends of the year for the Ednam House hotel. Manager Margaret Livingstone-Evans has three weddings across three days, a bridal conundrum! In Peebles, Ruth Hinks has 5,000 chocolate brownies to make for a charity campaign, but little does she know that husband David has a special surprise lined up to reward her for all her hard work. On Cowbog Farm, farmer Robert Wilson, daughter Lottie and father Ron are testing the cattle for TB and far more importantly for daughter Lottie, they're checking to see if her favourite cow is pregnant. And at Floors Stud, it's a big day for all involved as Tattersalls auctioneer Todd Watt visits to decide just how many potential million-pound horses will go in the biggest of horse sales.

It's common riding fever along the River Tweed and that means a lot of work for farrier David Merry and his apprentice Ross. In this episode, David has the small task of seeing to all the horses at the Jedburgh common ride and the larger task of rescuing his van. Former Galashiels braw lass and horse racing trainer Katie Scott is preparing horses for the gala rideout along with travelling draper Richard Mackay. Richard's daughter Alice is the 'bearer of the white roses', and Katie faces a former Grand National winner in a chase to the top of the hill. Across River Tweed tributaries, biologist James Hunt is 'electro-fishing' to find evidence that the salmon and trout spawning grounds have survived the winter floods. After six long months, Ruth Hinks finally launches her new chocolate school with a royal twist. At Floors Stud, manager David Trouton is overseeing one of the most important days of the year, their young horses are getting shod for the first time with a little help from farrier David Merry, and on Cowbog Farm, Robert Wilson is checking on the young calves, trying to select his best of the herd for the Kelso show with daughter Lottie.

The final episode of The River, and summer is coming to an end with a bang. The Floors Stud team prepare for the most important day of their year, the sales at Newmarket. But before they can get to the sales, the horses need conditioning so some lunge training is required. In Peebles, Fiona and Neil Dalgleish organise the International Enduro at Glentress Forest, where international pro riders will hit some of the valley's steepest and fastest trails, this being the biggest event of its kind in Britain. On the river, ghillie Colin Bell strims more grassy riverbanks and sees to his summer fishing clients, and on Cowbog Farm, Lottie blowdries her dad's prized Hereford herd. With cows chosen for the show, Lottie and dad Robert will be aiming high come show day. Finally, it's judgement day for the Floors Stud team, they make it to the Tattersalls auction with their best six horses, 12 months of dedication and hard graft will come down to just a few minutes in the sales ring. The pressure is on.