Podcast: The Bute Shepherdesses, Island Life, Friendship and Finding Your People

What happens when four women from four different countries find themselves living on the Isle of Bute, brought together by farming, sheepdogs and a shared love of island life?

In the September episode of Blether Together, Sarah Stephen is joined by the Bute Shepherdesses: Emma Gray, Lisa Gast, Cathinka Paterson and Sarah Farrell.

They talk about making Bute home, the realities of farming and island life, building friendships and finding a community around you. There are plenty of laughs too, as they share the story behind the hugely popular Trials of Bute and what happens when four strong opinions come together to organise an event.

It’s a warm and funny conversation about friendship, farming and the little things that help keep us well.

Listen now

About this episode

The Bute Shepherdesses might now call the same Scottish island home, but their journeys there started in very different places.

Emma is from Scotland, Lisa from Germany, Cathinka from Norway and Sarah from Canada. Between them, they farm, work with sheep and cattle, train sheepdogs and work as a therapist.

What connects them is Bute.

They share what first drew them to the island, from falling in love with the view from a farmhouse window to arriving on holiday and deciding they wanted to stay. They also talk honestly about the other side of island life, including moving away from family, isolation, financial pressures and the challenge of building a new life and support network.

As Emma puts it, there were plenty of "wobbles" along the way, but the community they found on Bute has made a huge difference.

The moment everything changed

For these four women, there isn't one single moment that changed everything. Instead, their stories are about taking chances, moving somewhere new and gradually finding their place.

Their friendship has grown alongside their lives and work on Bute, eventually leading them to create the Trials of Bute.

What began as a conversation about the lack of local sheepdog trials has grown into an event attracting competitors and their families to the island, with demand now far exceeding the places available.

But the ambition isn't simply to make the event bigger.

For Sarah and the rest of the group, it's about creating something people enjoy being part of, bringing people together and building friendships and connections that extend well beyond the competition itself.

As Sarah explains, farming can be beautiful, but it can also be hard. Having people around you can help you through the tougher days.

Lessons learned along the way

Find your people
Whether you're moving somewhere new or have lived in the same place all your life, having people around you matters. Friendship, family and community can help make the harder days feel more manageable.

Take a breath when things go wrong
Working with livestock has taught Lisa that when a situation goes wrong, losing your head rarely helps. Take a breath, assess what's happening and work out what you can do next.

Different opinions don't have to be a bad thing
The four admit that organising the Trials of Bute hasn't always been harmonious. They've learned to step back, listen to each other's point of view and remember that ultimately they all want the same thing.

Make room for fun
The Trials of Bute isn't just about competition. It's an opportunity to see people, make new friends and create something everyone can enjoy.

Looking after your wellbeing

When Sarah asks each of the women what helps them reset and feel better, their answers are refreshingly simple.

For Cathinka, it's getting outside and walking with her dogs. Sarah values the "little micro connections" that come from chatting to the postman or someone in a local shop. Emma enjoys the boost of heading into town for a good coffee, while Lisa grows flowers and vegetables and loves sharing them with other people.

Different things work for different people, but throughout the conversation the same themes keep coming back: getting outside, connecting with others, doing something you enjoy and making time for the people around you.

As Lisa puts it, sometimes you just need to see someone, have 20 minutes together, get your complaints out and then "crack on, feel way better."

Listen to the September episode of Blether Together to hear the full conversation with the Bute Shepherdesses.

And if this episode gets you thinking about your own wellbeing, try Farmstrong Scotland's How's It Going? tool. It's a simple way to check in with yourself and find practical ideas that could help you stay well.