I farm: “Over 12,000 acres at Cambusmore in Sutherland. Much of it is sporting, but my interest is purely farming. I had a 250-acre farm in Surrey, but wanted something a bit more commercial. The climate is better here; in Surrey we were on very heavy clay, so the cattle were inside more than they are here.”

Sheep: “I keep around 2,000 ewes: around 350 mules, 1,600 Cheviots and a few blackies. I breed my own replacements. The Cheviots were hefted when I came here and I introduced mules, which are much more commercial – they’re better lambing, better mothers, better everything.”

Cattle: “I introduced cattle to the farm and have now got a commercial herd and a pedigree Limousin herd – around 100, plus followers, so around 170 in total. We’ve had a good year this year, with no calving problems. I think I’ve got mineral and trace element doses right.”

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Grazing: “I’m trying to introduce a paddock grazing system. We’ve got sheep everywhere and too much grass on the hill, so I’m going to put some effort into controlled grazing. I attended the QMS grazing group. It was absolutely fantastic; it has inspired me and assured me that what I was doing in the first place was the right way to go.”

Soil: “We’ve been rebalancing minerals. The grazing immediately improved and the sheep are already in better condition this year.

This week: “I’ve been demolishing a shed and preparing foundations to install a district heating system.”

Staff: “I have a full-time shepherd, who was here when I came. I also have a full-time tractor/cattle man, and a lady who helps me with the cattle and keeps me straight on records, a gamekeeper and me full time. I’ve leased my son, a young farmer, 100 hectares.”

Quotable quote: “The QMS grazing group showed me that other farmers have as many problems as I do, but they have solutions too.”