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Madeira's Cider Revolution: How Ancient Mountain Orchards Are Producing Award-Winning Sparkling Cider
Hidden high in Madeira's misty mountain valleys, ancient apple orchards are enjoying an extraordinary revival. Martin Hesp discovers how entrepreneur Márcio Nóbrega has transformed the island's traditional "poor man's drink" into internationally acclaimed sparkling cider while rescuing thousands of heritage apple trees from abandonment.
Martin Hesp
3 hours ago7 min read


Taw Head Dartmoor Walk: Following the River Taw to Its Source
A long and exhilarating Dartmoor hike from Belstone to Taw Head, following the River Taw towards its remote source beneath Hangingstone Hill. This memorable seven-mile walk takes in Taw Marsh, Oke Tor, Steeperton Tor, Belstone Tor and some of the wildest scenery in Devon.
Martin Hesp
4 days ago5 min read


The Lemon Tree Forest: Why I Cut 40,000 Words to Create the "Director’s Cut"
The silence of the mountain was deceptive. Somewhere in the shifting shadows of the valley, the pursuit was closing in. Sebastian felt the cold air bite at his lungs—a sharp reminder that they were no longer in the gentle, familiar hills of Exmoor.
"We can't stop," Sasha whispered. Her eyes were fixed on the jagged peaks ahead.
Sebastian looked back. Far below, a single pinprick of light flickered. They were being hunted by a family that viewed loyalty as a commodity to be
Martin Hesp
Apr 82 min read


A Life on the Road — One Saturday at a Time
For more than twenty-five years Martin Hesp has written about the landscapes, people and traditions of the West Country. In this episode he reflects on growing up in West Somerset, the shadow that war cast over his childhood, and how local history — from Viking raids to Alfred the Great — shaped the imagination of a generation.
Martin Hesp
Mar 115 min read


The Cornish Snapper: The Granite Mystery Unveiled
Can a press photographer be the modern-day Sherlock Holmes? Award-winning journalist Martin Hesp introduces 'The Cornish Snapper', a new mystery series born from a BBC debate and set in the rugged landscape of West Penwith. Meet Veryan Lammoran and Thomas Hamilton—the most unlikely investigative duo in the West Country.
Martin Hesp
Feb 203 min read


Kingsbury Episcopi: The Secret Heart of Somerset’s Cider Land
Is Kingsbury Episcopi the true heart of the cider world? Martin Hesp joins poet James Crowden to explore a landscape of 'ghost' apple varieties, Somerset oak brandy, and the proper old-fashioned cider houses of the Levels.
Martin Hesp
Jan 188 min read
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