ISLAND ODYSSEY

By Eilidh MacPherson

Seafaring shepherdess Rhoda Munro is one of the hardiest women I know

writes Eilidh MacPherson of farmingscotland.com

Tending Blackface sheep on the isles of Gometra and Mull, Rhoda lists sheep shearing contractor on her curriculum vitae - CV.

The past decade has seen more and more women tread the shearing boards both here in the UK and across the world, but few of the fairer sex are hardy enough to also add fencing contractor and lobster fisherwoman to their resume – like Rhoda!

With a penchant for Scottish Blackface sheep, Rhoda is well known in Blackie circles and a regular bidder on Lurg stock at both female and tup sales.

“People will probably have a go at me for always buying stock from Lurg but they are good kinds, the tups don’t melt and they go on and thrive for me on both Mull and Gometra,” she enthused. 

“I’ve known Ewan a long time and the aftercare is top notch.”

It was at a market ringside that I first came across this formidable female farmer.  I was intrigued to see a Connachan Blackface tup and a homebred ewe tattooed on one arm and “a bought in Lurg lamb,” on the other!

“I’m getting another ewe tattooed to balance it out,” laughed Rhoda, who kept inviting me to visit the Island of Gometra.

It was late July when I first headed from Skye to Mallaig and down through Moidart and Morven to the ferry at Lochaline and across to Fishnish on Mull.

Rhoda was busy shearing so I met her in the evening at Croft No.1, Fanmore, near Ulva Ferry.

Her 50-acre, owned croft, which is half in by and half hill, looks across Loch Tuath to the Isles of Ulva and Gometra.  At that time of year it was looking lush but I’m sure it is a different story mid-winter!  She is currently running 20 Blackies but intends to increase it to 30 in the near future.

Following a stint at Oatridge College and a few years honing her shearing and fencing skills at Skerrinish Farm, Glenbarr, Argyll, she returned home and took on the croft.

Her newfound fencing experience came in handy as the holding was completely run down.  “Dad and I also built a shed from reclaimed timber washed up on the shore and dug out a road to the byre.”

This determined west coaster was brought up on the 4500-acre Island of Ulva.  “My Dad was running the 1400 strong flock of Blackies and we had a small stud flock.  Tups from the Pole did very well there.”

The first two years on her own place she invested in Dalchirla hoggs and then started breeding replacements, while working on Ulva with her Dad.

“The owner of Ulva changed tack, wanting to plant trees rather than raise sheep so Dad’s tenancy wasn’t renewed and the 1400 ewes were put off.  Dad and Mum moved and took on the management of the much smaller flock on the neighbouring Island of Gometra.   As there was no work for me I decided to head to Angus on the East coast and learn about arable farming and let my croft out to my sister.”

Through Ringlink Rhoda landed a job on a broccoli and cauliflower harvester before spending six years at Strathmore Farms on the pig unit, carted grain near Dundee and then back to sheep and the hills of Glen Clova.  Rhoda had a small flock of her own Blackies at Clova and took out the championship at Fettercairn Show.

“While on the East coast I also spent my weekends doing security at pubs and nightclubs, which was wild!”

Tragically Rhoda’s father died in an accident in May 2014 and she returned home to her croft in the September.

“The job on Gometra was advertised, but no one applied.  So I came home and took on Dad’s role on the island and moved back onto my croft,” shared Rhoda, who like many islanders wears various hats or other attire: sheep shearing contractor, fencing contractor and lobster fisherwoman on her brother’s fishing boat.

The following day I headed up Glen Forsa to Rhoail Fank to photograph Rhoda shearing.  As it was a traditional fank with covered yards Rhoda and her well-tattooed counterpart were shearing on stands rather than her trailer.  She uses Cow Comfort Mats instead of wooden boards to shear on – which I thought a great idea.  Well-known farm advisor Colin MacPhail, who is based in Lanarkshire, was kept busy dragging sheep out for the pair and rolling wool.

Rhoda’s shearing record sits at 403 sheep shorn in nine hours at Glengorm.

Obviously a trip to Gometra was out of the question at that juncture so I headed back at the end of August when the lambs were coming off the island.

With the first ferry off Skye I hoofed it down to Lochaline and across to Mull, in time to meet Rhoda just arriving at the pier in her RIB.  Life jacket on, the adventure began!

While many farmers, from time to time, bemoan the weather conditions they have to work in, this hardy lassie has to brave the seas as well as the elements.

Few farmers will head to work in a flotation suit!  The added exertion of pulling in boats was just exhausting to film and watch!

“The sea is my problem and the wind.  I have taken some chances but feel that my RIB is one of the safest boats.  We have to work with the tides.”

Luckily the twenty-minute crossing was relatively calm.   Rhoda’s Mum, (also Rhoda) still lives on the island and dished up a lovely lunch before we ferried the lambs from the shed to pens on the pier with the quad bike and trailer.

Gometra covers 1200 acres with half good fertile ground and half hill.

“Mum is a godsend, especially when gathering.  It is really difficult, rocky terrain to gather and I can’t use the quad on the hill.”

“Mum spends the winter crafting and sells her beaded jewellery and bookmarks to summer tourists.”

With ten years of running the 200 Blackies on Gometra, Rhoda feels pleased that she has improved the quality of the stock to her liking, using Lurg genetics.

Island owner and off-grid resident Roc Sandford likes to keep the island organic, which has its challenges with the ever-invading bracken, white dose resistance and no deer control.

The increase in bracken has seen sheep numbers drop over the years.  Like most west coast crofting and farming communities the Sea Eagle has also taken its toll on lamb survival.  One bonus is that there are no foxes on the island!

Ewes are sold privately at 4-crop along with any excess gimmers.  “I could sell at the market but some go to Aberdeenshire and some to Biggar. Stores are sold in Oban.  Last year they were third in the show.”

As we arrived at the quay with the fourth and final trailer load of lambs, Rhoda’s brother David had berthed with the Seahound.  Loading was relatively easy – the Munro siblings worked in harmony.

As David made off with the ovine cargo, Rhoda pulled in the RIB and we chased him up the loch for epic video footage and to have the trailer in situ for his arrival on Mull.

Back on Mull as we awaited the lambs, Rhoda admitted that her ambition for her own Blackie flock is to be able to sell a pen of 20 breedy females a year.

This capable young lady (48) was invited back to the East coast last year to judge the Blackfaces at Alyth Show.  She has previously placed the winners at Dalmally Show and the Tup sale at Oban.

Unloading the lambs took a bit more coaxing and as the back door of the Ifor Williams trailer closed I made off for Fishnish ferry terminal in the hope of making time to connect for the last Skye ferry.  Unfortunately the queue was long and my journey time increased by several hours and miles by heading home via Fort William.  But it was the least of my worries, I had an amazing outing with a woman who I admire and now hold in even higher regard.

Next time you are complaining about the weather – spare a thought for Rhoda Munro who will be making her daily trip through atrocious conditions on the high seas to check her flock!  And twice a day at lambing time.

Check out the video footage at: m.youtube/@farmingscotlandcom