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I lost my heart to a herd of reindeer

When Tilly Smith went to the Scottish Highlands in 1981, she expected to be there for a few months, but fell in love with the reindeer and the handsome herder looking after them.

In the Scottish Highlands at this time of the year you’ll find 150 reindeer roaming the Cairngorms National Park, and rather a lot of visitors coming to see them. These beautiful creatures are the only free-ranging herd of reindeer in the UK and they are looked after by Tilly Smith who went to spend the summer working there back in 1981... and she never left! Antonia Quirke went to meet Tilly, her daughter Fiona and some of the reindeer they look after.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Reporter: Antonia Quirke
Producer: June Christie

(Photo: Tilly Smith with reindeer. Credit: Cairngorm Reindeer Herd and photographer John Paul)

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18 minutes

Podcast