The sound of the border country is saved for another generation, but is time running out for hill shepherd's traditional instrument?

During a hundred years of hard work by the Northumbrian Pipers' Society there were moments when the playing and music of the pipes came close to extinction. However, in recent years new composers for the Northumbrian pipes have reinvigorated the tradition, incorporating the instrument into jazz arrangements, and collaborating with internationally renowned artists like the Penguin Café Jazz Orchestra to bring the pipes to wider audiences.

The Dales Diary is presented by Luke Casey and is filmed on location in the Yorkshire and Durham Dales, the North York Moors, the Scottish Borders, Cumbria, and Dumfries and Galloway. Each week Luke meets individuals who live and work in this splendid northern hill country. Tonight, Luke meets dairy farmers Nick Hugill and Jeff Barthram of Bonnie Hills Dairy at Great Broughton near Middlesbrough, who have joined forces to collect, pasteurise and sell their own milk.

Next Luke goes to Northumberland to meet craftsman and musician David Burleigh at his workshop-cum-museum in the village of Longframlington, where he makes and plays the Northumbrian small pipes. He speaks with Luke about the history of the pipes in region and about some of those students he tutors in playing the instrument.

Finally, Luke goes for a hill walk through Wharfedale with Terry Fletcher, former editor of the Dalesman magazine who has retired after 15 years. Terry explains his love affair with the Northern hills and what he has achieved working for the magazine.