It is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's dream to escape the urban sprawl and find a little place in the country where he can live off the fat of the land.
When Hugh finds River Cottage nestling in the heart of the beautiful Dorset countryside he sets about turning his dream into a reality. The first casualty to self-sufficiency is the flower bed which makes way for terracing to grow edible crops. Once the vegetables have been taken care of Hugh sets off in his 1965 Ford Corsair in search of livestock.
The first arrivals at the cottage are a pair of eight week old Gloucester Old Spot pigs but more animals soon follow.
Hugh also finds time to show how sumptuous meals can be prepared from the local produce be it sea fish, pigeons or freshly caught pike.