Atholl Estates was the setting for 'Conquer the Castle' being shown on STV at 7.30pm on Thursday evenings from 3 January 2008 and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) starting at 5.30pm on Sunday 3 February 2008.

Six contestants - Richard, Trudie, Muchaneta, Kimberley, Dave and Chris - had the opportunity to learn what is involved in running the 145,000 acre estate, while staying in one of the estate's self-catering lodges, Kindrochet. Atholl Estates, in Highland Perthshire, is one of Scotland 's largest and most iconic estates centred on the historic Blair Castle.

Follow the contestants over the twelve episodes of the series and find out just who 'conquers the castle'.

Episode One - to be shown on STV on Thursday 3 January 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 3 February 2008 at 5.30pm

• It’s Day One of the gruelling country challenge, and the contestants - devoted city slickers Dave, Kimberley, Trudie, Richard, Chris and Muchaneta - arrive at the spectacular Blair Castle and Atholl Estates in the Scottish Highlands.
  
  As they slowly get to grips with their new country surroundings, the contestants are split into three teams of two, and Estate Manager Andrew BruceWootton allocates their very first countryside tasks. It soon becomes clear that these urbanites are well and truly outside their big city comfort zone…
  
  The first team, receptionist Trudie and show-biz author Richard, are tasked with catching rabbits and preparing them for an evening meal for their fellow housemates – a hugely emotional and trying challenge for bunny lover Trudie!
  
  Meanwhile, Essex wild child Kimberley and sales exec Chris think they’ve landed the lucky task of a guided castle tour followed by a luxury champagne lunch, but they’ve got a surprise coming…
  
  And tattoo artist Dave and fashion producer Muchaneta get up close and personal with the estate sheep as they take on sheep shearing. It’s a task more difficult than it looks, especially for Muchaneta who spends more time screaming than shearing!
  
  As the teams get stuck into their demanding tasks, the competition is officially on! Who will be the most successful contestant of the day and crowned the first King or Queen of the Castle?
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the first episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 1, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Two - to be shown on STV on Thursday 10 January 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 10 February 2008 at 5.30pm

• The tough competition continues for the six city slickers at Blair Castle and Atholl Estates. It’s day two of the challenge, and the going gets tough for the contestants when the weather turns torrential.
  
  Today, Trudie and Muchaneta are horrified to be dropped in the heart of the 145,000 acre Atholl Estates. They’re even more surprised to find that their historical orienteering task is set across 12 miles of rugged landscape…by bike!
  
  The second team of the day, Dave and Chris, join the castle army, The Atholl Highlanders, in a march on the parade ground. Drill Sergeant Graham Jack turns tough when Chris starts mouthing off, but the boys eventually make it onto the parade ground with the regiment. But with hundreds of tourists watching, will nerves and emotions get the better of them?
  
  Finally, Kimberley and Richard are asked to prepare ponies for show at Scotland’s most prestigious agricultural event, The Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh. The pressure is on and the work painstaking, but is the reward worth it? For Kimberley and Richard it’s the start a friendship which is set to last.
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the second episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 2, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here
  

Episode Three - to be shown on STV on Thursday 17 January 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 17 February 2008 at 5.30pm

• We’re three days into the countryside challenge, and the six contestants are already feeling the culture shock of leaving the big city behind.
  
  Today, Richard and Chris go head to head as they compete in a thrilling 4x4 off road driving challenge. More used to taking the London tube, show-biz author Richard displays a need for speed, while sales exec Chris’s competitive drive starts to show.
  
  Kimberley and Trudie take on each other in a whisky tasting contest, and Essex girl Kimberley struggles as she’s forced to swap her usual alco-pops for Scotland’s national drink. The baby of the group, Kimberley soon discovers that whisky isn’t for her, and it’s not long before she’s in tears trying to keep the drink down.
  
  Meanwhile, Muchaneta and Dave are tasked with cleaning the castle under the eagle eye of head housekeeper Madge. When the pair starts to struggle, Dave goes on the charm offensive in an attempt to take the lead.
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the third episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 3, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Four - to be shown on STV on Thursday 24 January 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 24 February 2008 at 5.30pm

• After four days at Blair Castle and Atholl Estates in Perthshire, the six contestants are feeling the pressure of their demanding countryside tasks, and hidden feelings and secrets of the past are revealed.
  
  Today, Kimberley and Dave are paired up to take on white water rafting – it’s the one task Kimberley didn’t want to do! Despite being terrified, the Essex wild child faces her worst nightmares and competes against cool Glaswegian Dave. But when things go wrong and the raft gets stuck on the river, even Dave starts to worry.
  
  London city types Chris and Muchaneta swap luxury and glamour for the ultimate wilderness survival challenge - spending the night in a remote mountain hut with no hot water, electricity, heating or toilets!
  
  Meanwhile, Trudie and Richard are tasked with performing a garden tour in front of a big crowd, but for Birmingham girl Trudie the challenge spirals into a full scale panic attack as memories of childhood bullying come flashing back.
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the fourth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 4, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here
  

Episode Five - to be shown on STV on Thursday 31 January 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 2 March 2008 at 5.30pm

• Our six city slickers continue their gruelling two week stay at the spectacular Blair Castle and Atholl Estates, and the tasks keep getting harder…
  
  In today’s challenge, bachelor boy Chris is joined by receptionist Trudie for a Scottish cookery lesson with leading chef Alan Mathieson. But when Alan turns the tables on them, things soon start hotting up in the kitchen…
  
  Author Richard and tattoo artist Dave find themselves getting up close and personal with the Estate’s sheep which are in dire need of worming. The boys feed the sheep medicine, before tackling the back end of the animals…the countryside has suddenly become more challenging!
  
  Finally, Kimberley and Muchaneta test out their green fingers on the award winning castle gardens. Can Essex girl Kimberley, who keeps a fridge in her garden, and fashionista Muchaneta, who lives in a London flat, keep the five star garden up to its usual standards?
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the fifth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 5, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Six - to be shown on STV on Thursday 7 February 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 9 March 2008 at 5.30pm

• Conquer the Castle’s six contestants – devoted city folk Dave, Richard, Muchaneta, Kimberley, Trudie and Chris – are now half way through their challenge and country life is already making an impact on them.
  
  Today, London-centrics Richard and Muchaneta go head to head on a clay pigeon shoot out. They have just one intensive training session to learn the tricks of the trade before competing against each other - and some real professionals.
  
  Meanwhile, Chris and Kimberley act as waiting staff at a high class Highland wedding. Illicit cigarette breaks and smashed champagne glasses are just part of the chaos the team creates during their task.
  
  Today’s third team, Trudie and Dave, reflect on life at home and how their stay in the country is changing them as people. Then, they head to the hills for a seemingly pleasant deer spotting task, only to find it involves crawling on all fours to count deer droppings!
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the sixth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 6, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Seven - to be shown on STV on Thursday 14 February 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 16 March 2008 at 5.30pm

• It’s day seven of the country challenge at Blair Castle and Atholl Estates. New friends and new country experiences are making a huge impact on the six contestants, who are starting to reflect on how to change their city lives for the better.
  
  In today’s task, Kimberley has her city sensibilities tested when she takes on Trudie in the aristocratic sport of fly fishing. The girls must catch tonight’s dinner but the dispatching of the fish horrifies Kimberley and sees her longing for the supermarket.
  
  More used to pen pushing than saw pulling, London residents Chris and Muchaneta battle it out while cutting down trees...the old fashioned way! With no power tools in sight, the pair is left with good old hand saws and a lot of back breaking graft.
  
  And it’s a day of hunting and gathering for Dave and Richard, who must match Trudie and Kimberley’s efforts by bringing back the rest of the dinner from a wild foraging expedition in The Estates forests.
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the seventh episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 7, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Eight - to be shown on STV on Thursday 21 February 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 23 March 2008 at 5.30pm

• The contestants face another tough day as they reach day eight of their tasking two-week country challenge at Perthshire’s Atholl Estates.
  
  Today, Dave and Chris face the deer stalking task, which proves to be an emotionally upsetting and physical mission. Tense, emotive and full of suspense, Dave hesitates too long and hits the heather. Chris hits the stag with greater determination, but coming to terms with what he has done proves almost too much.
  
  Author Richard and receptionist Trudie go head to head for the second time in the series, as they are tasked with the seemingly tranquil challenge of counting the endangered red squirrel. But their task has more in store...
  
  Meanwhile on the farm, wild child Kimberley and fashionista Muchaneta are in for a hilarious reality check when they find themselves on the wrong end of a herd of cows. There’s not an ounce of glamour in sight as the girls battle it out to clean and clip poo from the rear ends of the animals.
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the eighth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 8, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here
  

Episode Nine - to be shown on STV on Thursday 28 February 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 30 March 2008 at 5.30pm

• Conquer the Castle’s contestants, a group of urban dwellers taking on the physical and emotional task of running a country estate, have now reached day nine of their quest.
  
  Today, London residents Muchaneta and Richard come face to face with birds of pray – a daunting prospect. Raptor hunting is a task easier said than done, especially as the Harris Hawks clearly have a mind of their own and start giving Richard and Muchaneta the run around.
  
  After a morning of training, London sales exec Chris and Birmingham receptionist Trudie take on each other in the Highland Games, featuring some very heavy weights. The competition is fierce and Chris is determined not to be beaten by a girl, but Trudie gives it her all. When disaster strikes for Chris, the competition takes an unexpected turn…
  
  Meanwhile, the estate tourists need entertaining, and Glasgow tattoo artist Dave and Essex wild child Kimberley set off to lead a farm tour. Keeping children amused shouldn’t be too hard for dad Dave and former nursery assistant Kimberley, but Kimberley gets sidetracked and it’s up to Dave to save the task.
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the ninth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 9, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Ten - to be shown on STV on Thursday 6 March 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 6 April 2008 at 5.30pm

• With only three days to go before the overall winner is announced, competition is on everyone’s mind and our six city slickers get stuck into their tasks – and they’re not getting easier!
  
  Dave and Trudie are both hungry for victory, but the canyoning task with its cliff jumps, giant rock slides and white water presents them both with a huge challenge. For Trudie, her low self esteem and fear of heights and water make this an intense and terrifying day. Will sheer determination help her push through?
  
  Kimberley and Richard are tasked with looking after the stables, but it’s a disappointing day for Kimberley. First she discovers that Hamish, the pony handler she’s had a crush on since meeting him on day two, has a girlfriend. Then she finds out that the task doesn’t even involve riding the ponies, only cleaning them!
  
  As it’s mid summer, Chris and Muchaneta are tasked with preparing for the grouse hunting season by each building a grouse butt. It involves a lot of tough labour and they both get stuck in, but when the winner is announced the atmosphere turns sour. The competition is hotting up!
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the tenth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 10, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here
  

Episode Eleven - to be shown on STV on Thursday 13 March 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 13 April 2008 at 5.30pm

• On their final day of tasks, the contestants’ relationships are put to the test and it’s becoming clear that not everyone gets on. For others, the thought of soon having to leave new-found friends behind causes upset…
  
  It’s the morning after the night before, and Kimberley and Richard draw the short straw when the day’s challenges are allocated. They’re tasked with cleaning the luxury lodge the group has lived together in for two weeks, and it’s not a pleasant experience. For Kimberley, the realisation that they are soon to leave each other and go back home sends her into tears.
  
  Trudie and Chris are nursing nasty hangovers as they get to grips with a day of 4x4 quad bikes. They’re tasked with herding cows on the farm, but more concentration seems to be going into not being sick!
  
  As a team, Dave and Muchaneta is far from a winning combination and, as they tackle the farmers market in today’s task, the pressure to sell out of their organic meat pushes this relationship too far. Their true feelings about each other are revealed and tensions are high, but will they finish their task successfully?
  
  Finally, estate manager Andrew Bruce Wootton turns the tables on the city slickers and leaves them speechless with an unexpected announcement...
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the eleventh episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 11, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here

Episode Twelve 'The Final' - to be shown on STV on Thursday 20 March 2008 at 7.30pm and on Sky Real Lives (Sky channel 253) on Sunday 20 April 2008 at 5.30pm

• It’s the final day of the challenge, and our urban dwellers have nearly reached the end of their gruelling stay in the country.
  
  As evening comes, the farewell celebrations gets into full swing with a traditional ceilidh and the groups learns what partying in the countryside is all about - and it’s a far cry from the city nightlife they’re used to!
  
  There are mixed emotions as the contestants reflect on the personal and emotional journeys they’ve taken during the last two weeks, and they are both excited and nervous as decision time is looming.
  
  Who will have truly ‘Conquered the Castle’ and be crowned the ultimate winner of the competition?
  
  Missed the episode? Visit here to see re-caps and the twelveth episode.
  
  To read mini biographies of the Atholl Estates staff involved in Episode 12, and hear their thoughts on the filming, click here