Catherine Ridler, the spirited daughter of Bosworthy's wise woman, campaigns against the Barleside experiment, designed to achieve solvency for Exmoor's central workhouse. Interspersed with colourful characters and customs, and occasional flashes of humour, Barleside follows Catherine through dark and difficult days in her quest for justice until her determination to establish 'the rightness of things' is put to the ultimate test.