At the water's edge

Seasons on Harris

Arch

An innocent in Scotland

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At the water's edge : a personal quest for wildness

John Lister-Kaye.

Edinburgh ; New York : Canongate, c2010.

For the last 30 years nature writernbsp;John Lister-Kaye has taken the same circular walk from his home deep in a Scottish glen up to a small lake. Each day brings a new observation or an unexpected encounter—a fragile spider’s web, an osprey struggling to lift a trout from the water, or a woodcock exquisitely camouflaged on her nest—and every day, on his return home, he records his thoughts in a journal. Drawing on this lifetime of close observation, John Lister-Kaye encourages a secondnbsp;looknbsp;atnbsp;naturenbsp;andnbsp;discovery of its wildness. Henbsp;also forges wonderful connections between the most unlikely subjects, from photosynthesis and the energy cycle to Norse mythology, weasels, and the overpopulation of the planet.At the Water’s Edgeis a lyrical hymn to wildlife, and a powerful warning to respect and protect it.

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Seasons on Harris : a year in Scotland's Outer Hebrides

written and illustrated by David Yeadon.

New York : HarperCollins, 2006.

Maps on end papers.

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Arch

Andy Goldsworthy, David Craig.

New York : H.N. Abrams, 1999.

Renowned for creating art outdoors and from natural materials, British artist Andy Goldsworthy here offers an inside look at an intriguing project. Following the route along which sheep were once driven from Scotland to markets in the north of England, he builds, dismantles, and rebuilds along the way a red sandstone arch.

Made of blocks hewn from a Scottish quarry, the arch begins its journey in a dilapidated stone sheepfold. Goldsworthy's color photographs track its progress southward, as it is constructed in the morning and taken down in the evening in a variety of locations, including the site of a vanished stone sheep pen in a town center, in a field high above a six-lane highway, and half in and half out of a stream.

Goldsworthy lives near the beginning of the arch's route; writer David Craig lives near its end. He shares Goldsworthy's concern for the history of the land, and his text touches both on the route's ancient origins and on the people who have lived and worked along it. His delightful evocation of the arch's travels and its reception in various communities brings Goldsworthy's project to life.

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An innocent in Scotland : more curious rambles and singular encounters

David W. McFadden.

Toronto : M&S, c1999.

In "An Innocent in Ireland (1995) and "An Innocent in Scotland (1999), poet and traveller David McFadden let the spirit of the country--and his own interests--guide his rambles. He has now done the same in Newfoundland. Zigzagging across the province in his rented car, he charts an erratic course, visiting fellow poets and publishers, wandering at dusk among the Viking mounds at L'Anse aux Meadows, rooming with a Salvation Army family in a distant outport, hanging on in a stiff wind to watch birds nesting on a cliff face, and enjoying the social life in countless bars and restaurants. It soon becomes clear that McFadden's love of a good chat is shared widely by the people he meets in Newfoundland and he is wise enough to let them tell their own stories. For, as ever, his interest is in the heart of a place--and not just its scenery. Copyright #169; Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Loch Droma

Few places evoke a more romantic vision than the Highlands of Scotland. Here is where history, legend, and beautiful scenery combine for an unforgettable experience in travel. 

The Highlands in Scotland’s mountainous north are home to Scottish people who are proud of their Gaelic traditions. Their customs are found in the food, music, buildings, shops, and outlook of this place that is so beloved of travelers.

Inverness is a handsome small city that serves as the capital of the Highlands. The city has an attractive museum and art gallery. At its castle you’ll find living history demonstrations.  Special events such as the Highland Festival in June and the Inverness Highland Games in July are known world wide.

Inverness forms a good base from which to visit these nearby attractions:

The world’s top rated golf courses can be found in the Highlands. The village of Dornach is famous for multiple courses, and other well-known courses sit near Inverness and Nairn. The wonderful forests, lakes, and hills provide unprecedented opportunities for hikes. After a long day outdoors a Scotch whiskey brewed in the area is a welcome treat.

Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff