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A Last Wild Place
£8.99
A vivid, immersive and deeply felt account of life in one of Scotland’s last true wildernesses — a year of storms, solitude, wildlife and wonder on the shores of Loch Shiel.
Mike Tomkies’ classic nature memoir captures the raw beauty, danger and exhilaration of living alone in the wild, far from roads, neighbours and the modern world.
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About the Ebook
A Last Wild Place chronicles the years Mike Tomkies spent living alone in a remote cottage on the shores of Loch Shiel — a home he renamed Wildernesse. Accessible only by boat, it became the setting for the most profound wilderness experience of his life, shared only with his loyal German Shepherd, Moobli.
Organised around the elements of loch, woodland and mountain, the book follows the full cycle of the seasons in a landscape of harsh weather, fierce beauty and astonishing wildlife. Tomkies records everything with a naturalist’s precision and a storyteller’s heart: the roar of rutting stags, the flash of wild orchids, foxes patrolling their territories, otters slipping through moonlit water, badgers foraging at dusk, and ancient oaks torn apart by hurricane‑force winds.
His insights were earned through perseverance, solitude and constant exposure to danger. The challenges of living in such isolation — storms, injuries, hunger, cold — are woven into a narrative that celebrates resilience, wildness and the deep connection between humans and the natural world.
Critical Praise
"A remarkable portrait of a life lived close to nature, rich with observation, hardship and awe."
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- A classic of Scottish nature writing from one of the Highlands’ most iconic wilderness authors.
- Immersive, sensory descriptions of wildlife, weather and landscape.
- A powerful account of solitude and the challenges of living far from civilisation.
- Perfect for readers of rewilding, wilderness memoir and Highland landscapes.
- A standout Birlinn title celebrating Scotland’s wild places.
About the Author
Mike Tomkies was an acclaimed naturalist, writer and former Hollywood film journalist who spent 35 years living in remote wilderness areas in Scotland, Canada and Spain. Made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland in 1988, he wrote numerous bestselling nature books and a two‑volume autobiography. He died in 2016.
Publication Details
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Imprint: Birlinn
Publication Date: 1 April 2021
Print Length: 352 pages
ISBN (Ebook): 9781788854498
Format: Ebook
Language: English
Categories: Nature Writing & Gardening
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