Highland Year

by Lea MacNally

For some time, this has been a standard book on the wildlife and natural world of the Scottish Highlands, with a special focus on the majestic red deer, renowned the world over as "monarchs of the glen". The book begins in November, and takes us through the year to October, "the month of roaring", rutting time of the red deer. This new edition is enhanced by the author's prize-winning photographs, which provide rare and evocative portraits of the red, row, and Sika deer, as well as golden eagles, foxes, badgers, and wildcats. As the months pass, we are given fascinating insights into the intricate pattern of life in the wild. MacNally's unrivaled familiarity and understanding of Scottish wildlife is conveyed in the words and pictures of this book, as he describes the beautiful land of the deer, the hardships of winter, the birth of the calves in the spring, and the feverish and spectacular duels between stags which culminate the year. Lea MacNally was, for over twenty years, a naturalist for the National Trust for Scotland and was a Fellow of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Genres: Nature

117 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Lea MacNally (1926 - 1993) was a Scottsh deer stalker, author and photographer. He championed deer welfare as the National Trust for Scotland's first ranger/ecologist and was the author of six books on Highland wildlife.

Reviews

[Judith]

"To make up for the bad days there are good days too, days on which you are glad to be alive and out in the hills, days at time breathtaking in their loveliness."

"Apparent emptiness amazingly transformed into a herd of snow-covered hinds and calves, who pause only to shake their coats free of their camouflage and fleetingly survey your now shrinking, half-crouched and naked-feeling figure, dark against the white expanse, before disappearing swiftly over the ridge top."

"As they trotted in single file through the long heather of a sheltered hill face some way from me, the leader suddenly jumped almost straight in the air, and out to one side, while from below his very hooves started out a very surprised fox, drowsily confused, almost rubbing its eyes one felt, rudely awakened from its snug heather bed."

"Scents too seemed stronger on those early morning jaunts: the almost incense-like smell of birches after heavy rain and most evocative and characteristic of those July mornings, the sharp scent of wild thyme rising to one's nostrils as one trod through and bruised its profusion."

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author was a deer-stalker, ranger and naturalist for many years, and he has a detailed knowledge of Highland wildlife. This book takes us through a year in the Highlands, from November to October, describing both the work of the deer-stalker and also the life cycle of the wildlife. It is illustrated with the author's photographs, which are really excellent.

Readers should be aware that the book does describe the culling of sick, injured or old deer, and also the shooting of foxes which have taken to preying on lambs. MacNally does an excellent job of explaining why such culls are necessary for the welfare of other animals, and if your initial reaction is 'shooting animals = cruel' I'd encourage you to read this book with an open mind.

Recommended to anyone who would like to learn about wildlife and deer in the Highlands.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book for many years, it's become an old friend. Beautiful photographs and written with great love and passion for the wildlife and scenery of the Scottish Highlands. It contains a lot of information, but it's not a guidebook; it reads like the author is having a conversation with the reader. Every time I read this book, I get the urge to get out on the hills.