The three Scottish Highland glens of Affric, Cannich and Strathfarrar which make up Strathglass are places of craggy hills, ancient pinewoods and many waters. John Fowler has made frequent journeys there during which he has spent time with deerstalkers, joined naturalists on moorland surveys and wandered among the ancient pines of the Caledonian forest. He also met a cast of remarkable characters: Sister Petra Clare, a nun who creates lustrous religious icons; Stuart, whose home is like a hobbit's, a cabin of delights which he constructed in the woods to fit his modest stature; George, man of many trades, living encyclopedia of all things local and eloquent raconteur; Old Duncan, prince of stalkers, a hale ninety-something whose vivid reminiscences of life in the glen make fascinating reading; Iain Thomson, guardsman, shepherd, cattleman, deep-sea sailor, farmer now turned author; and a host of others. In this book John Fowler offers a fascinating, poignant and affectionate portrait of this remarkable land and its people.
