A Walking Library: Part 2

For Green Libraries week, Kirsty has some books you might like to take on a short sea shore journey outdoors

This weekend, why not take your favourite book and head outside for a change of scene? Whether you're lucky enough to live near the coast or can just wander through a local park or green space, reading outdoors can transform the experience entirely. There’s something magical about finding a quiet spot, hearing the rustle of leaves or the distant sound of the waves, and letting the natural world blend into the stories on the page. The sights, sounds, and smells around you can heighten your imagination and make you see your book in a whole new way.

Reading outside is not only a fantastic way to spend time with a good story, but it also boosts your mental well-being. Nature and literature combined offer the perfect escape from daily routines and can help you feel more connected to the world around you. If you’re looking for inspiration, head to your local library and discover a new read.

Photo by Lê Tân on Unsplash

Here are ten eclectic must reads to take on your Highland stroll this weekend along the shore.

1.      The Pebbles on the Beach by Clarence Ellis

Kicking off with a classic, first published in 1954 this geological guidebook offers not only a well rounded introduction to pebbles but a glimpse into the freedoms and optimisms of the post war era.  The author was a school teacher and amateur geologist after serving in WW2; this is a bright and brisk old fashioned lesson on the beach for us – don’t dawdle at the back!

2.      Life between the Tides by Adam Nicolson

Thought you knew about rockpools?  Think again.  In this beautifully written book Nicolson explains the tiniest wonders of species you have never considered, in a fascinating and relatable way.  Explore the intertidal zone with new eyes after reading this one.

Photo by Nadine E on Unsplash

3.      The Birds and Mammals of Caithness (Robert Shearer) Hugh Clark & Robin M Sellers

Step back in time to 1860’s when amateur naturalist Robert Shearer was writing articles for the John O Groat Journal.  This book is a collection of these excellent articles, with an editor’s note following each to expand on his points and bring them up to date with the status of each species in Caithness today.

4.      Seaweed and eat it by Fiona Houston and Xa Milne 

If you have developed an appetite in the fresh sea air this book has an excellent chapter on coastal foraging.  Did you know all seaweeds are edible?  It includes some pretty tempting recipes too.

5.      The Wild Places by Robert MacFarlane

Robert Macfarlane, what more can I say? Go ahead and borrow them all.  This one is as beautiful as all the rest.  Contemporary nature, landscape and travelogue writing to savour and change your perspectives.

Photo by James Tarbotton on Unsplash

6.      A wild and Open Sea – The story of the Pentland Firth by James Miller

The Pentland Firth is infamous across the globe as a treacherous body of water.  This book gives us the geography and physics behind that, but more interestingly it tells the history of people’s relationship with it.  The fly leaf gives us this excellent quote summarising this book ‘The story of the firth and the people who sail on it is one of fishermen and master mariners, lighthouses and lifeboatmen, shipbuilders and salvage experts, coastguards and smugglers, mapmakers and pilots.  Above all it is a story of the courage and tenacity of the people who live and work in waters which can both nourish and destroy.  It was a toss up between this and Miller’s other coastal classic; Salt in the Blood – Scotland’s fishing Communities Past and Present. 

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

7.      Seabean – A Beachcomber’s Search for a Magical Charm by Sally Husband

The winner of the Highland Book Prize 2023, read what the judges had to say about  it here.  An enjoyable read, with a careful mix of nature and people, set on the coasts of Shetland.

8.      The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

This is the true story of a couple who find health, purpose and their grief soothed on a long distance coastal route.  It’s a life affirming read about the restorative capabilities of nature.   Take this on the John O Groats Trail with you!

And from the children’s section:

9.      The Desperate Journey by Kathleen Fidler

Set in Golspie but could be true of any Highland community, it follows the journey of a family cleared from their home and making the journey across Highland then on to their passage across the Atlantic to a new life.  Aimed at older children, this was a staple in the primary school curriculum in the 80’s and 90’s - classic Scottish bairn’s book. 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

10. The Sorm Whale by Benji Davies

A modern classic for the youngest readers.  A sensitive glimpse of life in a remote fishing village where one boy’s loneliness leads to a friendship with a lost whale he finds on the beach.  Davies has an entire set based around these characters but I have included this one as it is the first. 

This Green Libraries Week, celebrate the power of stories and nature together. Grab your book, step outside, and let the world around you bring new dimensions to the words on the page.

Kirsty Rosie is the High Life Highland Countryside Ranger for East Caithness and North East Sutherland, a region celebrated for its natural splendor and diverse wildlife. Raised in Keiss, her early experiences inspired her lifelong passion for the conservation in this area. Today, as a ranger, she is a well of knowledge and enjoys teaching visitors and communities alike about the treasures to be found on Caithness’s dramatic cliffs, and within it’s historic landscapes.