Product Description

Many of us dream of escaping our stressful and frenetic lives, and starting over. But can leaving it all behind ever be more than a dream? In Beachcomber Cottage, former Royal Marine Monty Halls puts this popular wish to the test, by recreating the simple life of a crofter on the West Coast of Scotland. A diary of his time in picturesque Sand Bay, Monty's story takes readers on an extraordinary journey, from auspicious beginnings as he builds the cottage he'll call home and meets a rich cast of local characters, and into dark days when he yearns for the trappings of urban existence. Armed with little more than optimism and a basic knowledge of DIY, Monty lives off the land, raising sheep, pigs and Highland Cattle, growing his own vegetables and fishing in the burns. It's a survival story set against the most dramatic landscape in Europe - and proof that you don't have to travel to the farthest reaches of the world to have a life-changing adventure. Published to coincide with a major BBC series, Beachcomber Cottage is a book for anyone who has dreamed of living a more meaningful life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12208 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From the Author
I had always wanted to know if the dream we all have of escaping the rat race holds true. Having been profoundly touched by Gavin Maxwell's book Ring of Bright Water as a child, I decided to move to a tiny bothy on the west cost of Scotland to see if reality matched the fantasy. I hasten to add that I'm certainly no survival expert, being somewhat notorious amongst my friends down south for being a blithering incompetent at DIY and cooking (and being on my own!). The book tells the story of the magical place I found, and the alchemy of my personal journey through the good times and the bad. It is mainly anecdotal, not really and DIY / cooking / wildlife guide - I hope it reads slightly more as a diary of the ups and downs of living the simple life (which turns out to be bloody complicated). I found a very special place in Applecross - the small fishing and crofting community where the bothy is based, and the memory of the last six months will stay with me forever. Hopefully this comes across in the book.

About the Author
A successful explorer, marine biologist and writer, Monty Halls has led numerous expeditions and projects throughout the world, including three circumnavigations of the earth seeking out the greatest encounters in the oceans. His television credits include presenting Channel 4's Journey to the Centre of the Earth (the science behind Jules Verne's novel), Discovery's Rebuilding the Past (an attempt to recreate an Iron Age settlement) and Five's Great Ocean Adventures, for which he was also the author of the accompanying book. Monty operates the adventure travel company, Full Circle Expeditions, and is also a leading motivational speaker.

Customer Reviews

Excellent
This book was more than I had hoped it would be. As a lover of the TV series I thought it would just recap the series but there is so much more in the book that the TV did not show and the the way it is written pulls you into the simpler life of living as a crofter in the 21st century.

applecross
Brings back the fantastic views and sunsets of the film. Could have done with more photos.

If you love the West Coast of Scotland you'll love this
This book is warm, very funny and complements the TV series with lots of added snippets that you didn't get to see. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the West Coast of Scotland - it will make you want to go there straight away! Monty has a wonderful sense of humour and tries his hand at lots of new things which often don't go as expected. If you watched the series then you must get the book!