The Last Wilderness by Neil Ansell
This book reminds you to not count, not rush, not worry about what the world sees in you.
Inspired by a short adventure during his youth to the west coast of Scotland, Neil felt compelled to revisit ‘The Rough Bounds’ of the Highlands: to walk, camp and explore in solitude.
Despite the pain and fear of a developing heart condition, his fading hearing, falls and unwelcoming terrain, Neil appreciates the natural beauty into which he almost fatalistically throws himself. To read about his experiences gave me the same vivid rush that comes from engaging with a wild landscape when I don’t have my head buried in a book.
During Neil’s travels to this area, he reflects on the landscape’s history, the act of hiking, his own health, the wildlife, his years of global travel and what freedom there is in being alone with the natural world.
This month’s location: Vancouver Island, Canada