Life at the Edge: The Natural History of the Caithness Coast

This book is a wonderful selection of inspiring photographs reflecting life along 147 miles of fretted Caithness coastline in the far north of Scotland. Divided into five broad habitats: harbours; seas; beaches, dunes and links; sea cliffs and stacks; and rocky shorelines, each photograph is accompanied by explanatory information, opening the door into a wider world for the interested reader.

From tranquil, sandy beaches to imposing sea cliffs, rocky shorelines to wild surf, the Caithness coast is a delight for those who love nature and treasure the great outdoors. The geology of the coastal cliffs, where the Old Red Sandstone bedrock has been exposed to erosion from wind and wave over millennia provides a home for the vast colonies of breeding seabirds over the summer months and the dunes and links a haven where special little plants thrive despite their exposure to the raw energy of the sea to the north and east – all these factors combine to create one of the world’s great coasts. This is a coast where life is challenged by the unforgiving conditions of Scotland’s northernmost county; where life is at the edge of land and sea.

Harbours provide a focal point for wildlife, from the familiar sound of the herring gull perched on the harbour wall, always on the lookout for an easy meal from an unsuspecting summer tourist, to less familiar birds, such as sawbills and divers taking advantage of the calmer waters of the harbour basins during the winter. At sea, the sight of an otter feeding on a fish close to shore makes the heart sing, whilst a tall triangular fin cutting menacingly through the water, indicating the presence of an orca, makes the heart beat just that little bit faster.

Waders scurry along sandy beaches feeding on the tide’s bounty, and in the dunes and links there is an array of charming plants blooming during the summer months, among which the Scottish primrose (Primula scotica) takes botanical pride of place; all attracting a range of pollinators.

There is so much to discover and such a remarkable diversity, whether in the sea, on the beach or a rocky shoreline. Life at the Edge takes you there, and in such captivating detail through both words and images. This is a book of natural wonders to be savoured and enjoyed, time and again, enabling the reader to experience the essence of the natural history of the Caithness coast.