Shetland Diaries

Long before he set foot on the islands, Big Cat Diary and Springwatch presenter, Simon King, fell in love with Shetland. This extraordinary northern wilderness is home to otters and a vast seabird colony, but it was a chance encounter with a killer whale that compelled him to spend a year getting to know the place of his boyhood dreams for a BBC series.

With his wife and young daughter, Simon experienced Shetland through the changing seasons and discovered the wildlife and the warmth of community in these islands battered by the North Sea. Their journey is filled with adventure, beauty, humour and occasional hardship as Simon discovers the true voice of Shetland.

“'Whether in front of the camera explaining the mysteries of the natural world ... or behind it as a skilled operator, King is one of the most engaging of natural history presenters and the prose in his autobiography, Wild Life, is every bit as addictive.'”

If you love the Shetland Isles, or love the wildlife of the Scottish islands, then this is the book for you - Highland News

The TV Shetland Diaries are now accompanied by a book, which sheds light on King's attachment to the natural world. As a little boy, the diaries reveal, games of hide and seek in the woods developed the patience he would later require to while away the hours in hides in the field or, as he says, happily "lost in a world of otter spraint". - Countryfile

Brilliant observations of animal behaviour. Whether he's describing otters playing or gannets plunging off the cliffs of Noss, King slows down the action to enjoy every last, sinuous twist. - BBC Wildlife Magazine

Heartwarming and candid - Daily Mail on WILD LIFE

His book is packed with wild encounters - Independent on WILD LIFE

This is a heart-warming, engagingly honest read - Scotsman on WILD LIFE

Whether in front of the camera explaining the mysteries of the natural world ... or behind it as a skilled operator, King is one of the most engaging of natural history presenters and the prose in his autobiography, Wild Life, is every bit as addictive. - Scotsman on WILD LIFE

Fascinating...Simon's passion is infectious, as anyone who's watched his programmes knows, and his enthusiasm pours from every word in his new book - Beautiful Britain on WILD LIFE

Simon King was born in Nairobi, but moved to the UK in 1964. He has worked on programmes such as Big Cat Diary and Blue Planet and presents Springwatch and Autumnwatch. He has received EMMY, BAFTA and RTS awards for his work and was awarded the OBE in 2010.

Long before he set foot on the islands, Big Cat Diary and Springwatch presenter, Simon King, fell in love with Shetland. This extraordinary northern wilderness is home to otters and a vast seabird colony, but it was a chance encounter with a killer whale that compelled him to spend a year getting to know the place of his boyhood dreams for a BBC series.With his wife and young daughter, Simon experienced Shetland through the changing seasons and discovered the wildlife and the warmth of community in these islands battered by the North Sea. Their journey is filled with adventure, beauty, humour and occasional hardship as Simon discovers the true voice of Shetland.

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