The Paddler Magazine issue 74 Autumn/Fall 2023 | Page 15

PADDLER 15
Kayaking the Sea Roads Exploring the Scottish Highlands http :// www . whittlespublishing . com By Ed Ley-Wilson
PADDLER 15
REVIEWS

Kayaking the Sea Roads Exploring the Scottish Highlands http :// www . whittlespublishing . com By Ed Ley-Wilson

Ed Ley-Wilson is a former crofter , salmon farmer , and small business owner and has a string of expeditions to mountains and seas around the world to his name . He has also run 1200 miles of the Great Wall of China and the 2000-mile length of the Himalayas .
MADE IN THE UK SINCE 1976
www . instagram . com / ainsworthpaddles /
Kayaking the Sea Roads is his journey by sea kayak into the heart of the sea roads that make up our Scottish Highlands and islands . Blending the intensity of the journey with careful observation of the natural world and first-hand knowledge of the challenges of living and working in this place , the author reminds us that mother nature , vast and resilient , is still out there beyond our mobile phones and urban lives . For those with the eyes to see , its natural rhythms can awaken a deep sense of wonder and cause us to become part of the sorely needed environmental recovery .
With Ed , we travel low in the water with the restless sea ever-present , and we camp with him on remote , rough shores . We share his feelings of wonder at the natural world and his fear at the exposure to rough seas , and we encounter with him not just the myriad animals and birds that share his every day but also the people , their communities and the often gnarly rural issues impacting on human and animal alike .
Alongside a deeply felt appreciation of the natural environment is a first-hand insight into the environmental and land management issues pertinent to the Highland coast . By exploring , for instance , the impact of native versus non-native species , community land ownership , tourism , hunting and the varied other uses and indeed non-uses of coastal lands and seas , the readers ' eyes are opened to a Scottish Highlands that is so much more than just a pretty view .
At the surface , this is an adventure story , but at its heart , it is a tale about belonging and a deep sense of place , and it is a journey home , home at the end to where the author ' s Highland love affair began .
• A story of enlightenment , an opening of heart and mind to the wonders and challenges of living and working on our remote Scottish Highland shores .
• Describes first-hand wildlife encounters with dolphins , porpoise , otters , sea birds , sea eagles and more .
• Discusses pertinent issues around environment , economy , land ownership , land management and more .
• Promotes people in the landscape , making connections , building communities .
• A tale of belonging and a deep sense of place . Price : £ 16.99
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