For the past 20 years naturalist and writer Mike Pratt has been visiting the islands of Scotland. This is a personal account of an intimate connection with the tiny island of Iona, the iconic ‘Isle of Columba’, famed for centuries for its light, beauty and landscape.

Part poet’s wanderings, part naturalist’s exploration, these essays celebrate the wildlife of the island and the surrounding seas, while paying close attention to the more subtle demands of reflection, self-discovery and humility in the face of the wild.

This illustrated book is for anyone who loves Iona already, or for those intrigued by the magic and majesty of this small but intensely beautiful part of the world.

Mike Pratt hails from North East England, and is a naturalist and writer. His first book, Wild (2008), featured a mix of poetry and prose, and focused on his life-long connection to nature and wild places. He is currently Chief Executive of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust.