Nature author's thrill at uncovering slow worms at River Kirkaig, near Lochinver
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The wildlife of Sutherland is featured in a new book that explores Scotland's wild secrets.
A Scottish Wildlife Odyssey: In Search of Scotland's Wild Places has been written by well-known nature writer Keith Broomfield and published by Tippermuir Books.
Mr Broomfield recounts a personal, five-month journey he made to seek out Scotland's more unusual creatures, beginning in the south-west and then zig-zagging north until the end of the trip in Shetland.
In his chapter on Sutherland, he relates how he was searching for butterflies and dragonflies on the north bank of the River Kirkaig, near Lochinver, when he lifted a large sheet of corrugated iron next to an old drystane dyke and uncovered two slow worms.
"It was a thrilling find, especially since slow worms are elusive animals and rarely encountered," he writes.
Mr Broomfield said his journey captured "a snapshot of Scottish nature and a random dip into its deep riches", and he hoped it would open readers' eyes to what a wonderful country we live in.
"It is easy to take our nature and landscape for granted, which is something we should never do," he said.
"Whilst the book is a celebration of Scottish nature, it also highlights the very difficult environmental challenges we face."
His book can be purchased from www.tippermuirbooks.co.uk (click here), and also from Amazon, other online sellers and bookshops across the UK.
