The Way of the Hermit

Ken Smith’s advice for staying alive in inclement conditions could equally be applied to achieving hard-won dreams * Geographical *A most peculiar book * The Scotsman *Ken Smith comes across as a thoughtful, resourceful and above all humane man, one who has faced down his unpromising prospects and boldly lived life. For anyone who feels they are merely going through the motions, this book will make an inspiring read * BBC Countryfile Magazine *A Thoreauvian account of solitary life in the Scottish Highlands … delightful * Kirkus Reviews *A love story to the mountains in the mist, the pulsating northern lights and the red deer at dawn. And to independence * The Washington Post *Smith’s acceptance of his own mortality has an enviable lightness. ‘Let my body give a good feed to the Highland worms,’ he writes. ‘I have led the life I wanted to live and, no matter what happens now, I can depart this earth a deeply satisfied man.’ Few of us can say as much, and it feels like a blessing to have spent this time with someone who can * Slate *

Ken Smith has had a lifelong love of wilderness and exploration. As a young man, he worked as a farmhand and labourer until 1975, when he moved to Yukon, Canada. On his return, Ken took to wandering across the British Isles, settling at Treig to resolve his grief and build a new life.

Will Millard is a writer, BBC presenter, public speaker and expedition leader. Born and brought up in the Fens, he presents remote anthropology and adventure series for BBC Two and a series on rivers, urban exploration and history for BBC Wales. In 2019, his series My Year with the Tribe won the Realscreen Award for Travel & Exploration. His first book, The Old Man and the Sand Eel, follows his wild journey across Britain in pursuit of a fishing record. He has also ghostwritten many projects and written for numerous national and international magazines and newspapers, including BBC News, The Daily Telegraph, Vice, The Guardian, Geographical and Outer Edge.