🌿 A Testament to the Wild: Nan Shepherd’s ‘The Living Mountain’ – Discovering Beauty, Healing, and Growth in Nature
I recently revisited Nan Shepherd’s masterpiece, ‘The Living Mountain’. It is a revelation, a rare gem of nature writing that transforms the act of walking into a profound exploration of beauty, mindful observation, and healing.
Initially hidden in obscurity, it has since been rightly celebrated as one of Britain’s finest works ever written about nature and landscape. Shepherd’s poetic reflections on the Cairngorm mountains are a spellbinding reminder of the wonder that awaits when we slow down, immerse ourselves in the wild, and simply observe.
She writes with a perspective that dissolves the ego, as though there is no boundary between ourselves and the mountain. She channels the very spirit of the mountains themselves: “This is how the Earth must see itself.” Such words compel us to pause, to feel the world’s vastness and beauty pressing gently against our own smallness.
Her prose is as bracing as water from a mountain stream – clear, invigorating, and life-affirming. Her sensual and evocative descriptions of light, flora, and the shifting moods of the mountains blur the line between the external and internal landscapes. Walking, for Shepherd, isn’t just a physical journey – it’s a meditative practice, a way to become the mountain, to heal through connection with the natural world.
The Living Mountain is not a book to read once; it’s one to return to, discovering something new each time. Like the hills Shepherd so lovingly describes, it “holds astonishment” in every chapter. It reminds us that walking is not just about reaching a destination but about fully experiencing the journey in all its quiet, mindful, transformative glory.
If you’ve ever felt the restorative power of nature or the joy of losing yourself in the rhythms of a hike, this book is your perfect companion. As Robert Macfarlane so aptly says, “I read it and was changed.”
Here’s to walking as a way of seeing, feeling, and healing. Walk and Talk Coaching blends the benefits of physical activity with meaningful conversation. Set in the stunning landscapes of Ashton Court in Bristol, these sessions provide a relaxed and energising environment to work through challenges, spark creativity, and foster emotional well-being.
