I have just finished re-reading this classic. What a great book! Maxwell had a way of seeing more than most of us-and his life at Camusfearnus on the Scottish coast was a journey of discovery. Has anyone ever been to his house? I think we all need our own Camusfearnus-we need to get out and experience the world n simple terms.
Maxwell died so young…does he have any descendents? And, is it possible to visit his house?
poor gavin-passed away 1968
I think I have seen his house, or one of them. I go hillwalking in the NW of Scotland every easter, in GlenShiel. There is a v small village called Glenelg that looks across to Skye - I think he lived there for a time, I recall reading a sign or some such about him there. It wasn’t very interesting! Glenelg is beautiful, mind. There are some iron age brochs there that are very cool.
It appears from the article at Wikipedia: Gavin Maxwell, that his house at Sandaig, where he lived during the period chronicled in Ring of Bright Water and its sequel, The Rocks Remain, burned down in 1968.
I don’t know about his house, Ralph, but you should visit the general area if you can. It’s lovely and scary and dramatic and sad and awesome. I don’t know about otters though, they aren’t usually as visible as Tarka. If you like seals - there’s plenty of them to be found.
There is a good biography of Maxwell by Douglas Botting. He was a very tortured soul but a gifted writer. I adore Ring of Bright Water.