A Galloway Year
Impressions of a naturalist and an artist
Ian Carter author Karen Menarry author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Porto Press Ltd
Published:10th Jun '26
Should be back in stock very soon

A Galloway Year by Ian Carter and Karen Menarry is a beautifully illustrated celebration of the wildlife, landscapes and changing seasons of Galloway in south-west Scotland. Blending evocative nature writing with stunning original artwork, the book explores Galloway’s ancient forests, silver lochs, rugged coastline, rolling farmland, heather-covered hills and the vast Solway shore.
Perfect for readers interested in Scottish wildlife, nature writing, walking, birdwatching and Britain’s remaining wild places, A Galloway Year reveals why Galloway is one of Scotland’s most biodiverse and unspoilt regions. Away from the country’s busiest tourist routes, this hidden corner of south-west Scotland offers rich habitats for wildlife and breathtaking scenery for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of landscape art.
More than a celebration of place, the book also reflects on the urgent importance of conservation, biodiversity and protecting fragile natural habitats. Through the combined perspectives of an artist and a naturalist who call Galloway home, readers gain a deeper understanding of the environmental pressures facing Britain’s countryside and the need to preserve its wild landscapes for future generations.
Richly atmospheric and visually inspiring, A Galloway Year is an essential read for anyone passionate about Scottish nature, environmental conservation and the beauty of the British landscape.
Ian Carter writes so well about wildlife species and the places where they live that I’d struggle not to want to read a book of his but in this one the words and art of Karen Menarry add another layer of pleasure to the reading.
-- Mark AveryKaren’s artistry, achieved by what is termed the reduction linocut technique, is amazing...she has produced some incredibly beautiful and accurate full-page paintings for the book. Quite how she manages to create such detailed images of pebbles on a beach, carpets of flowers or groups of reeds is well beyond my artistic understanding...
It’s a very relaxing read, following Ian on his meanderings. Whether along coastal areas, hillsides or farmland there is plenty to see and Ian’s descriptions of wildlife in particular enables the reader to see – or indeed hear – the animal or plants almost as well as he does...
I have no hesitation in recommending this book both to experienced naturalists and those with even the beginnings of an interest in our natural world.
-- Alan Stewart, Wildlife DetectiveISBN: 9781849957243
Dimensions: 216mm x 138mm x 12mm
Weight: 371g
192 pages