In 2022, when Shirley and I had to clear up the detritus of my brother Simon's life, I saved a few of his books. One of them was titled "Deep Country" by Neil Ansell. It is an account of "Five years in The Welsh Hills". I have just finished reading it.
Earlier in this millennium, the writer lived in a remote, abandoned house in the middle of Wales without electricity, running water or even a telephone. In place of those things, he observed the nature that he found himself amongst - most especially the bird life.
"The place was a Victorian gatekeeper's cottage. ... You could cross two fields and you were on open moorland; you could walk west for twenty miles without seeing another house, or a road, or a fence. This uninhabited swathe of the Cambrian Mountains right in the heart of the country has been called the green desert of Wales, its empty quarter. Just downhill across the track there was once a farmhouse, presumably Penlan Farm.."
He writes about birds - not like a matter-of-fact ornithologist but with tenderness, curiosity and joy: "My days were spent outside, immersed in nature, watching. I saw as much as I did because of two things: the first, quite simply, was time, the long hours spent out in the field; the second was alertness, a state of heightened attentiveness. My attention was constantly focused away from myself and on to the natural world around me.”
I found "Deep Country" a very peaceful read with almost zero attention paid to world affairs, human relationships or modern technology. It's just one solitary man whose only companions are goshawks, ravens, yellow hammers, wood pigeons and the bats who live in his roofspace. Most days involve chopping wood and a walk down to the river. He notes the signs of seasons evolving and then changing. He is pretty much at peace with himself though I noted that he never once mentioned his parents, his siblings, his past history or the natural quest for romantic love.
In the video below, you get to meet Neil Ansell briefly and to taste more of the rather sweet flavour of "Deep Country":
I like the idea of living remotely, away from people, but I don't think I could do it in reality. I've become too used to the benefts of electricity and being able to shop for foods.
ReplyDeleteAnd you would miss your grandchildren.
DeleteVery Buddhistic thought.
ReplyDeleteYes - there was certainly an element of that.
DeleteThat sounds like an interesting book. I read a little about the writer, about why he left the home he'd made for himself in Wales. I don't think I could live like that, alone, for so long, so isolated. I love my time in the wild, but I need people too.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks would be my limit. Not five years.
DeleteSounds like an interesting book to read.
ReplyDeleteIt was simple and quite "cleansing".
DeleteThe name rings a bell, but I have not read this book; maybe someone else mentioned him on their blog or I have read about him elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI suppose him not mentioning his parents, siblings etc. is because that‘s not the scope of the book. In any case, I would enjoy the book but not a year without hot showers and central heating, that‘s for sure!
I agree - not the "scope" but most ordinary people would miss their loved ones and at some point would reveal that when writing about survival in the wilds.
DeleteTrue. I would also not want to spend an entire year without O.K., or my Mum and my sister.
DeleteSounds like a book I will love reading. If my local library does not have it, I will buy a copy read it and ask them to add it to their collection. The news is so messy these days, one is tempted to retreat into a quiet life. I would find it hard to live without running water and electricity, and my blogs.
ReplyDeleteHe found it hard too but he went into it with his eyes wide open.
DeleteA brave choice and he is so right about nature turning you outwards instead of towards that inner person, who can be quite boring at times. But I could not suffer the cold or not eating decent food. Also it would be interesting to see why he gave it up after 5 years.
ReplyDeleteWe have a link to an article written 14 years ago where he says he stayed for Five years but left because he wanted to have children. Which he did and had two daughters.I agree with the comments here - admiration for him living in a way I never could. Christine
DeleteNear the end of his time in the Welsh hills he became quite ill and lost a lot of weight. That must have been scary.
DeleteI find the rural remoteness deafening at times. Isolation is not good for your mental health.
ReplyDeleteOf all my commenters, I think you would be best able to relate to Neil Ansell's long sojourn in the Welsh hills.
DeleteThere seems to be a few books whereby British go iso for long periods of time in inhospitable locations.
ReplyDeleteYou mean like Melbourne, Australia?
DeleteNot sure I could live like that. Too comfy in modern life.
ReplyDeleteI would try it for two weeks in the summertime but that would be my limit.
DeleteInteresting to see his lifestyle and his comments on his surroundings.
ReplyDeleteNot sure it would be for me, I'm the wrong age, but these days the only thing you actually need in such isolation is a supply of clean drinking water. There are solar panels to provide electricity and septic tanks (all the houses around here have them). Gas comes in bottles, so not a problem. The only downside would be no transport, which is something I would miss, and of course I'd have a dog!
i dunno what i'd do without the interweb to identify all the birds.... i mean..... it's alright seeing them...... but identifying them...... i need help
ReplyDelete