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How Scotland鈥檚 otters became famous: the inspirational story of Gavin Maxwell

15 July 2017

On 15 July 1914, the Scottish naturalist and author was born. He was best known for his best-selling novel Ring of Bright Water.

A poignant autobiographical work, the book described the idyllic – sometimes lonely – life he led in with lively pet otters for company. To Maxwell’s amazement, his story sold millions of copies, inspired a film adaptation and made him a literary superstar.

Sadly, success didn’t bring Maxwell lasting happiness. A difficult, complex man, his physical and mental health suffered in his final years – partly thanks to his chain-smoking, hard-drinking lifestyle – and he died of lung cancer in 1969 aged 55.

Through his books, Maxwell’s legacy was to inspire a new generation of naturalists. , later a TV presenter and naturalist, was so impressed by the author that, aged only 12, he moved to Scotland and lived with Maxwell as his apprentice. Famously, Nutkins lost parts of two fingers to Maxwell’s otters.

Now, thanks to Maxwell, no trip to the Scottish Highlands is complete without taking time to enjoy the countryside he described so eloquently and keeping an eye out for the otters he made famous the world over.