In the very north of Britain, far from the bustling cities and picturesque countryside to the south, lies Western Europe's greatest wilderness: the Scottish Highlands.

This is a land shaped by the flow of ancient ice, where snow-capped mountains tower over ink-black lakes, Golden Eagles soar over heather-clad moors, and Red Deer stags engage in mortal combat for the right to win a mate. Along the coast, sea cliffs and offshore islands teem with millions of seabirds, while the seas themselves are home to Basking Sharks, Orcas and Bottlenose Dolphins.

The Highlands may at first sight seem bleak and desolate, but they are also filled with secret wonders, from the ancient Caledonian pine forests to the vast wetland of the Flow Country, and from the sheer granite cliffs of Handa to the mysterious depths of Loch Ness.

In this lavish companion to the upcoming BBC TV series, Stephen Moss's thoughtful, authoritative text is accompanied by spectacular pictures from famed Scottish photographer Laurie Campbell. Highlands – Scotland's Wild Heart follows a year in the lives of a stellar cast of wild animals as they live, feed, breed and die in this beautiful, yet unforgiving landscape--a land where only the toughest survive.

Stephen Moss is a naturalist, author, and TV producer, whose credits include Birds Britannia and Britain's Big Wildlife Revival. His books include Wild Hares and Hummingbirds and A Bird in the Bush. He is one of Britain's leading nature writers with a monthly column in the Guardian.

Laurie Campbell was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards in 2014. After graduating in 1985, Laurie became Scotland's first full-time professional nature photographer.