Deep Country: Five Years in the Welsh Hills

As the title says, the author lived in the Welsh hills for 5 years in relatively primitive conditions. He studied the wild life, birds mostly. Most of the writing is of his observations. A catalogue of what he saw. Though it sounds like it might be a bit tedious, his skill in presenting the story makes it not just readable but a pleasure. I regretted reaching the end. A study of nature but also of a man consumed by nature. If you love the outdoors, this is worth the read.

I love wandering the hills and rivers of Wales with the author, stopping to watch wildlife and following the birds to learn their habits. It is fun too to compare the birds to American birds. I am reading the book slowly - I don't want it to end!

A beautiful book. An observation on wildlife and the welsh countryside. To take time to enjoy those wild beings that are living around you without modern conveniences that can distract from the peace and quiet. What a joy to read.

While I'm not a social butterfly, I cannot imagine living 5 years with scarecely6 any human contact (or internet!). And yet, this is what Ansell chose, and his account of his 5 years as a hermit is enthralling.It's not navel-gazing, either; it's mostly about the birds, though other species do get look-ins. He noted that, over time, he "disappeared from his own narrative"- I think that's fascinating.While this is more personal than Bernrd Heinrich's books, I think it will appeal to people who like his work, especially the deeper insights into species' behavior based on long-term and curious, intelligent observation.I found it a wonderful read, with both the observations of the lives around him, and the experience of a lifestyle I could and would never manage myself.Recommended.

Beautifully descriptive, this book allows you to imagine how it might feel to get to know a lovely bit of nature intimately and to live for a while in an uncluttered lifestyle that welcomes this. Just read it and get an introduction to the Welsh Hills. Then, if you can, travel to Wales.

This is less an account of five years in the Welsh Hills and more of a guide to the birds of central Wales. I had hoped for something personal, thoughtful, reflective, and was disappointed to find chapter upon chapter about the flight patterns and feeding habits of dozens of bird species. There are better books in Wales (Jan Morris’s for one) and on birds (“The Genius of Birds”) and on living a secluded life (“Walden”). I put this down two-thirds of the way through and did not pick it up again.

Great detail of nature in and around Penlan Woods. Makes me want to explore the Welsh hills and country. Loved it.

While Neil Ansell certainly knows his birds, we unfortunately do not get to know much about HIM... which seems a shame. Nevertheless, he writes beautifully and the book is a gem. Don't miss it if you have any interest in a quiet, rustic life.

I knew nothing about Neil Ansell before I read this book, and I still know very little about him. I do not know his age, his marital status or his social background .Having read the book, I now know that he has a deep and detailed knowledge of birds and nature and he can survive in virtual solitude for 5 years. His survival in a remote Welsh valley is a remarkable story. I think you need to be a bird lover or a lover of solitude and wild places to enjoy the book. His language is pleasant and his love of nature shines through the pages. Describing a glow worm as " shining like a star that has come to earth" epitomises his sensitive style. I could not help but wonder if he was running away from something, but there is no hint of that in the dialogue. He appears to have plenty transitory visitors. In five years, it was almost inevitable that he would face illness of some sort and his major illness was easy to diagnose if one is a medic ( I was). His descriptions of raptors is superb but he does not admit that on most days in his lonely cottage he saw none which is the life of a bird watcher. An interesting book which, almost inevitably, becomes somewhat repetitive in the last quarter. The author states that he sought solitude to " Find himself" but in the end "Lost himself" which he considered to be "far better." A complex individual but he tells an interesting story.

This is a collection of musings about time spent in isolation and solitude surrounded by nature and as someone who had never read a non-fiction book before, I thoroughly enjoyed it.This book is largely comprised of anecdotal stories about Ansell’s experience living ‘off-grid’ in the Welsh mountains and though some people have criticised Ansell for his depth of description about the nature he was surrounded by, I find this to be the book’s main strength.Many of us think about what having a simpler life would be like where we are not slaves to technology or companies or bosses or societal norms and expectations. There seems to be a whole social media trend of people sharing the videos they have recorded on their smartphones of their ‘off-grid’ lives. Well, Ansell gives you an insight into what it’s really like to go it alone in the wilderness. He pauses, he loses himself, and then he finds himself again. It’s so interesting to read.The wake I have been on in rural places over the years but in my rush to get on with it, I’ve never seen any of the amazing sights Ansell recounts in his book. It’s a life-style that certainly is not for the faint hearted.Would recommend this if you’ve ever been curious about what nature gets up to when we are not around!

This is a lot more than a simple story about a man living a solitary life in a remote cottage. It raises questions about human nature, how we spend our time and how we relate to other creatures. It doesn't answer them, or at least not all of them, but then a book with these answers has yet to hit the bookshelf and never will.The question of how we see the natural world is the one best answered. The answer, with a Buddhist mix of surface simplicity running over depth and complexity, is that we should look. The author's description of sitting still on the riverbank or at his window and letting himself immerse in the moment is compelling.This is a form of mindfulness or wokefulness without the trappings of jargon. It is meditation where thought is not directed but life is lived with intensity.On how we should spend our allotted span on earth, the answer is not meant to be one for everyone to follow. It is simply his response and we are left to draw our own conclusions about the satisfactions and appropriateness of our overwhelmingly dominant competitive, materialist culture.The question least addressed is how we relate to other people. There is only one figure in the story with a name and an identity. A few other people pass through the book but they are as ghosts. The friends who come to visit, for example, have such a fleeting presence as to be irrelevant. The author writes only about himself, or rather about himself as a small part of a large natural canvas. He chooses not to put himself centre-stage, but other people have even tinier roles.The book evokes something of the spirit of Walden. It is less ambitious, and lacks the didactic and preachy superiority complex sometimes exuding from Thoreau's pen. The author is more of a true loner than Thoreau but finally returns to a life lived with others. It is a disappointment that he gives no attention to sharing thoughts about this dimension of his life.By no means seeking to write a definitive take on any topic, least of all how best we should live, he nevertheless achieves a serious and perceptive reflection on some of the biggest questions. It is a profoundly satisfying and authentic piece of writing.

I loved this book. It transported me into the natural world of birds and mammals and made me feel a part of it. I admire Neil's ability to spend so much time on his own in that isolated spot. His discovery that, whilst he went there to find out who he was when he was on his own, he ended up forgetting himself, is profound and has an important message for those of us who live in a narcissistic society. I look forward to reading Neil's other books.

The book is a joy to read – the writing style is as comfortable as a favourite pair of walking shoes. It informs in that special way that leaves your mind almost satiated but still hungry for the next chapter. And “homework” of further research is something to look forward to (mainly via google unfortunately but walks in nature will recall many of Neil’s words). His affinity with birds comes from many years of watching…really watching.Informative and friendly. The astute observations of the Welsh countryside and wildlife would grace any authoritative book.