TELEVISION - 28-Jul-2009

Monty Halls' Great Escape

The dream project, and one that Monty has wanted to undertake for as long as he can remember!

Ever since reading Gavin Maxwell’s classic book “A Ring of Bright Water” as a kid, Monty has wanted to explore the west coast of Scotland from the base of a small cottage. After many years of waiting, this was filmed in one of the most beautiful of all the stretches of coastline in the region, Sand Bay, Applecross. The project involved renovating a centuries old bothy (a complete ruin when Monty first arrived), exploring old crofting techniques, and making forays into the extraordinary archipelago that is the Western Isles, one of the most beautiful regions on earth. Basking sharks, whales, dolphins, and otters have all passed by the beach upon which the bothy sits, with the real exploration of the mountains and ridges only just beginning. A magical project inspired by a magical book.