The Hour

Simon King, the world renowned nature photographer and presenter, has a new book out Shetland diaries that looks at his time living on the isle of Shetland in the north of Scotland. He fell in love with the island and now considers it one of the best places in the world.

He said: “Shetland is a slice of wilderness that competes and mirrors and matches any that you would find around the planet.”

Simon has travelled all over the world, from Africa to the Antarctic, and he loves that as part of his job he gets to see so many amazing places and the natural wonders they are home to.

“I’m a really lucky chap because I get to travel all over the world looking at some of the most magnificent wildlife hot spots” he said

However, even with the exotic places of the world to compare Shetland to the island hold its own in his opinion.

Simon commented: “I can genuinely look at the planet as a whole and compare one place to the next and I really mean it what I get from Shetland is not just a sense of wilderness, but a sense of little natural secrets being offered up gently so long as you invest time energy and a little bit of love.

“I’ve been in love with it first of all when I was a kid when I never even got there just the thought of this wilderness place up near the arctic was so special just the fact that it hosts wild otters and lots of them and now things like orcas come drifting by.” He added.

Simon spent about four months of his stay on the island with his family, his wife Margarite and his daughter Savannah. Margarita is a filmmaker so understands the pressures involved in Simon’s career and on many occasions they work on project together, of course taking Savannah along for the ride. He spent his time there doing what he loved.

Simon said: “It was across a year and a half in fact... it was spent out doors most of the time, 95% of the time was spent trying to follow and find the wild creatures that I’m so passionate about.”

The island had many draws for Simon which he considers to be part of his world now. Not only the wildlife and the stunning scenery he fell in love with the people too and how welcoming they are. When asked if he would go back the answer was crystal-clear.

“Keep me away,” he joked, “I’m going back as soon as I possibly can!”

Simon’s book Shetland Diaries is in shops now.