Monty Halls' Great Hebridean Escape

After a year of city living, marine biologist and professional diver Monty Halls returns to live the good life in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. This time, he and his canine companion, Reuben, are sharing a restored crofter's cottage on the Hebridean island of North Uist. And this time, he has a job to do - as volunteer wildlife ranger. Monty throws himself into island life - Highland Games, fishing for salmon and trout, and exploring the wildlife and remote reaches of his new domain. But winter is just around the corner, and he also needs to dig peat for fuel...

Monty's busy leading nature treks along stunning beaches, exploring tourist trails, and setting up nature trails. But serious adventure also beckons, with a two-day boat trip to the islands known as the 'edge of the world', St Kilda.

Monty has begun to restore abandoned walking trails, but he needs to raise several thousand pounds to pay for marker posts and trail guides. At the North Uist Agricultural Show, Monty meets up with Niall Leveson-Gower, who runs the local hunting lodge, and hatches plans for a great feast at his hotel to showcase local produce and raise funds.

Monty has managed to raise the money he needed, and now heads to the Island of Barra where he helps the ex-ranger, Jonathan Grant, establish a new walking track.

As November starts, Monty realises that he has loads of work to do, and little time left. To help open up the islands to tourists he's writing a guide book to a series of trails. This week, he investigates the Bonnie Prince Charlie route on horseback - following the prince's escape route from the islands in 1746 after his abortive attempt to seize the English throne. He also heads south to Vatersay, to help with an anti-erosion project, then up to Benbecula to join a hedgehog patrol, trapping this introduced and unwanted species for relocation to the mainland. Before ...

With all the research for walking trails and interpretation boards done, Monty has recruited graphic designer Richard Chyzy to help get the material published. He gives Richard until Christmas - three weeks away - to get everything ready, and sets out to raise enough money to pay for a big print run of the trail guides. First, wildlife artist Steve Burgess visits to paint a stag in rut, agreeing to donate half the proceeds to Monty's ranger fund. Then, he boxes up his turkeys to be processed for the table - all proceeds again to the fund. Monty occupies the long ...