Terry Nutkins: In the Ring of Bright Water - Episode 1

When Terry Nutkins was 13 he moved from London to the isolated west highlands to live with the writer, Gavin Maxwell, whose most famous book is 'Ring of Bright Water' . Forty years after Maxwell's death, Terry tells the remarkable story of his life with this mercurial man and his famous otters, Edal and Teko. 'Ring of Bright Water' is, arguably, the finest book ever written about a man's relationship with landscape and wildlife. Published in 1960, it tells the story of Maxwell's life in the now almost mythical setting of Camusfearna. His poetic observations of otter behaviour and the detailed sketches and photographs in the book helped to change - on a worldwide basis - the reputation of these animals which were widely persecuted at the time. What has not been told before is the account of one of the otter-boys who lived with Maxwell: Terry Nutkins had a boy's own adventure with a pet otter, in a uniquely beautiful landscape. But he also found himself living a peculiar existence, in virtual isolation, with a man who was as charming as he was difficult, and whose depression led to severe mood swings. As Terry says, he had to grow up quickly. Producer: Karen Gregor.