Acclaimed nature writer Neil Ansell has suffered from progressive hearing loss his whole life. As his world is becoming ever more silent, he suddenly hears something quite unexpected, the haunting call of the great northern diver. It is this extraordinary experience which makes him realise that there might still be remarkable sounds in nature within his reach, if he can only find himself in the right place at the right time.

This moving book charts Neil’s mission to hear rare and elusive creatures that he had not previously encountered. This journey takes him from the mountaintops and islands of the Scottish Highlands to the marshes of England and the hills of Wales. 

Ideal for readers of British nature writing, birdwatching enthusiasts, and anyone drawn to stories of personal resilience and ecological awareness, The Last Sound is a poignant reminder of what’s at stake, and a celebration of what might still be heard, if we choose to listen.