Journalist Fiona Ross, seeking a life change in middle age, purchased ten acres of farmland in western Scotland with her husband, Neil, to pursue a long-held dream of raising Highland cattle. The couple, whose children were nearing adulthood, sold their Glasgow apartment for the rural endeavor. Ross recounts their initial acquisition of three tame, Highland calves, describing them as "doe-eyed, curly-haired lassies" that enjoyed being groomed and having their cheeks tickled.
While many accounts of urban dwellers transitioning to farming detail numerous mishaps, Ross and her husband, who has a background in agronomy, proved to be adept farmers. Their initial herd of three cows was intended solely for breeding, but the couple soon expanded their livestock to include more cattle, pigs, and lambs, beginning to sell their meat locally. Their success led them to purchase four dilapidated crofts on the Isle of Mull.
The narrative gains momentum as they establish themselves on Mull. Despite their new house being uninhabitable, forcing them to live in a caravan while renovating, the property offered a stunning view of a bay with a long, sandy beach. The book highlights the strong sense of community on Mull, where neighbors readily assist each other with tasks ranging from sourcing shellfish to helping with stray animals. Information travels swiftly on the island, with news of even minor incidents, like a car in a ditch, spreading quickly.
However, the transition was not without its challenges. The island experiences significant rainfall, and the pervasive mud is described as a "demonic force." The couple was unprepared for the first major winter storm, finding only a scented candle for light. Despite these difficulties, Ross expresses a deep affection for her new life and her herd, referred to as a "fold." She describes the Highland cattle as gentle and hairy creatures that have transformed their experience, making the "strange, wild place a home" and altering their family dynamics and sense of self.