Nature and adventure photographer John Beatty’s annual Wild Nature Diary and Calendar for 2026 are out now, and, as always, packed with brilliant wildlife and nature photographs. I always look forward to seeing them. They are produced for the John Muir Trust.
Main image: First light on Sgurr nan Clach Geala 1093m in the Fannichs, Easter Ross, Scotland | Credit: James Roddie
The Wild Nature Diary has a Foreword by conservationist and TV presenter Megan McCubbin, a Preface by John Beatty and a message from Jane Smallman, Chair of the John Muir Trust. Inside there are 60 wonderful images by some of the best landscape and wildlife photographers in Britain including Beatty himself.
Other photographers who have contributed and whose work is always impressive include James Roddie, Ruth Grindrod, Laurie Campbell, Sophie Carr, Mark Hamblin, Neil McIntyre, and John Macfarlane. It’s a superb photo collection that can be browsed again and again. This is not a diary to throw out at the end of the year.
Choosing favourites is difficult and changes as the year goes on but on first look I love the spectacular image of Stac Pollaidh by Mark Hamblin, one of three double-page spreads that open the diary, the detail of frosted crack willow leaves by Ruth Grindrod, and the wavy striped rocks of Hushinish on the Isle of Harris by Guy Edwardes.
With a page per week and measuring 205mm x 193mm this is also a functional desk diary. The Wild Nature Calendar features 12 more mouth-watering photos and is also worth keeping long after it’s out of date. The cover and the picture for January is a stunning image of a snowy Harta Corrie in the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye by James Roddie, a familiar name to TGO as he’s a regular contributor.
Other pictures that caught my eye include a beautifully lit one of a red squirrel by Neil McIntyre for November and a lovely classic view of Liathach from Loch Clair by Barbara Jones. Like the Diary the Calendar is functional too with a page per month and plenty of space for each day. It measures 300mm x 300mm.
Wild Nature Diary (£17) & Calendar (£13.50) are published by Northern Light Publishing. Both items are available from Wild Nature.
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