Drifting North - by Dominic Hinde (Hardcover)

About the Book

Scotland is closely tied to climate change and fossil capitalism, having played a pivotal role in its spread. Journalist Dominic Hinde travels between its Highlands, islands and cities, drawing parallels between his personal recovery and the uncertain transition from fossil fuels. He asks: can past lessons guide a sustainable future?

Book Synopsis

Past and future collide in this engaging journey through climate change, fossil capitalism and the struggle for a sustainable world.

Scotland's history and future are entangled with climate change and the story of the modern world. This small country on the fringes of northern Europe pioneered fossil capitalism and played a key role in its spread across the planet. It is a living museum of the crisis of the west, of deindustrialisation, stagnation and the struggle to build a better future from the ashes.

Journalist and sociologist Dominic Hinde travels from the treeless Highlands to the lowland cities, struggling to balance memories with aspiration. Through this journey he finds that his own sensory turmoil, shaped by recovery from a near fatal accident, mirrors the disarray of the fossil fuel transition - an uncertain passage between what was and what must be.

Part memoir, part environmental history, part travelogue, this is a compelling narrative of connections - to place, energy and the possibility of renewal. Through the lens of one country, it asks a vital question: can the lessons of the past help us build a more sustainable future?

From the Back Cover

Scotland's history and future are entangled with climate change and the story of the modern world. This small country on the fringes of northern Europe pioneered fossil capitalism and played a key role in its spread across the planet. It is a living museum of the crisis of the west, of deindustrialisation, stagnation and the struggle to build a better future from the ashes.

Journalist and sociologist Dominic Hinde travels from the treeless Highlands to the lowland cities, struggling to balance memories with aspiration. Through this journey he finds that his own sensory turmoil, shaped by recovery from a near fatal accident, mirrors the disarray of the fossil fuel transition - an uncertain passage between what was and what must be.

Part memoir, part environmental history, part travelogue, this is a compelling narrative of connections - to place, energy and the possibility of renewal. Through the lens of one country, it asks a vital question: can the lessons of the past help us build a more sustainable future?

Review Quotes

Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing 2026
Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2025

'Dominic Hinde takes us on a road trip through Scotland's energy past and present, and in so doing asks us to consider the future and what we want it to look like. Drifting north is a perceptive, thought-provoking book and Hinde is a charming travel companion. An enticing blend of memoir, sociology and reportage.'
Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment

'Drifting north covers a lot of important ground in engaging style, negotiating tricky subjects with open minded pragmatism. We should all be thinking about the future of our energy and this is a valuable part of the conversation.'
Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun

'Hinde is a sympathetic and companionable guide, skilfully weaving the personal, national and planetary in this gripping and fascinating exploration of the history and future of energy in Scotland.'
Martin MacInnes, author of In Ascension

'Drifting north shows Dominic Hinde is many things: a researcher with a love of the deep-dive, a reporter comfortable at the edges and a travel writer searching for the sublime. Beautiful and wise.'
Gabriella Bennett, author of The Art of Coorie

'A truly captivating journey which leads us into parts of Scotland that are so often overlooked. Hinde writes with warmth, intelligence and hope. Drifting north will leave you mindful of how far we have come and, more importantly in the story of energy, the distance we still need to go.'
Rebecca Smith, author of Rural

'Dominic Hinde travels the length and breadth of Scotland, using it as a microcosm for a world facing climate change. He shows a deep understanding of the country and an even deeper love. Drifting north is a worthy modern successor to Edwin Muir's A Scottish Journey.'
Rachel McCormack, author of Chasing the Dram

'Drifting north is an urgent and compelling portrait of Scotland's place in the global energy transition. Clear-sighted both about the nation's oil - and coal - blackened industrial history and its rich potential for renewable energy, Dominic Hinde tells a sobering story of neurological and ecological injury, leavened by an earned hope in the prospect of recovery.'
David Farrier, author of Nature's Genius

'Yet with each journey comes an appreciation of real possibility, if only the powers-that-be had the same will to be as bold as those Hinde interviews.'
Vikki Reilly, The Scotsman (New Scottish Books to look out for in October)

'Exploring Scotland's relationship with energy, Drifting north is an illuminating read.'
Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman

'This is no rose-tinted view of Scotland, rather a clear-eyed and searching investigation into the country's prominent early role in bringing about the current climate catastrophe, as well as promising signs for the future of the planet. Fantastic stuff.'
Doug Johnstone, Big Issue

About the Author

Dominic Hinde is a journalist, writer and sociologist. He is currently Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Glasgow, where he researches climate change and the media. He previously worked as a foreign and environmental correspondent for outlets including the Times, Prospect Magazine, the BBC and the Scotsman. He appears regularly on TV and radio as a commentator on both environmental issues and international affairs and also translates plays and journalism from Scandinavian languages into English.