Overview
In Coast, natural history journalist Christopher Somerville takes you on a grand tour of the outer limits of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Beautiful photography, clear maps, and evocative essays all illuminate the majesty and variety to be found where Britain meets the sea. This is, after all, the longest coastline in Europe. From the dramatic cliffs of Eastbourne’s Beachy Head to the spare beauty of the Norfolk salt marshes; from the storm-wracked Cape Wrath at the edge of the Scottish Highlands to the peaceful wooded creeks of Cornwall’s Helford river—whatever kind of coastal area you’re drawn to, you’ll find it here. For those who want to see it firsthand, Coast also features a detailed gazetteer—a region-by-region reference of places, people, activities, natural history, and historic events.
Synopsis
In Coast, natural history journalist Christopher Somerville takes you on a grand tour of the outer limits of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Beautiful photography, clear maps, and evocative essays all illuminate the majesty and variety to be found where Britain meets the sea. This is, after all, the longest coastline in Europe. From the dramatic cliffs of Eastbourne’s Beachy Head to the spare beauty of the Norfolk salt marshes; from the storm-wracked Cape Wrath at the edge of the Scottish Highlands to the peaceful wooded creeks of Cornwall’s Helford river—whatever kind of coastal area you’re drawn to, you’ll find it here. For those who want to see it firsthand, Coast also features a detailed gazetteer—a region-by-region reference of places, people, activities, natural history, and historic events.
Library Journal
This companion to a BBC2 television series offers a tour of the coastal areas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, divided by region and covering the many towns therein. The Wild West section, for example, includes Torquay, Plymouth, Falmouth, Penzance, Isles of Scilly, Newquay, Bude, Ifracombe, Weston-super-Mare, and the so-called English Riviera, where the surfing, surprisingly, packs a punch. "In the Wild West it's better to dream and speculate than to dig for that most boring of commodities: hard fact," writes Somerville (Images of Rural Britain), whose way with language shows that he is a published poet as well as a travel writer. Some 200 breathtaking photographs, both dramatic and tranquil, illustrate the areas' many attributes. This guide also includes a practical gazetteer, a region-by-region reference of information on getting there, activities, fees, hours, facilities, phone numbers, web addresses, and famous people and history associated with each place. Libraries that have in-depth travel collections or a maritime emphasis should consider adding this worthwhile book.-Susan G. Baird, Chicago Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.