The name Solway - path of the sun - speaks for itself. At certain times, the sea in the Solway Firth resembles a sheet of shimmering gold, a phenomenon that has given rise to many legends. This most beautiful and dangerous of seas has a tidal average of 30 feet that can reach 25/30 miles per hour, the average speed of a galloping horse. Evidence of the sea's power has been well documented: in the 1700s an entire town was washed away into the Solway during a single storm. The Solway lies at the heart of the old Northern Lands and around its shores there is evidence of occupation and industry from prehistory up to the present day. Starting on the west side of the Solway, Helen Ivison takes the reader on a visual tour of this fascinating coastline, Whithorn to the village of St Bees further south. Themes covered include history, folklore, flora and fauna, saints, rivers, fishing, ports, lifeboats, famous visitors including Dickens and many more.

The River Derwent in Cumbria is one of the fastest rivers in Europe. It is also one of the most beautiful, and it flows through fantastic and varied countryside from its source in the heart of the Lake District. The name Derwent translates as 'oak river' and/or 'river of oaks'; it is an ancient name. There is evidence of occupation and industry along the river from the Iron Age onwards, and industry still uses its power and speed as a water source. A fine and famous salmon river, the River Derwent was sometimes called 'the river of saints and sinners', as it was used by smugglers as well as clerics. Beginning at the river mouth, we follow the river through the port of Workington, through the lavish countryside of Cumbria to its source amidst the dramatic mountainous splendour of Borrowdale. Along the way, H. C. Ivison brings to light tales and stories of fascinating events, landmarks and people. River Derwent: From Sea to Source is essential reading for anyone who knows this river well, and also for those who are visiting the River Derwent for the first time.