Britain possesses one of the most remarkable and varied coastlines in the world, with its richness in geology and human history on display. Since the dawn of time the sea has been sculpting the rocks, sands and marshes, constantly changing the shape of the coastline and the inhabitants of Britain have adapted, defended, sometimes surrendered it or recaptured it in response to the forces of nature. "The Living Coast" brilliantly celebrates this dynamic interplay between sea, land and people in over 350 sumptuous images from the air - a seagull's-eye view round the 9,000 miles of British coast, from Land's End to the wave-pounded isles and the ancient rocks of the far north; the receding shores and sensationally beautiful estuaries of the east; and, the familiar chalk cliffs, crumbling Jurassic coast and drowned river valleys of the south.This book is composed of 14 chapters, each beginning with a narrative and ending with a photographic exhibition. The coast is taken region by region, moving clockwise round the perimeter of the UK.

During the enforced idleness of the Covid-19 pandemic, Christopher Somerville revisited the 450 notebooks whose pages contain the accumulated thoughts and experiences of a career spent exploring Britain on foot over four decades. The View from the Hill pulls together the cream of this unique crop, following the cycle of the seasons from a freezing January to a Christmas sunrise. In between are hundreds of walks that take in magnificent flora and fauna, ancient traditions and folklore, and geological peculiarities and wonders – all narrated with moving and humorous sensitivity. There’s no need to move from your chair to go walking in Christopher’s company. Just stir up the fire, fill your glass, and let these spirited tales take you out of here and far away.

'An illuminating take on the British landscape ... a remarkable achievement. Encounters, warm humour, history and plenty of geology carry you down the winding tracks.' - Tom Chesshyre, author of Lost in the Lakes Travelling a thousand miles and across three billion years, Christopher Somerville (walking correspondent of The Times and author of Coast, The January Man and Ships of Heaven) sets out to interrogate the land beneath our feet, and how it has affected every aspect of human history from farming to house construction, the Industrial Revolution to the current climate crisis. In his thousand-mile journey, Somerville follows the story of Britain's unique geology, travelling from the three billion year old rocks of the Isle of Lewis, formed when the world was still molten, down the map south eastwards across bogs, over peaks and past quarry pits to the furthest corner of Essex where new land is being formed by nature and man. Demystifying the sometimes daunting technicalities of geology with humour and a characteristic lightness of touch, Somerville's book tells a story of humanity's reckless exploitation and a lemming-like surge towards self-annihilation but also shows seeds of hope as we learn how we might work with geology to avert a climate catastrophe. It cannot fail to change the way you see the world beyond your door.

A lighthearted guide to the geography of Britain from "Daily Telegraph" journalist and bestselling author of "Coast," Christopher Somerville Bognor Regis, Aberystwyth, Glasgow--can you place them on a map? Most people can't these days. What kind of countryside would you pass through on your way to the Cairngorms, or the Fens, or Northumberland? What's north of the Pennines? And what's it like when you get there? Most folk wouldn't have a clue. Increasing numbers of us don't have a basic geographical notion of these British islands. Blame it on a decline in formal geography teaching, or GPS and other "A-to-Z and nothing in between" devices that make us lazy--we are becoming the best traveled and least well orientated generations ever seen. Now Christopher Somerville, bestselling author of "Coast" and many other books of UK exploration, presents the basics of what belongs where, which counties border one another, and what lies beyond the Watford Gap. He reminds us of the watery bits, the lumpy bits, and the flat bits, gets to grips with the smaller islands surrounding Britain--and much more. "Never Eat Shredded Wheat" is a reminder of all the fascinating British geography once learned at school--geography that brings these islands vividly to life--geography which we have forgotten, or never even knew.

'Somerville is one of our finest gazetteers of the British countryside. He brings his formidable knowledge to bear on his personal quest to explore the cathedrals in this entrancing book' The Spectator Christopher Somerville, author of the acclaimed The January Man, pictured cathedrals as great unmoving bastions of tradition. But as he journeys among Britian's favourites, old and new, he discovers buildings and communities that have been in constant upheaval for a thousand years. Here are stories of the monarchs and bishops who ordered the construction of these buildings, the masons whose genius brought them into being, and the peasants who worked and died on the scaffolding. We learn of rogue saints exploited by holy sinners, the pomp and prosperity that followed these ships of stone, the towns that grew up in their shadows. Meeting believers and non-believers, architects and archaeologists, the cleaner who dusts the monuments and the mason who judges stone by its taste, we delve deep into the private lives and the uncertain future of these ever-voyaging Ships of Heaven. 'Somerville paints word pictures of exquisite quality' Church Times

Never heard before real stories of soldiers who fought in WW2 'Extraordinary ...If they had not made our war their war also, victory might not have come in 1945' DAILY TELEGRAPH In this powerful and moving narrative, Christopher Somerville skilfully links personal testimonies to present an epic which embraces comedy and tragedy, pride and degradation, close comradeship and stark racial prejudice, devotion to the benign Mother Country and a burning desire to see the back of her. Many of the veterans had never previously talked of their experiences, even to close loved ones. They cover such topics as attitudes to Britain before and after the war, why Commonwealth citizens offered to fight, and how some volunteers were inspired by their wartime service while others were thoroughly disillusioned. The result is a rare and faithful memoir to the five million Commonwealth citizens who fought for the Allies and the 170,000 who died or went missing.

'Evocatively written and charming' - Countryfile 'The January Man is a book that makes you want to pull on your boots, grab a map and get out there' - Country Life The January Man is the story of a year of walks that was inspired by a song, Dave Goulder's 'The January Man'. Month by month, season by season and region by region, Christopher Somerville walks the British Isles, following routes that continually bring his father to mind. As he travels the country - from the winter floodlands of the River Severn to the lambing pastures of Nidderdale, the towering seabird cliffs on the Shetland Isle of Foula in June and the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest in autumn - he describes the history, wildlife, landscapes and people he encounters, down back lanes and old paths, in rain and fair weather. This exquisitely written account of the British countryside not only inspires us to don our boots and explore the 140,000 miles of footpaths across the British Isles, but also illustrates how, on long-distance walks, we can come to an understanding of ourselves and our fellow walkers. Over the hills and along the byways, Christopher Somerville examines what moulded the men of his father's generation - so reticent about their wartime experiences, so self-effacing, upright and dutiful - as he searches for 'the man inside the man' that his own father really was.

In 25 carefully planned walks, "Walks in the Country Near London" reveals the myriad treasures that lie just beyond London's urban sprawl. From easy rambles through apple orchards and lush pastures in Kent to more exhilarating rambles along Sharpenhoe Clappers' chalk escarpments in Bedfordshire, there is a walk here for everyone. Full-colour photographs capture each area's refreshing rural charms, while clear mapping pinpoints everything from designated trails and stately homes to traditional pubs and cosy tea rooms. With characteristic humour, Christopher Somerville guides readers along hedged, grassy lanes, across open, airy farmland and through some of the finest historic homes, castles and churches that England has to offer. Along the way, he shares fascinating tales about the characters who trod these same paths throughout the centuries - from persecuted Catholic priests making their way to safe houses under the cover of night, to such celebrated figures as Anne Boleyn, John Bunyan, William Blake and Benjamin Disraeli. With a wealth of interesting anecdotes and intriguing information, this is the perfect guide for history buffs and casual walkers alike.

For Somerville this was a kind of pilgrimage, a journey unlike any he had undertaken in 20 years of travel-writing. It was an expedition where he traded the usual comforts and certainties for a real physical and mental challenge, with no mobile phone or other technological aids. The only plan for his journey was to begin in the East at Easter and finish at Whitsun in the extreme West, at the Monastery of the Golden Step, whose gold step, legend says, can only be seen by those who have purged themselves into purity. During his 300-mile walk, he tackled four mountain ranges, high slopes and the numerous gorges of the West. Speaking only basic Greek and trying to follow a poorly way-marked path, he had to rely on his own instincts when climbing mountain passes and crossing high plateaux, farming and shepherding country, where villages are scarce and each night's accommodation was uncertain. He saw a Crete few ever encounter.