This book takes a thematic approach to the coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each chapter covers a different them e.g. childhood, A Better World, War and Faith. It feels slightly odd because it only covers the parts of the coastline owned by the National Trust. I believe that Patrick Barkham was commissioned by them to write the book. This means however that although England, Wales and Northern Ireland are included, Scotland's extremely long and beautiful coastline is not because the National Trust for Scotland is a separate and independent organisation.
Patrick Barkham did visit all the places mentioned in the book and I particularly enjoyed reading about his own experiences as a visitor. It is an interesting and informative read but for me at times there was just a bit too much detail about the history of some of the places. The thematic approach means that the book jumps around geographically, which I found a bit confusing.
At the end of each chapter there is information for visitors on how to get to the places mentioned in that chapter, Ordnance Survey maps needed to explore the area, websites and a bibliography of suggestions for further reading.
Happily the National Trust owns several islands and this is why I have decided to include it as one of my 80 books.
I particularly liked the quote from Issie Winney, a PhD student on Lundy conducting research into house sparrows:
"If you stay here for any time, you have this immense feeling that this small lump of granite in the middle of the ocean is the world. Your mind changes."
Islands covered: Scolt Head Island, Isle of Wight, Lundy, Brownsea, the Farnes, Lindisfarne, Northey and the Goodwin Sands (a part time island).
Brownsea Island, Dorset
Lindisfarne Castle
The Needles, Isle of Wight
Causeway to Northey Island, Essex
North side of Scolt Head Island, Norfolk
Brownsman Island from Staple Island, Farne Islands
Old Light, Lundy, Devon
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