The countryside, country life: general interest Books

Book SynopsisHandy little full colour map and guide of South Downs National Park.Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:125 000 (1cm to 1.25km, 2.0 miles to 1 inch).This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the South Downs National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of South East England.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your trip Information on the South Downs Way, Miles Without Stiles routes, the Seven Sisters and other places of interestDiscover more about the walking routes at this National Park with the South Downs Park Rangers Favourite Walks (ISBN: 9780008439118).

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Book Synopsis'He does write beautifully, especially of his greatest love - our wild birds ... On The Marsh is a delightful read.' Christopher Hart, Daily MailHow the rewilding of eight acres of Norfolk marshland inspired a family and brought nature even closer to home. When writer Simon Barnes heard a Cetti's warbler sing out as he turned up to look at a house for sale, he knew immediately that he had found his new home. The fact that his garden backed onto an area of marshy land only increased the possibilities, but there was always the fear that it might end up in the wrong hands and be lost to development or intensive farming. His wife saw through the delicate negotiations for the purchase. Once they'd bought it, they began to manage it as a conservation area, working with the Wildlife Trust to ensure it became as appealing as possible to all species. For their son ETrade Review'He does write beautifully, especially of his greatest love — our wild birds ... On The Marsh is a delightful read.' -- Christopher Hart * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisI adore the fox for its magnificence; I hate the fox for killing my chickens. To love and loathe the fox is a British condition.The fox is our apex predator, our most beautiful and clever killer. We have witnessed its wild touch, watched it slink by bins at night and been chilled by its high-pitched scream. And yet we long to stroke the tumbling cubs outside their tunnel homes and watch the vixen stalk the cornfield. There is something about foxes. They captivate us like no other species.Exploring a long and sometimes complicated relationship, The Wild Life of the Fox captures our love and sometimes loathing of this magnificent creature in vivid detail and lyrical prose.

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Book Synopsis A glorious celebration of nature and the simple pleasures of walking. This pocket-sized book has a perfect country walk for every time of year. The 100 walks show you the highlights of every season, from the beautiful bluebell woods of spring and the wildflower meadows of summer to the spectacular colours of autumn and the stark grandeur of winter. The routes cover all of Britain (including Scotland) and they’re all easy or moderate in their difficulty – ideal for relaxed strolls and families. As well a map and comprehensive directions, each walk has information about other fun activities in the area and nearby cafes and restaurants.

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Book SynopsisThe Times and Irish Independent: BEST NATURE BOOKS OF THE YEARGreat nature writing needs to be informative, detailed, accurate, lyrical, and, above all, to instil a sense of gratitude and wonder. John Lewis-Stempel succeeds in all these things triumphantly. From amorous toads to the eye-popping mating habits of water boatmen, a magical celebration of pond life by one of our finest, most evocative nature writers.' Daily MailPonds: small bodies of water, both naturally formed and artificial, home to wondrous, multitudinous life-forms. Ponds define our childhood: frogspawn, goldfish, feeding the ducks, but also our village life, our farms, our landscape. And they are multi-layered - from carp circling the bottom to water boatmen, coot, and birds dragonflies overhead. In Still Water, John immerses himself in the murky depths, both literarily and figuratively, to explore the still waters of the British countryside through each month of the year.Trade ReviewA beautifully written celebration of one of the natural world's most fertile founts of biodiversity and artistic inspiration ... A call to arms. * BEST NATURE BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2019, The Times *The master of nature-writing takes readers through the changing life of a pond season by season. * Radio Times *Great nature writing needs to be informative, detailed, accurate, lyrical, and, above all, to instil a sense of gratitude and wonder. John Lewis-Stempel succeeds in all these things triumphantly. From amorous toads to the eye-popping mating habits of water boatmen, a magical celebration of pond life by one of our finest, most evocative nature writers. * Daily Mail *One of England's most noted nature writers ... Still Water is a scintillating mirror of ourselves. -- Derek Turner * BOOK OF THE WEEK: The Lady *UK farmer and nature writer John Lewis-Stempel has won much acclaim for his perfectly observed reflections on pastoral habitats and their residents. Still Water explores "the deep life" of ponds with characteristic wit and beauty from the two-time Wainwright Prize winner. -- Hilary A White * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisA blank journal that captures the beauty of the great outdoors and the spirit of adventure! The cover sports a gorgeous woodcut-style illustration of a vintage camper van making its way through a lush forest. Inside, the pages are lined for easy writing and feature full-color spot illustrations. This journal is sure to spark creativity and wanderlust in journalers and nature lovers around the world.• Great for bullet journaling, note-taking, goal tracking, and list-making; or use as a daily planner, gratitude journal, or travel log! • A great add-on gift or self-purchase for writers, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts• 5 x 7 1/8-inch paperback journal with debossed cover and lay-flat binding• 192 lined pages with full-color illustration throughout Travis Pietsch is an illustrator and designer living in Orlando, FL. He has produced work for Facebook, J.R. Watkins, USA Today, and more.

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Book SynopsisEscape to CornwallWonderful. A love story with a mystery at its heart, it will make you laugh, cry and yearn for Cornwall. I loved it!' Miranda DickinsonSummer in Cornwall is the perfect time for a fresh startSeven years ago, Marina Hudson's husband was lost at sea. She vowed to love him forever but when kind-hearted Lachlan arrives in Porthmellow, should she deny herself another chance at happiness?Tiff Trescott was living life to the full as a journalist in London until her boyfriend's betrayal brought it all crashing down. Fleeing to her cousin Marina's cottage, Tiff feels like a fish out of water. And when brooding local Dirk wins a day with her in a charity auction, she's thrown headfirst into Cornish life.This summer promises new beginnings for both Tiff and Marina. But are they too good to be true?Escape to Cornwall with this emotional, uplifting read from the bestselling author of A Perfect Cornish Summer and A Perfect Cornish Christmas. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and TTrade ReviewPraise for A Perfect Cornish Escape: ‘Wonderful. A love story with a mystery at its heart, it will make you laugh, cry and yearn for Cornwall. I loved it! Miranda Dickinson ‘A slice of Cornish sunshine. Gorgeously romantic, with plenty of twists to keep me turning the pages. Absolutely loved it’ Holly Martin ‘Escapist and uplifting’ Woman & Home ‘We love Phillipa Ashley’s books and A Perfect Cornish Escape is full of atmosphere with both familiar and new characters. It was a delight to return to Porthmellow, it made us long to visit Cornwall again! A heart-warming summer read, highly recommended’ Hot Brands Cool Places Praise for Phillipa Ashley’s books: ‘Warm and funny and feel-good. The best sort of holiday read’ Katie Fforde ‘Sparkling and festive – loved it!’ Milly Johnson ‘Filled with warm and likeable characters. Great fun!’ Jill Mansell ‘Deliciously entertaining’ Liz Fenwick ‘One of the freshest voices to emerge in women’s fiction today’ Claudia Carroll ‘A delicious festive treat with as many twists and turns as a Cornish country lane’ Jules Wake

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Book SynopsisThe delightful tale of a young couple who in the late 1970s, on impulse, became the new landlords of the most remote, bleak and lonely pub - The Tan Hill Inn - located in the desolate landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. Having seen an article in the newspaper about the pub's search for a new manager, they arrived just three weeks later as the new landlords of the The Tan Hill Inn. It is a wild, wind-swept place, set alone in a sea of peat bog and heather moorland that stretches unbroken as far as the eye can see. With only sheep and grouse for company, their closest neighbour was four miles away and the nearest town twelve. They had no experience of licensed trade or running a pub, no knowledge of farming and a complete inability to understand the dialect of the sheep farmers who were their local customers. Eager, well-meaning, but in over their heads, our two heroes embarked on a disaster-strewn career that somehow also turned into a lifelong love affair with the Dales.The Inn at the Top is an entertaining ramble around the Inn, the breath-taking Dales countryside and a remarkable array of local characters, giving an insight into life in a very different different time and place.Trade ReviewA tribute to a way of life which is long gone and a celebration of the Dales * Yorkshire Post *Neil Hanson's anecdote-laden memoir is reminiscent of James Herriot * The Dalesman *One of the funniest, most entertaining and life-affirming books of the year... A warm and often hilarious account of tenacity and survival, The Inn at the Top is packed with true Yorkshire-style anecdotes, brushes with the law, late night lock-ins, adventures with colourful locals and weather stories to make your hair curl. Sit back and enjoy... * Lancashire Evening Post *Richly entertaining... a wonderful history lesson * Ilkley Gazette *Engaging and entertaining... warm memories to last a lifetime -- Jeff Evans * Inside Beer *A warm, amusing and at times sad book... it's also beautifully written -- Roger Protz * Protz on Beer *Happy holiday reading.. highly diverting -- Mike Amos * The Northern Echo *One of the most funniest, most entertaining and life-affirming books of the year * Lancaster Guardian *A delightful Christmas present, especially for lovers of community pubs * The London Drinker Mag *Wonderfully readable and often very funny * Waterstones Bradford Blog *A heartwarming and hilarious tale * Darlington & Stockton Times *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year Award A fascinating, lyrical account of an east-west walk across Britain's westernmost and most mysterious region. A distant and exotic Celtic land, domain of tin-miners, pirates, smugglers and evocatively named saints, somehow separate from the rest of our island... Few regions of Britain are as holidayed in, as well-loved or as mythologized as Cornwall. From the woodlands of the Tamar Valley to the remote peninsula of Penwith – via the wilderness of Bodmin Moor and coastal villages where tourism and fishing find an uneasy coexistence – Tim Hannigan undertakes a zigzagging journey on foot across Britain's westernmost region to discover how the real Cornwall, its landscapes, histories, communities and sense of identity, intersect with the many projections and tropes that writers, artists and others have placed upon it. Combining landscape and nature writing with deep cultural inquiry, The Granite Kingdom is a probing but highly accessible tour of one of Britain's most popular regions, juxtaposing history, myth, folklore and literary representation with the geographical and social reality of contemporary Cornwall.Trade ReviewA magnificent work of travel and historical deconstruction – deeply personal, meticulously researched and hugely enjoyable. * Philip Marsden *Tim Hannigan writes with an authentic Cornish voice and a true internationalist’s breadth of understanding. * Patrick Gale *Anyone – tourist or resident – who has been seduced by the beauty and strangeness of Cornwall will find Tim Hannigan a congenial guide and companion. * Tom Fort, author of A303: Highway to the Sun *Beautifully researched and written with care. * Wyl Menmuir, author of The Draw of the Sea *Hannigan roams the country on foot, stitching together not only its geography but its histories and communities, while disentangling fact from myth, folk from folklore' * BBC Countryfile *Absorbing and insightful... skilfully interweaves geography, geology, travel memoir and history with an overview of the ways in which Cornwall has been portrayed in art and literature. There’s a lot to explore. * The TLS *The best kind of traveller, Hannigan is brimful of boundless curiosity... a beguiling book that throbs with passion, Hannigan has captured a portrait of a hidden and often mysterious Cornwall, conveying it with style, ternderness and passion * The Irish Times *PRAISE FOR TIM HANNIGAN: 'An excellent and thought-provoking book... What could have been a scholarly theoretical discourse is thoroughly enlivened by Tim Hannigan's decision to turn it into a travel odyssey' TLS. 'Travel writing used to be dominated by Old Etonians with colonialist tendencies; but [Tim Hannigan's] well-researched critique shows that the "travellees" are writing back' Guardian. 'A highly readable and entertaining narrative' Lonely Planet. 'A deft piece of genre-hopping' Telegraph. 'A timely look at the genre – why we travel, and why and how we write about it' * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated natural history memoir that reminds the reader that re-storying our relationship with the plants of home can be our first step in restoring the world.In a world made precarious by human mobility, all of us can learn from those who root in place. Plants surround us, yet all too often we ignore their quiet and complex lives. When a new job brings botanist and artist Lyn Baldwin back to her childhood home in southern British Columbia, she is challenged to confront both the cost of her mobility and the assumptions of her profession. If nearly three decades spent in motion gave Lyn scientific credentials and a career, it also made her a stranger to home and country. Lonely and homesick, Lyn runs outside. She doesn't go farrarely more than a day's drive from Kamloops, BCbut within the pages of her field journal, the slow confluence of art and science allows Lyn to learn not just about but from the green wisdom of her neighbours.Tutored by the plants of forest and garden, wilderness and wetland, Lyn realizes that her botany never has been, and never will be, a placeless science. Instead, Drawing Botany Home gives Lyn the metaphors to reconcile the dark horror of settler/Indigenous relations and the hard edges of her own childhood: poverty, a traumatic fire, unwanted stepfathers, a hippie mother.

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Book Synopsis''Joyous, funny and full of warm, relatable characters, this is the queer Christmas rom-com I''ve been waiting for'' LAURA KAYAfter the year from hell, Haf is ready to blow off steam at a Christmas party. A no-strings-attached kiss with a stranger under the mistletoe is just what she needs.But by the next day, rumours have spread. Everyone believes she and Christopher are madly in love and spending the festive season with his family in the English countryside. To save her new friend from embarrassment - and with no better plans of her own - Haf agrees to go along with the ruse.Until she meets Kit: Christopher''s mysterious, magnetic and utterly irresistible sister.She can''t possibly fall for her fake boyfriend''s sister this Christmas . . . can she?*****''The perfect cosy Christmas read - sexy, sweet and smart'' KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE''Cosy, Christmassy and wonderfully queer'' KATE DAVIES''Trade ReviewJoyous, funny and full of warm, relatable characters, this is the queer Christmas romcom I've been waiting for * Laura Kay *A treat of a novel - cosy, Christmassy and wonderfully queer * Kate Davies *'The perfect cosy Christmas read - sexy, sweet and smart' * Kiran Millwood Hargrave *A thoroughly modern love story filled with joy, inappropriate Christmas jumpers and a daring reindeer rescue. I adored it * Tanya Byrne *An adorable Christmas novel filled with terrible schemes, a grand ball and one very horrible goose * Kat Dunn *Easily one of the best rom-coms I've ever read. Funny, sweet and emotionally satisfying. Filled with characters you'll fall in love with and dreamy Christmas moments - it's a festive delight! * Chloe Timms *Comforting Christmas chaos! * Amber Crewe *This is the joyous queer Christmas romcom you've been wishing for * Lily Lindon *Sweet, hot, and delightfully festive, Huxley-Jones's debut romcom will leave you longing to ditch your own family this Christmas, so you can curl up by the fire and devour this gift of a book * Kate Dylan *Joyous, funny and full of warm, relatable characters, this is the queer Christmas rom-com I've been waiting for -- Laura Kay, author of The SplitThe perfect cosy Christmas read - sexy, sweet and smart -- Kiran Milwood Hargrave, author of The MerciesA thoroughly modern love story filled with joy, inappropriate Christmas jumpers and a daring reindeer rescue. I adored it -- Tanya Byrne, author of AfterloveAn adorable Christmas novel filled with terrible schemes, a grand ball and one very horrible goose -- Kat Dunn, author of Dangerous RemedyComforting Christmas chaos! -- Amber Crewe, author of That Jewish ThingMake You Mine This Christmas is easily one of the best rom-coms I've ever read. Funny, sweet and emotionally satisfying. Filled with characters you'll fall in love with and dreamy Christmas moments - it's a festive delight! -- Chloe Timms, author of The Seawomen

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Book SynopsisThe Outer Hebrides is an island archipelago on the remotest north-western periphery of a bigger island archipelago, itself part of Europe’s Atlantic coastline. And what is Atlantic Europe if not the north-western tip of the vast land mass of Eurasia? Here is an unrivalled sense of place, on the edge, the periphery, the brink. Bruce Kendrick has been visiting these islands, regularly, since 1970. Art & Nature in the Outer Hebrides combines his highly commendable nature writing with fascinating stories of folk he has met over the years who create wonderful art and crafts in these remote islands. How do these artists, be they painters, potters, photographers, or poets, interpret their world of nature, their culture, their heritage, here in the wilds of the north-east Atlantic Ocean? Like many worthwhile things in life, making art is not without its challenges. There will be setbacks on any lifelong journey but there will be triumphs too. If there is one trait these Hebridean-based artists do have in common it is their single-minded determination and persistence to create art, in all its many guises, from out of the deep well of their own imagination and their inescapable world of nature’s beauty and inspiration. Bruce is also an accomplished nature photographer and his supporting images of both art and nature in these islands only add to the book’s appeal. So come along and enjoy Bruce’s fine narrative style as he travels from Lewis in the north to Vatersay in the south where nature prevails and art flourishes.

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Book SynopsisFrom its earliest origins to the present day, this award-winning, beautifully written book describes the endlessly changing character of Britain''s countryside.''A classic'' Richard MabeyExploring the natural and man-made features of the land - fields, highways, hedgerows, fens, marshes, rivers, heaths, coasts, woods and wood pastures - he shows conclusively and unforgettably how they have developed over the centuries. In doing so, he covers a wealth of related subjects to provide a fascinating account of the sometimes subtle and sometimes radical ways in which people, fauna, flora, climate, soils and other physical conditions have played their part in the shaping of the countryside.''One thing is certain: no one would be wise to write further on our natural history, or to make films about it, without thinking very hard about what is contained in these authoritative pages'' COUNTRY LIFETrade ReviewA classic, written with humanity, dignity, concern and a great deal of humour -- Richard Mabey * TES *One thing is certain: no one would be wise to write further on our natural history, or to make films about it, without thinking very hard about what is contained in these authoritative pages * COUNTRY LIFE *As quirky and rewarding as the English countryside itself ... it is full of answers to questions that others have not had the wit to ask * THE ECONOMIST *A classic of scholarship and imagination...A monumental work, but it is written with humanity, dignity, concern and a great deal of humour * TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT *He opened readers' eyes to regional differences in patterns of land settlement, the original meaning of the term forest (countryside beyond the common law), the timing of key changes in human management of the landscape, new ways of looking at hedges, ponds and marshes, and, through it all, the balance between the natural world and human activities * GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisWalking guide to the Snowdonia National Park, with 20 best routes chosen by the park rangers. Each walk varies in length from 2 to 10 km and can be completed in less than 4 hours.20 best routes chosen and written by National Park rangersWalks from 2 to 10kmDetailed description for each walk with highlights clearly marked on the map along with an accompanying map and photographsGeneral information about the National Park plus basic advice on walkingThis and the Snowdonia National Park Pocket Map (ISBN: 9780008439224) are the perfect companions for exploring this superb walking area of North Wales.Trade Review“Walking guides from Collins will have you expertly traversing the landscape like a park ranger.” – Great British Life

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Book SynopsisWalking guide to the South Downs National Park, with 20 best routes chosen by the park rangers. Each walk varies in length from 2 to 10 km and can be completed in less than 4 hours.20 best routes chosen and written by National Park rangersWalks from 2 to 10kmDetailed description for each walk with highlights clearly marked on the map along with an accompanying map and photographsGeneral information about the National Park plus basic advice on walkingThis and the South Downs National Park Pocket Map (ISBN: 9780008439200) are the perfect companions for exploring this superb walking area of South East England.Trade Review“Walking guides from Collins will have you expertly traversing the landscape like a park ranger.” – Great British Life

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Reflecting on nature's unknowable and mysterious qualities, Grounded explores how we can therapeutically benefit from a deeper connection with nature, finding within it balance, stillness, solitude, resilience, contentment, activity, fearlessness – and our own wild voice.In addition to practical exercises and mindful activities, there are personal stories and thought-provoking questions that will help us understand what it means to be alive in the natural world, and in the moment.

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Book SynopsisDay Walks in Cornwall features 20 circular routes between 7.2 and 13.7 miles (11.6km and 22km) in length, suitable for hillwalkers of all abilities. Researched and written by experienced authors Jen and Sim Benson, and covering the extremities of this stunning peninsula, the walks reach areas from Bude to the Isles of Scilly, and from Rame Head near Plymouth to Lizard Point on the southernmost tip. Taking advantage of the South West Coast Path, discover a unique view of the charming coastline at every turn in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Explore Chapel Porth caves, and countless coves, archways and waterfalls, or simply immerse yourself in a leisurely stroll along white sands and blue waters. Head for the Merry Maidens stone circle in Lamorna, examine the serpentinite rock formations at Lizard Point, watch over medieval Tintagel Castle and parade past Cromwell’s Castle. Find serenity overlooking St Enodoc’s Church or soak up the vibe of trendy fishing village St Mawes, nestled in its sheltered bay; you’ll find Cornwall has it all.Together with stunning photography, each route features Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps, easy-to-follow directions, distance and navigation information, refreshment stops and local information.Table of ContentsIntroductionAcknowledgementsAbout the walksWalk timesNavigationGPSMobile phonesFootpaths and rights of wayComfortSafetyMilitary firingThe Countryside CodeHow to use this bookMaps, descriptions, distancesKm/mile conversion chartCornwall area mapSection 1 West Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly1 Around Tresco & Bryher2 Sennen & Cape Cornwall3 Lamorna & The Merry Maidens4 Zennor, Bosigran & Ding Dong Mine5 Godrevy Point6 Penrose & The LoeSection 2: Central Cornwall & The Lizard7 Around Lizard Point8 Chapel Porth & St Agnes BeaconSection 3: The North Coast9 Trevose Head10 Pentire Point11 Boscastle & Tintagel12 Bude to Widemouth BaySection 4: The North Coast13 Around Roseland14 Dodman Point & Portmellon15 Lansallos & Polruan16 Rame HeadSection 5: The South Coast17 Lanhydrock18 Rough Tor & Brown Willy19 Golitha Falls & Siblybeck Lake20 The Hurlers & The CheesewringAppendix

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Book SynopsisBestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben, invites you to reconnect with natureAs soon as we step out of the door, nature surrounds. Thousands of small and large processes are taking place, details that are long often fascinating and beautiful. But we've long forgotten how to recognise them.Peter Wohlleben, bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, invites us to become an expert, to take a closer look and interpret the signs that clouds, wind, plants and animals convey. Chaffinches become weather prophets, bees are live thermometers, courgettes tell us the time.The Weather Detective combines scientific research with charming anecdotes to explain the extraordinary cycles of life, death and regeneration that are evolving on our doorstep, bringing us closer to nature than ever before. A walk in the park will never be the same again.Trade ReviewThe best weather detectives are the birds, plants and animals we share this fragile world with. But how many of us nowadays can interpret the clues they offer? Peter Wohlleben delves deep into the mysteries of animal and bird behaviour, soil management, plant adaptation, and ways of mitigating the effects of climate change on our gardens and our planet. * Christopher Somerville, walking correspondent for The Times. Author of The January Man *Wohlleben’s insightful observations of nature, combined with his signature blend of science and imagination, invite us into deeper relationship with the ecology of our homes * David George Haskell, Pulitzer finalist and author of The Forest Unseen and The Songs of Trees *For a society increasingly distanced from nature, Wohlleben renews our appreciation of the wonderful and varied ties between the living and nonliving worlds, including those that bind our favorite plants and animals with that most familiar of all physical entities, the weather * Bill Streever, nationally bestselling author of Cold *[A] fascinating book * Daily Mail *A treasure trove of fascinating information about the environment. A primer for the curious gardener... a book to browse and then think to yourself, 'Oh, so that's why.' * Town and Country magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom award winning novelist and journalist David Profumo comes a dazzling work about the restorative power of nature and finding joy in simple pleasures. 'David Profumo has fished everywhere man and boy, and come back with his creel crammed with adventures and misadventures - a memoir for every fisherman's bookshelf.' Tom Stoppard It is often said there is more to the experience of fishing than the mere catching of fish, and in this evocative, wide-ranging memoir he explores the delights and mysteries of one of mankind's most ancient pursuits. As we move from the Highland waters of his childhood and into his adult travels from the Arctic Circle to the South Seas, The Lightning Thread unpeels this idiosyncratic subject, and shows how it embraces folklore, poetry, magic, drink and disaster. By turns a lyrical celebration of the natural world and also the quirkiness of human nature itself, this is a hymn to the great happiness that pursuing his life's passion has brought the auth

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Book SynopsisBowen's Court describes the history of one Anglo-Irish family in County Cork from the Cromwellian settlement until 1959, when Elizabeth Bowen was forced to sell the family house she loved.Trade ReviewInteresting, beautiful and important * New Statesman *She startles us by sheer originality of mind and boldness of sensibility into seeking our world afresh -- V.S. PritchettThrillingly convoluted * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisBeat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points in the countryside with more than 140 things to find. From trees and flowers to animals and insects, they'll learn all about life in the country. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun in the countryside check out the i-SPY In the Countryside Activity Book (ISBN 9780008392864).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book SynopsisA lyrical, evocative and wonderfully original wartime memoir about life on a farm in the Cotswolds, seen through the eyes of a child.Bertie, May and Mrs Fish' is Xandra Bingley's account of her childhood on a Cotswold farm, set against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath. Bingley's mother is left to farm the land, isolated in the landscape, whilst her husband is away at war. With its eccentric cast of characters, this book captures both the essence of a country childhood and the remarkable courage and resilience displayed by ordinary people during the war. The beauty and sensitivity of Bingley's observation is artfully balanced by the harshness and grit of her reality.In the cowshed my mother ties her hair in a topknot scarf that lies on the feedbin lid. At five-thirty each morning and four o'clock in the afternoons she chases rats off the mangers. She measures cowcake and rolled oats and opens the bottom cowshed door. Thirty-one brown and white Ayrshires and one brindle JerTrade Review‘There is nothing usual about Bingley's story or her way of telling it. It is full of bright colours like a child's paintbox. This is her first book…but it instantly takes its place beside country classics.’ John Carey, Sunday Times ‘This is a book so alive that when you finish it you feel that you have been there and met the people…[The] book has immense charm, and also a resonance that is beyond charm.’ Diana Athill, Guardian ‘You would need to have lost touch with all feeling not to be moved to tears by the book's final chapter.’ Peter Parker, Telegraph ‘“Bertie, May and Mrs Fish” is an instant English classic…a runaway pleasure to read.’ Ali Smith ‘Utterly enchanting, and quite unputdownable.’ Jilly Cooper

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating ramble through the history of walking delves into our relationship with the British countryside.Ramble On' tells the story of how country walks were transformed from a small and often illegal pastime to the most popular recreational activity in the country.From the brave band of hikers who scaled the off-limits peak Kinder Scout in 1932, via the intricate Lake District guides of Alfred Wainwright, to the resistant landowners (including the notorious Nicholas Van Hoogstraten, Madonna and Jeremy Clarkson) who have done their level best (and worst) to keep walkers off their land this is the definitive history of rambling.Perfectly capturing the sense of exhilaration on reaching the summit of a blustery hill-top path, Ramble On' is for anyone who has ever pulled on a pair of walking boots or is partial to the taste of Kendal mintcake.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘Ramble On’: ‘McKay makes an agreeable tramping companion. For McKay walking is a serious pleasure, which is as it should be’ Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph ‘Ramble On is a fascinating and lovingly written book that gets to the heart of a pursuit enjoyed by thousands throughout the British Isles every weekend’ Carl Wilkinson, Financial Times ‘Excellent history of the pastime … McKay’s gripping story of the struggle is enlivened by atmospheric descriptions of his own rambles and is rich in anecdote’ John Harding, Daily Mail ‘Sinclair McKay aims to convey the essence of this story through visits to some of the often inspiring places in which it has been acted out.’ Guardian Chronicles the changing relationship between landowners and roamers, and branches out into B&B, Wordsworth, Wainright, shifting patterns of class and the history of walking togs’ Country Life ‘Charming book – part of a history of British walking, part of a memoir of McKay’s wanderings.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Highly companionable … McKay gives a fascinating account of how walkers have since the Thirties battled landowners for the right to roam across Britain. In McKay’s version, walking is a political act and the Rambler’s Association is an advanced guard of egalitarians.’ Sunday Telegraph Books of the Year ‘This book should inspire you to don your walking boots and head for the hills’ Choice Magazine, Paperback Book of the Month

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Book SynopsisAnother volume in the popular New Naturalist series, this book gives a comprehensive account of the natural history of Britain and Ireland’s inland waters, many of which are popular holiday destinations.Trade ReviewPraise for the New Naturalist series: ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book SynopsisBen Law's incredible sense of the land and his respect for age old traditions offers a wonderful insight into the life of Prickly Nut Wood.Having travelled to Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, observing age-old techniques for living in, working in and preserving forests and woodland, Ben Law felt compelled to return home and apply his learnings to a 400-year-old plot of woodland near where he grew up Prickly Nut Wood.This is the story of how he came to know and love his woodland, how he lived off the land, how he coppiced and hedged and created charcoal, how he puddled and built shelter, and finally how he carved out his famous, characterful woodland home that Kevin McCloud has cited as his favourite ever Grand Design.Trade Review‘Ben Law’s house is my favourite Grand Design’ Kevin McCloud ‘This book will leave you with a sense of awe and admiration but also a yearning to follow in Ben’s footsteps’ Permaculture magazine ‘Ben continues to inspire his readers about woodland … In Prickly Nut Wood, Ben Law practically demonstrates the benefits of living close to the land’ Woodland Matters

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Book SynopsisA fascinating journey into the extraordinary world of the king of fish: the salmon. This beautiful book explores the natural history of this most mysterious of fishes.Trade Review‘Mr Wigan is a skilled researcher and evocative writer’ Wall Street Journal ‘The Salmon is less a scholarly tome and more of a call to arms on behalf of the salmon.’ Chicago Tribune ‘If you think you have read it all before, let me assure you that you haven't. The Salmon is quite the best book I've read on the subject, skilfully told with wit and a wry turn of phrase […] This is a fishing book, scientific analysis, tragedy, love story, history and story of hope rolled into one.’ Classic Angling ‘Although there are occasional passages about the passionate experience of angling, this is no mere sport fisherman’s celebration – it is a forensic, and often caustic, analysis of the historical interaction between humans and 'the silver wanderer’ Country Life ‘It's an absolute must read for anyone even remotely interested in the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon’ Atlantic Salmon Journal ‘Extremely well-informed’ Literary Review ‘Michael Wigan gives us passionate advocacy on behalf of the wild Atlantic salmon. Above all he recognises the salmon as environmental indicator – “the hydrographer’s fish” – as well as cultural icon and economic driver.’ Tony Andrews, director of the Atlantic Salmon Trust ‘The life cycle of the salmon comes alive in Wigan’s passionate book … a highly readable account of the king of fish.’ Shooting Times

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Book SynopsisThe Smell of Summer Grass is the story of the years spent in finding and building a personal idyll, sometimes a dream, sometimes a nightmare, by writer Adam Nicolson and his wife, cook and gardener, Sarah Raven.Without knowing one end of a hay baler from the other, Adam Nicolson and Sarah Raven, fed up with London and with life, escaped with his family to a run-down farm in the Sussex Weald. Looking for Arcadia, they found a mixture of intense beauty and profound chaos. Over three years they struggled with dock leaves, spring flowers, bloody-minded sheep and neighbours before eventually arriving at some kind of equilibrium.Funny, poetic, ironic and wise, The Smell of Summer Grass' is based partly on the long out of print ''Perch Hill''. It traces the growing intimacy between man and his chosen place, his love affair with it and his frustrations with its intractable realities. As an attempt to live out the pastoral vision, it makes one heartfelt plea: we should never abandon our dreams.Trade Review'Candid, observant and often very funny' Daily Mail 'A delightful memoir – a reminder that the very best writing starts at home' Robert McCrum, Observer Praise for ‘The Mighty Dead’: ‘Thrilling and unsettling … [a] wonderfully expressive alloy of travelogue, scholarship and advocacy, which broods with heartfelt grace … Nicolson's books always shine with the Homeric virtues of eloquence, passion, generosity, audacity and candour … He does them proud’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent ‘A beautiful study: full of insight, generosity and unaffected passion. The writing is exhilarating’ Guardian ‘A thrillingly energised book … it transmits a whole worldview at once decipherable and dramatically strange … To read Homer is to be struck by what Nicolson calls ‘time-vertigo’ – and this book is one that holds your hand and encourages you to peer over the edge. To read it is to have a fat pair of Homeric jump-leads attached from Nicolson’s sparkling and crackling faculties to your own’ Spectator ‘As gripping as a thriller and as delicately constructed as a sonnet … an astonishing tour de force that reveals Homer to be at once as ancient as papyrus and as modern as MTV … Not only does he have an inward understanding of how Homer’s poetry works, his own prose also has the sharp glitter of a poet’s eye’ Telegraph

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Book SynopsisTake a trip to the Yorkshire village of Burley Bridge, where a very special little cookbook shop is about to open its doorsIn the beginningKitty Cartwright has always solved her problems in the kitchen. Her cookbooks are her life, and there isn't an issue that Cooking with Aspic' can't fix. Her only wish is that she had a book entitled Rustling Up Dinner When Your Husband Has Left You'.Forty years laterOn Rosemary Lane, Della Cartwright plans to open a very special little bookshop. Not knowing what to do with the hundreds of cookbooks her mother left her, she now wants to share their recipes with the world and no amount of aspic will stand in her way.But with her family convinced it's a hare-brained scheme, Della starts to wonder if she's made a terrible decision. One thing's for sure: she's about to find outLose yourself in Della's world of food, family and friends. The perfect read for fans of Trisha Ashley and Carole Matthews.Trade Review‘Warm, funny and poignant.’ The Daily Mail ‘A novel as comforting as a slice of homemade apple pie.’ Red ’Brilliant…manages to capture family life perfectly.’ Chick Lit Reviews

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Book SynopsisWindswept is a wonderful work, prose painted in bold, bright strokes like a Scottish Colourist's canvas' ROBERT MACFARLANE An instant classic of British nature-writing' SUNDAY TELEGRAPHTrade Review Praise for Windswept ‘Windswept isn’t only enjoyable and enriching, it contains some of the most striking descriptions of nature I’ve ever read . . . An instant classic of British nature-writing’ HORATIO CLARE, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH ***** ‘Let’s face it, few of us are likely to experience life as Worsley does: remote, wild, elemental, between mountains andsky. But we get a tantalising glimpse of this other world through these pages. It’s like breathing in pure, invigorating Scottish Highlands air and it is a very welcome interlude… Worsley is the Real Deal’DAILY MAIL ‘Windswept is a wonderful work, prose-painted in bold, bright strokes like a Scottish Colourist's canvas. It is a story of learning to keep time differently, in one of the most spectacular landscapes in Britain. Annie Worsley has written a gorgeous almanac or year-book in which the minutes, hours and months are marked not by the tick of clock-hands but weather-fronts, bird migrations and plant-patterns of growth and decay’ Robert Macfarlane ‘Woven with the wisdom of both scientist and poet, Windswept is a beautiful account of life and landscape in one of the UK's most remote and dramatic enclaves. I was transported with every reading, left with gale-ruffled hair and a salty tang on my tongue’ Lee Schofield author of Wild Fell ‘A shaft of golden stormlight, a blast of pure Highland air, Windswept is an exhilarating account of life lived closer to the elements than most of us will ever have the chance to experience’ Melissa Harrison, author of All Among the Barley ‘A compelling, abundantly descriptive portrait of a captivating place’ The Herald ‘Her nature writing is so fluent and captivating that you can lose yourself in it, find yourself feeling the breeze and smelling the warm vegetation of a Wester Ross summer’ West Highland Free Press

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Book SynopsisExtremely charming' Marian Keyes on Mr Doubler Begins AgainWhen life gets tough, do you give up? Or do you grow up?Danny is riddled with anxiety. But he wants to be strong for his wife Sam. She's been through so much already.If only he had someone to talk to.Sam is facing a very different future to the one she expected. She's ready to move on, yet other people won't let her. If only she had someone to talk to.Their new neighbour Diana is hiding from her past. She wanted a new life. Now she's got it she feels angry and alone.If only she had someone to talk to.Each of them is hiding their pain. Each of them needs to heal. But only when they learn to let each other in will they finally be able to grow.What readers are saying about Growing SeasonA beautifully written novel, with highs, lows and twists along the way.' Karen and Her BooksThis was one of those cosy, emotive and just all round beautiful reads that come up once in a while and just really grab my heart. I loved every moment' my.Trade Review Praise for Mr Doubler Begins Again ‘Extremely charming’ Marian Keyes ‘A sheer delight – it will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Charming beyond belief’ Sunday Times best-selling author Veronica Henry ‘I'm both thrilled I've read it and sad it's finished. Brilliant and beautiful’ Lisa B ‘Mr Doubler Begins again is a delight. I guarantee it will make you smile. It might even make you laugh out loud.’ Van is Reading ‘This book is a sheer delight to read. It is uplifting and reminds us about the importance of friendship, and kindness. Definitely one to look out for next year … I’m sure everyone will be talking about it for a long time.’ Karen W Praise for Seni Glaister ‘Charming, captivating and absorbing. I love this book!’ Catherine Alliott ‘Transports the reader to an enchanting world of wisdom, humour and warmth. I am already longing for Seni Glaister’s next novel’ Cathy Kelly ‘A dream of a book’ Polly Vernon, GRAZIA Funny, wise and charming’ DAILY MAIL ‘Fans of Marina Lewycka will enjoy this debut … As sweet as ice-cream’ METRO ‘A witty, feel-good read’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

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Book SynopsisBy the Wainwright-Conservation-Prize-winning author of RebirdingSpend a year in an orchard, celebrating its imperilled, overlooked abundance of life. England''s ancient orchards, collaborations between people and nature, are sources of hope for the future. Protecting them promises a far richer England for the centuries to come, for wildlife and for us.As the seasons turn, a wealth of animals and plants are revealed: Bumble and solitary bees apartment-hunting in April; spotted flycatchers migrating in May; redstarts, hedgehogs and owls nesting in June; an explosion of life in the summer and the harvest and homespun cider-making in the autumn. And all throughout the year, the orchard's human and animal inhabitants work together, creating one of the richest ecosystems left in Britain.Explore this unique habitat throughout the course of a year, and marvel at the beauty and strength of nature.Trade ReviewPraise for Orchard ‘Enchanting’ Daily Mail ‘Vivid [and] full of unexpected revelations … Orchard has much to offer in its observations of wildlife’ John Carey, Sunday Times ‘A wonderful new book from Benedict Macdonald and Nicholas Gates, veterans of the BBC’s Springwatch series … moves lyrically and vividly through one calendar year in an old Herefordshire orchard … Particularly moving’ New Statesman ‘From spores to sparrowhawks, there is never a dull moment. Lyrically written, Orchard is a love-letter to its jumbled “magical chaos” and a shining example of the things that can be achieved when humans come to work in balance and in harmony with nature’ BBC Wildlife ‘From slug-hunting toads and snuffling hedgehogs to percussion-playing spiders, woodpecker architects and zombie hoverflies, this wonderful book weaves together fascinating stories of the wildlife that lives in an old organic orchard … Excellent … I would recommend Orchard wholeheartedly’ Kathy Bishop, The Seasonal Table, Countryfile magazine ‘This book looks at an ancient English orchard throughout the course of a year, focusing on the wide range of wildlife that it supports … writing with a lyrical richness that beautifully evokes this unique setting … The result is a book that can be enjoyed on a lot of different levels from professional conservationists, to the most casual of everyday birdwatchers. Passionate and moving, this is highly recommended’ Birdwatch magazine ‘A rich and textured account of a year in this neglected habitat’ Stephen Moss ‘Enjoy this precious habitat and all its glories via this coffee-table worthy book that offers food for thought’ RSPB magazine ‘This beautiful exploration of natural history is an elegy for a disappearing way of life … captivating’ The Garden magazine

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Book SynopsisEscape to the seaside with this gorgeous new series from the Sunday Times bestselling author perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley and Heidi Swain.Rose Vernon is headed to a quiet Cornish village to find the man who saved her life.For Rose, every day is a gift. She narrowly survived a life-threatening illness and owes everything to her anonymous donor. Determined to thank him, Rose follows a trail of clues that lead her to the little Cornish fishing village of Falford.But things become complicated when Rose is drawn into local life, becoming involved in the legendary Falford Regatta and meeting the handsome Morvah brothers one of whom might just be the man she's looking for.But which one?Can Rose find the answer she's searching for, or will she lose her heart before the summer is over?Romantic and life-affirming'Woman's WeeklyWithin moments you'll feel like you''re at the Cornish seaside, gazing out on the waves, cream tea in hand. The ultimate summer reading escape!'Yours MagazineA feel-Trade Review‘Romantic and life-affirming’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Within moments you’ll feel like you're at the Cornish seaside, gazing out on the waves, cream tea in hand. The ultimate summer reading escape!’ Yours Magazine ‘A feel-good read for summer’ The Sun ‘Transporting, romantic and life-affirming, Ashley has done it again!’ Woman

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Book SynopsisSee through the eyes of the Brontës as you immerse yourself in their lives and landscapes, wandering the very same paths they each would have walked in search of the inspiration behind their novels and poetry.An imaginative and elegant trek through the landscape of the Brontës' GraziaIn his journey to get closer to the Brontës, award-winning author Michael Stewart began walking the historic paths they trod while writing their most famous works. From Liverpool to Scarborough, across wild, windy, and often unforgiving scenery, he discovered echoes of the siblings' novels. And with the help of an unlikely cast of Yorkshire's inhabitants, Michael found himself falling further into their lives and writings than he could ever have imagined.Vivid and evocative, and including a series of beautiful maps of walks Michael devised when creating the iconic Brontë Stones project, Walking the Invisible invites you to experience the lives and landscapes that inspired the Brontës as they've never been Trade ReviewAn ‘imaginative and elegant trek through the landscape of the Brontës’ Grazia ‘An essential companion’ Lancashire Post ‘Literary but unpretentious’ My Weekly ‘Stewart’s passion and enthusiasm for the Brontes’ lives and work and the landscape that shaped them is palpable and infectious. If you weren’t struck […] with “Bronte Fever” before, after reading this you may well be’ Yorkshire Post ‘A terrific tribute to the Brontës – and to the landscapes that shaped their literature’ Guardian ‘For those who wish to follow in the footsteps of the Brontës, however the surroundings might have shifted over 200 years, Michael Stewart is an engaging and knowledgeable guide to have leading the way.’Brontë Studies ‘An authoritative, inspirational and often humorous companion to a great Yorkshire family and the landscape that shaped them – and many others – throughout history’ Yorkshire Life

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Book SynopsisExplore the National Parks with this handy pocket mapHandy little full colour map and guide of Broads National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:91,000 (1.45 miles to 1 inch or 0.91 km to 1cm).This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the Broads National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of Eastern England.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your tripThis and the Broads Park Rangers Favourite Walks (ISBN: 9780008462727) are the perfect companions for exploring this superb walking area of East Anglia.

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Book SynopsisHandy little full-colour map and guide of Dartmoor National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:105,000 (1.68 miles to 1 inch or 1.05 km to 1cm).This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the Dartmoor National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of Southern England.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your trip

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Book SynopsisHandy little full colour map and guide of Snowdonia National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:119 000 (1.2cm to 1km, 1.9 miles to 1 inch).This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the Snowdonia National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of North Wales.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your tripInformation on historic railways, stargazing, mountain biking and places of interestDiscover more about the walking routes at this National Park with the Snowdonia Park Rangers Favourite Walks (ISBN: 9780008439132).

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Book SynopsisHandy little full colour map and guide of North York Moors National Park.Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs. Map at a scale of 1:114 000 (1cm to 1.14km, 1.8 miles to 1 inch).This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the North York Moors National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of North Yorkshire.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your tripInformation on the Cleveland Way, the Moor to Sea Cycle Network, walks and places of interestDiscover more about the walking routes at this National Park with the North York Moors Park Rangers Favourite Walks (ISBN: 9780008462710).

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Book SynopsisExplore the National Parks with this handy pocket map.Handy little full colour map and guide of Lake District National Park. Detailed mapping and visitor information to the National Park along with a selection of photographs.This small map with additional text and photographs gives a great overview of the Lake District National Park, and is the perfect companion for exploring this beautiful area of Northern England.Clear, detailed mappingKey park, tourist and travel informationIdeal for planning visits to the National ParkIndex to help locate and plan your tripThis and the Lake District Park Rangers Favourite Walks (ISBN: 9780008439149) are the perfect companions for exploring this superb walking area of Northwest England.

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