British Nature Books

A Sunday Times bestseller and Samuel Johnson Prize nominee, 'The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot' is a masterful exploration of Britain's ancient pathways by the acclaimed author of 'Underland', 'Landmarks', and 'The Lost Words'. Robert Macfarlane, renowned for his eloquent observations of nature,...

Discover the transformative power of nature in this captivating true story of resilience and renewal, hailed as one of the decade's most impactful reads. From the pen of million-copy bestselling author Raynor Winn comes a tale that has captured hearts and minds across the...

The British hedgerow stands as an iconic emblem of the countryside, teeming with blackberries, hazelnuts, and sloes, whilst providing sanctuary to oak, ash, field mice, and butterflies. Though many of us may fantasise about gathering wild mushrooms or harvesting nettles for a hearty soup,...

In 'Wilding', Isabella Tree unfolds the captivating tale of the Knepp experiment, a groundbreaking rewilding endeavour in West Sussex. With the precision of a detective and the passion of a naturalist, Tree chronicles how free-roaming grazing animals are crafting new wildlife habitats, breathing life...

Hailed as the pinnacle of British nature writing, Nan Shepherd's 'The Living Mountain' is a captivating exploration of the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland. This masterpiece, featuring an introduction by Robert Macfarlane and an afterword by Jeanette Winterson, invites readers on an extraordinary journey through...

Imagine living alone for four decades in the rugged Scottish Highlands, miles away from civilization. Ken Smith's incredible memoir, "The Way of the Hermit", takes you on an extraordinary journey into his life as a modern-day recluse. For over 40 years, Smith has called...

Imagine being gifted your very own remote islands. For Adam Nicolson, this extraordinary scenario became reality three decades ago. At the tender age of 21, he found himself the custodian of the Shiants, a trio of secluded Hebridean isles nestled in treacherous waters off...

Hailed as 'Britain's finest living nature writer' by The Times, John Lewis-Stempel offers an unparalleled glimpse into the secret world of an English meadow in his award-winning masterpiece, 'Meadowland: The Private Life of an English Field'. With the keen eye of a detective and...

Embark on an extraordinary odyssey with Raynor and Moth as they traverse a staggering 1000 miles from Scotland to the South West Coast Path. This captivating narrative, penned by the acclaimed author of The Salt Path and The Wild Silence, offers a poignant exploration...

John Lewis-Stempel's magnum opus, 'England: A Natural History', presents a captivating exploration of the nation's iconic landscape. This masterful work delves into twelve distinct habitats, from estuaries to parks, chalk downlands to woodlands, painting a vivid portrait of England's rich and diverse natural tapestry....

In 'The Hidden Ways', Alistair Moffat embarks on a captivating journey along Scotland's forgotten pathways. With the keen eye of a detective and the passion of a storyteller, Moffat unravels the mysteries of ancient Roman roads, pilgrim routes, and long-abandoned byways that have shaped...

Venture into the depths of Holloway, a sunken path worn deep into the bedrock by centuries of travellers, both human and animal. In 2005, Robert Macfarlane and the late Roger Deakin, author of Wildwood, embarked on an expedition to uncover the mysterious holloways of...

In this captivating exploration of Britain and Ireland's untamed landscapes, Robert Macfarlane embarks on a quest to uncover the last bastions of true wilderness. From dense forests to windswept moors, rugged mountains to salt-kissed marshes, the acclaimed author of 'Underland' and 'The Lost Words'...

From the author of the phenomenal 80-week Sunday Times bestseller 'The Salt Path' comes another extraordinary tale that has captivated readers and critics alike. Raynor Winn's 'The Wild Silence' has swiftly ascended to the pinnacle of the Sunday Times bestseller list, cementing her status...

Embark on a captivating journey through the eyes of the Brontës, immersing yourself in their world as you tread the very paths that inspired their literary masterpieces. This 'imaginative and elegant trek through the landscape of the Brontës', as hailed by Grazia, offers a...

`Windswept 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 TELEGRAPH A few years ago, Annie Worsley traded a busy life in academia to take on a small-holding or...

Hailed as 'Britain's finest living nature writer' by The Times, John Lewis-Stempel presents a Sunday Times bestseller and Wainwright Prize nominee. 'The Running Hare' unveils the hidden world beneath our ploughlands, from industrious microbes to soaring kestrels. With meticulous detail and lyrical prose, Lewis-Stempel...

COLLECTIVE WINNER OF THE HIGHLAND BOOK PRIZE AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE `This is the book that has been wanting to be written for decades: the ragged fringe of Britain as a laboratory for the human spirit' Adam Nicolson Over the course of...

In this luminous exploration of nocturnal illumination, Matt Gaw embarks on a captivating journey through the darkness, unveiling the hidden wonders that emerge when artificial light fades away. From the ethereal glow of moonlit Suffolk to the celestial tapestry of Scottish skies, Gaw's prose...

WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR CONSERVATION 2023 The Sunday Times Science Book of the Year As seen on Countryfile `If anyone was born to save Britain's rainforests, it was Guy Shrubsole' Sunday Times Shortlisted for the Richard Jefferies Society Literary Prize Temperate rainforest...

A Sunday Times bestseller and nominee for prestigious literary awards, 'The Book of Trespass' by Nick Hayes is a groundbreaking exploration of England's hidden landscapes. This captivating work, lauded by literary luminaries, challenges readers to reconsider their perception of the countryside. Hayes unveils a...

Jake Fiennes is spearheading a revolution in British farming, transforming the very essence of our countryside. As the Conservation Manager at Holkham, Norfolk's sprawling historic estate, Fiennes has orchestrated a remarkable revival of habitats across 25,000 acres. His innovative approach has not only bolstered...

In this captivating narrative, hailed as 'striking' by The Times and 'uplifting and moving' by BBC Radio 2, Catherine Munro invites readers on a transformative journey to the Shetland Islands. Described by Katherine May as 'a meditation on connection between humans and animals, and...

Hailed as 'Britain's finest living nature writer' by The Times, John Lewis-Stempel invites readers on a nocturnal adventure through the British countryside. With his trademark vivid prose, lauded by The Daily Mail and The Spectator, Lewis-Stempel unveils the hidden world that emerges after dusk....

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE Venture into the heart of Britain's wild places with Kat Hill's 'Bothy: In Search of Simple Shelter'. These remote mountain huts, always unlocked and devoid of modern conveniences, beckon to those seeking solace in nature's embrace. With the keen...

Embark on a captivating odyssey through Cornwall with Tim Hannigan's "The Granite Kingdom", shortlisted for the prestigious Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year Award 2024. In this meticulously crafted narrative, Hannigan traverses his native land on foot, from the verdant Tamar Valley to...

Imagine being swept away by the wind to a place of unparalleled seclusion, where only your shadow keeps you company. This is precisely where Jade finds herself when her partner abruptly departs their newly-acquired barn, leaving behind a damaged wall and a shattered life....

Wildwood, a cherished masterpiece of nature writing by Roger Deakin, the environmentalist behind Waterlog, delves into the intricate relationship between wood, nature, culture, and human existence. This captivating exploration has been hailed as 'breathtaking' and 'vividly written' by the Sunday Times, with one reader...

Captivating. Will change the way you think about the natural world, and your place in it' Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallIn Feral, George Monbiot, one of the world's most celebrated radical thinkers offers a riveting tale of possibility and travel in the wildHow many of us sometimes...

Embark on an enthralling journey with Dave Goulson, a wildlife enthusiast turned bumblebee champion, in this Sunday Times bestseller. From his boyhood fascination with exotic pets and amateur taxidermy to his groundbreaking research, Goulson's lifelong obsession with nature takes centre stage. At the heart...

Stephen Fry hails this book as 'bliss', praising its captivating portrayal of rural life's charm, wonder, and vigour. The Spectator lauds it as a 'capacious work' to be savoured seasonally, whilst the Sunday Times deems it their 'favourite read of the year'. Susan Hill,...

I found myself turning the pages with an inward leap of joy' - Isabella Tree*WINNER of the Richard Jefferies Award for Nature Writing**Shortlisted for the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Conservation*'Exquisite' GUARDIANIt was a tragic day for the nation's wildlife when England's last and...

In the summer of 2010, renowned poet Simon Armitage set out on an extraordinary journey - walking the length of the Pennine Way, a 268-mile trail that traverses Britain's remote and rugged landscapes. "Walking Home" is a captivating memoir that chronicles Armitage's poetic pilgrimage,...

W.G. Hoskins, a trailblazing British historian of the 20th century, revolutionised our perception of landscapes. His seminal work, 'The Making of the English Landscape', transformed how we interpret the environments we inhabit and traverse. Hoskins possessed an extraordinary ability to decipher the hidden narratives...

In the wake of unimaginable loss, one man embarks on an extraordinary journey to navigate the treacherous waters of grief and pay tribute to the love of his life. "Moderate Becoming Good Later" is an exhilarating and deeply moving memoir that chronicles the sea...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZEFrom the bestselling author of UNDERLAND, THE OLD WAYS and THE LOST WORDS'Few books give such a sense of enchantment; it is a book to give to many, and to return to repeatedly' Independent Words...

WITH A FOREWORD BY PATRICK BARKHAMAnd an essay by Welsh hill farmer, Dafydd Morris-Jones'One of the great no-holds-barred life-adventures in the wilds of the British landscape.' ADAM NICOLSONWritten on the eve of the Second World War, this memoir tells the remarkable story of how...

Silbury Hill, nestled in Wiltshire, has long been a source of intrigue and speculation. Was it once surrounded by water, forming an island? Did our ancestors use it for worship, rituals, or seasonal celebrations? Might it have been part of a larger sacred landscape,...

The untold story of rural Britain revealed through its artefacts ?'A really lovely, fascinating book. I dived straight into this clever, joyous, celebration of nature, history, and - of course - the countryside.' Charles Spencer, author of The White Ship For most of human...

Waterlog is a captivating celebration of Britain's wild aquatic landscapes and the enchantment of swimming. In 1996, Roger Deakin embarked on an extraordinary aquatic odyssey across the British Isles, immersing himself in a diverse array of water bodies—from seas and rivers to tarns, lochs,...

Lauded with the 2024 Wainwright Prize and the 2023 Richard Jefferies Award for Nature Writing, 'Late Light' by Michael Malay has captivated readers and critics alike. Described as 'inspirational' by the Wainwright Prize judges and 'a bright, fierce hope for the future' by The...

Embark on a captivating odyssey through the British landscape, culled from The Guardian's cherished Country Diary. This exquisite compilation, introduced by Ian McMillan and adorned with Clifford Harper's illustrations, presents a kaleidoscope of nature's wonders. For more than a hundred years, The Guardian's Country...

In "The Return of the Grey Partridge", Roger Morgan-Grenville chronicles the remarkable transformation of the Arundel Estate in West Sussex. This captivating narrative unfolds as estate managers, alarmed by the dwindling population of grey partridges, confront the harsh reality of modern farming's impact on...

THE NO. 1 BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF POLITICS ON THE EDGERory Stewart explores his love for the UK in this account of history, memory and landscape as he traverses the the borderlands between England and Scotland. `This beautifully written book is a haunting reflection of...

WINNER OF THE HOLYER AN GO AWARD 2023 Wyl Menmuir's The Draw of the Sea is a beautifully written and deeply moving portrait of the sea and the people whose livelihoods revolve around it, examining the ephemeral but universal pull the sea holds over...