Ocean Stories

Embarking on a transformative journey, Gráinne Lyons decided to traverse Ireland's western shoreline on foot. Her mission was twofold: to tread the paths of eleven trailblazing Irish women intrinsically linked to this coastal terrain, delving into their lives and accomplishments, whilst simultaneously exploring her...

Charlotte Runcie's 'Salt On Your Tongue' is a captivating exploration of the ocean's profound impact on humanity, with a particular focus on its relationship with women throughout history. This eloquent narrative delves into the sea's ability to inspire, captivate, and instil fear, whilst chronicling...

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...

**Shortlisted for the Maritime Foundation Award for Best Book 2024** Hailed as 'an exceptional book' and a 'true classic of the sea', 'Sailing Alone' plunges readers into the extraordinary world of solo seafaring. This 'colourful and inventive' tome explores the paradoxical nature of solitary...

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...

Nestled on the fringe of the British Isles, the Hebrides occupy a singular place in the collective consciousness of Scotland and England. These iconic islands, facing the vast Atlantic, form a natural boundary of Europe and have long been a crossroads of ancient maritime...

Paul Theroux lauds Tim Ecott's evocative prose in 'The Land of Maybe', declaring it an excellent work that ignites a desire to visit this peculiar and captivating locale. John Lewis-Stempel goes further, hailing it as a masterpiece that so vividly conjures the remote island...

The British Isles are home to nearly half of the world's grey seal population, outnumbering even endangered African elephants. These captivating creatures, with their soulful eyes and whiskers more sensitive than human fingertips, return to our shores annually to breed and nurture their young....

Every Briton harbours a secret maritime enthusiast within. For a century, Radio 4's Shipping Forecast has been our faithful companion, keeping us abreast of the capricious British weather and capturing our collective imagination along the way. Marking the centenary of its inaugural broadcast, this...

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...

Crowned with the 2024 Wainwright Prize for Conservation and hailed as a Financial Times 2023 highlight, 'Blue Machine' is a mesmerising exploration of Earth's most enigmatic realm. Helen Czerski, a physicist with a poet's touch, masterfully intertwines the mechanical and the magical, crafting what...

Dive into the enigmatic realm beneath the waves with this instant New York Times bestseller. Susan Casey's "The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean" unveils the awe-inspiring mysteries of the deep sea and the intrepid individuals dedicated to unravelling its secrets. Hailed...

Acclaimed nature writer Adam Nicolson presents a captivating exploration of seabirds in this award-winning masterpiece. 'The Seabird's Cry' delves into the fascinating lives of these remarkable creatures, from puffins to gannets, who effortlessly navigate the harshest environments on Earth. Nicolson's meticulous research takes readers...

Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year, Alice Albinia's 'The Britannias: And the Islands of Women' is a captivating exploration of Britain's islands and their profound impact on the nation's cultural psyche. This masterful work, hailed as 'dazzlingly brilliant' by Hannah...

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...

Embark on an extraordinary voyage through the mist-shrouded Summer Isles off Scotland's western shores, where reality and imagination intertwine. In this captivating blend of travel writing, memoir, and cultural history, Philip Marsden guides you on a spellbinding exploration of these remote islands, steeped in...

Charles Clover's 'Rewilding the Sea: How to Save our Oceans' is a riveting exploration of marine conservation that has earned a place on the 2023 Wainwright Prize shortlist. Hailed as 'desperately needed' by Isabella Tree and lauded by Stephen Fry as potentially the year's...

LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2022 `A remarkable and powerful book, the rarest of things . Nicolson is unique as a writer . I loved it' EDMUND DE WAAL Few places are as familiar as the shore - and few as full of mystery...

Ingenious. Caputo picks out a fascinating path and leads readers along it with the confidence of a practised pilot' Felipe Fern�ndez-Armesto, author of 1492'Accessible and entertaining, as well as deeply erudite and constantly mind-expanding' Philip Ball, author of How Life WorksFrom their first appearance...

For thirty summers Tove and her partner, the graphic artist, Tuulikki Pietil�, retreated to the tiny island of Klovharun, a rocky outcrop in the gulf of Finland, where they would live, paint and write, energised by the shifting seascapes and the island's austere charms....

In this exquisite collection of essays, renowned Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie casts her keen observational eye on the natural world that surrounds her. With a voice both lyrical and unflinching, she brings depth and vibrancy to the oft-overlooked corners of Scotland's landscapes. From the...

WINNER OF THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2020A SUNDAY TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, THE TIMES AND BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEARFor most of human history, the seas and oceans have been the main means of long-distance trade and communication between peoples - for the...

Embark on a captivating odyssey through the rugged landscapes and rich tapestry of the Shetland Islands with Sally Huband's "Sea Bean". This poignant memoir seamlessly interweaves the author's beachcombing adventures with ancient myths, ecological fragility, and the islands' profound human history. As you delve...

Spanning over two-thirds of our planet, the oceans remain a realm of mystery and awe for most land-dwellers, captivating us with their beauty whilst instilling a sense of trepidation. Yet, there are those intrepid souls who venture forth, immersing themselves in the myriad moods...