Lisa Woollett embarks on a series of coastal walks to show us how the land is eroding, but mainly to tell us about the myths, legends and stories from our past, at the edges of Britain and Ireland. 

There are chapters about Happisburgh in Norfolk and Dunwich in Suffolk, but also Scotland, Wales, the South-West and the North-East. It's always interesting to read about familiar places but this is a wonderful way to discover new locations too. 

She tells us about Bronze Age settlements on the Isles of Scilly, submerged prehistoric forests in Wales and a Victorian amusement park on the Isle of Wight. There are medieval kingdoms, pirate towns, drowned churches and crocodile-infested swamps. She explores archaeology, folklore, environmental issues and tales from the locals. 

It's beautifully written and celebrates our relationship with the sea, how it has shaped and often overwhelmed landscapes and communities. The key takeaway for me? Dunwich is not the only town believed to have been swallowed by the sea. People in locations all over the world claim that in the right conditions you can hear the church bells tolling from beneath the waves.