Katie had never been in a sea kayak, but when her brother Toby died in the middle of his challenge to paddle in every area of the Shipping Forecast, she decided to honour his memory by completing his adventure. On a journey that takes her from the monotonies of motherhood in urban Barcelona to the far reaches of the Shipping Forecast through the wilds of the British Isles, Katie is forced to face her past and question her present, exploring the loss of her family members as well as her own identity. After two years of inelegant paddling and potentially worse parenting, can she complete the challenge?

Thundery at Times is not a story of battling high seas or completing daring tasks, but one of making your own rules and living life to the full. It is about finding joy and hope in nature, motherhood and middle age, in nurturing your own adventures and embracing connection and peace. It is a story of female resilience in the face of adversity; of staring down grief and asking, what’s possible from here?

As seen on the BBC Travel Show.

Plunge into adventure with Jules & Greg’s Wild Swim – the uplifting and hilarious companion to the hit TV series.

With their trademark humour and heart, Jules Wilson-Nimmo and Greg Hemphill take you on a journey to Scotland’s most breath-taking wild swimming spots and share the exclusive behind-the-scenes tales of their swimming adventures.

Take a quick dip inside:
– A tour of Jules and Greg’s favourite Scottish wild swimming locations
– Behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive extras from the hit BBC series
– Practical wild swimming tips for every level
– The proven health benefits of the sport, both mental and physical

Brimming with practical advice, personal anecdotes and Jules and Greg’s infectious enthusiasm, this guide offers everything you need to embrace the invigorating world of open-water swimming – whether you’re a curious first-timer or a seasoned dipper.

Join Jules and Greg as they celebrate the joy, health benefits, and sheer wonder of wild swimming. Your next great escape begins here . . .

‘An essential guide to a movement reborn, blending modernity and tradition, design and wellness, community and nature.’ Sarah Douglas, editor in chief, Wallpaper magazine

There is a new wave of sauna culture spreading throughout the UK and beyond. Saunas are being built in unique settings providing tech-free spaces in which to gather, share stories and enjoy nature. The tradition has a rich history, filled with rituals that encourage us to soak up the mental and physical health benefits of deep heat.

This book honours the old, embraces the new, and plunges headlong into the transformative power of steam.

‘Smartly written and beautifully illustrated … a celebration of a cultural resurgence and a reminder of the power of connecting with nature and something larger than ourselves.’ Mikkel Aaland, author of Sweat

Foreword by Charlie Connelly, author of Attention All Shipping

The Shipping Forecast has been described as the UK’s national lullaby: a source of dependability and calm in our often chaotic world, it has charmed millions of listeners and aided generations of seafarers across the decades. No stranger to weathering a storm after living with a rare life-limiting condition and facing the death of his brother, avid kayaker Toby Carr set out to explore the areas of the Forecast.

On a journey that took him to the harshest and most tranquil stretches of our sea, Toby found the real people, places and stories behind the familiar names and imagined environments of the well-loved BBC broadcast. From the wildness and peace of the sea, looking back at the land, Toby hoped to gain the strength and balance he knew nature could provide and to discover what anchors us to each other.

Written by Toby’s sister Katie from his extensive notes and recordings after his untimely death, Moderate Becoming Good Later is both an epic adventure – sometimes choppy, constantly moving – and a personal voyage of discovery that includes old friends and new, plenty of wildlife, and the ever-present sea.

Over the next year, he filled his calendar with a plethora of potentially pleasurable pursuits. He did things he’d never done before but reckoned could be fun (a pilgrimage in Spain, afternoon bingo); things whose fun-factor was less obvious and more down-to-earth (volunteering in a charity shop, sitting on a bench); and things he wasn’t at all sure about but were fun according to other people (improv, wakeboarding, learning Welsh).

Although the results were mixed, the author’s year of making merry left him feeling undoubtedly … better. Which invites the question: if fun is such a reliable mood-swinger, shouldn’t we be having more of it?

While Britain’s rivers, lakes and canals have long been co-opted by fitness enthusiasts for the physical benefits they can bring, it’s only relatively recently that we’ve given much thought to their impact on our mental state too. ‘Blue health’ – the idea that having access to an area of water can benefit a person’s whole wellbeing – is gaining traction. These waterside places are fundamental to the kind of stuff people now realise they need in their lives – exercise, solace, natural beauty and new places to socialise – with so many of them on our doorstep.

Just Add Water is your guide to the many mood-boosting and wellbeing activities, adventures and escapes that our inland waterways have to offer. Nearly 200 destinations are featured, organised into 15 core activities covering the length and breadth of the UK, making this the ideal companion for anyone planning a day trip or boating holiday.

Expert journalist Sarah Henshaw explains how the activities can re-energise, inspire and relax, weaving their wellbeing benefits with practical information to help you get the most out of each experience. Accompanied by stunning images, the handbook includes everything from mudlarking to wild swimming, fishing to foraging towpath hedgerows, paddleboarding to learning how to paint canal folk art. There are also inspirational first-hand accounts of the many ways our waterways have made a difference to people’s day-to-day lives – including a high-flying exec who finds commuting by water a great way to manage stress.

This guide showcases the multiple ways to be on, in, under or next to water, and how it can enhance the whole spectrum of lived experience.

Through the beautiful cities of London, Bath and Oxford, traversing stunning countryside and national parks, and exploring some of the best Victorian engineering and industry, this book is an inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable read, as well as a perfect resource for anyone thinking about a day out or holiday along Britain’s wonderful canals.