Dame Penelope Keith returns for more travels through Britain’s villages armed with her trusty Batsford guides. In this new series, she’s exploring an integral part of Britain’s national character: its stunning coastline.

Penelope seeks out the community heartbeat that’s unique to coastal village life; from fishing and lifeboats to pleasure boating and holidaymaking, the sea brings both joy and danger; Penelope delves into local crafts and industry as well as arts and literature. She visits three distinct parts of the British coastline and contrasts what the writers of the Batsford guides discovered in the first half of the 20^th century with what she sees today.