From Leigh to Lynn – the Thames to the Wash – the coastlines of East Anglia are the most diverse in Great Britain. Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are communities shaped by their close relationship with the sea and seafaring, from Viking raiders to modern container ships, and hard-working trawlers to elegant racing yachts.

In this book, long-time resident David Fairhall explores a landscape that has inspired some of the greatest English painters. He follows gentle rivers that reach far inland from a coastline of marsh, sand and shingle, through fenland and farmland, to rural villages where the past is always present.

Rediscovering the East Anglian coastline everyone knows, and uncovering the East Anglian shores only the locals see, this book is written for newcomers and visitors interested in the waterside. It is a treasure trove of local history, endearing wildlife, fascinating architecture and friendly pubs.

For anyone whose first impulse on arriving in an unfamiliar town on the coast is to head for the water, this book brings the landscape to life.