The Solent. A photographic portrait

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical, £19.99
Publication Date: 2008

I have had the good fortune to sail in the Solent for years and am familiar with many of the places mentioned in this lovely book. The Solent is a unique stretch of water - once narrow and shallow enough for Julius Caesar to wade across to the Isle of Wight on foot, whereas now it is a bustling waterway, home to the coastal villages and towns of Beaulieu and Lymington and on the Isle of Wight to Cowes, the home of yachting and the starkly impressive white rock of the Needles - a landmark which is recognised the world over. And throughout the year the ferries enable people to cross from the mainland to the Isle of Wight, while the super liners ply their way up Southampton Water, bringing much needed commerce and tourism to the area. This photographic celebration of the Solent is much more than just a coffee table book. It cleverly navigates the reader from the New Forest coast in the West, through Southampton Water, Portsmouth and Chichester Harbours to the East and finally South to the Isle of Wight. The late Terry Heathcote's knowledge of the area was clearly huge and his remarkable skills as a photographer make this book a real treat. The photographs have been taken throughout the year, which enables one to enjoy the variety of fauna and flora and the light on the water during the different seasons. This pictorial journey is combined with nuggets of interesting historical facts along the way, from the Roman palaces at Fishbourne to Second World War defences, from the ruins of Netley Abbey to Hurst Castle. An ideal Christmas treat for those who know and love the Solent but also for those who just want to learn about it. - Rona Musker