The Gathering Tide (Saraband)

The Gathering Tide: A Journey Around the Edge of Morecambe Bay was an Author’s Book of the Year in The Observer and was awarded the Place Writing prize at Lakeland Book of the Year Awards. The Gathering Tide is an excursion around the edgelands of one of nature’s greatest natural amphitheatres – an important overwintering destination for numerous wading birds. Over 2 years I walked the shoreline, researched in archives, poured over ancient sea charts, explored hidden caves and travelled out into the middle of the bay with ‘sand pilot’ Cedric Robinson. Part social history, part memoir, part archaeological encounter, the book explores what home means, and how we find it.

‘Full of earthy realism, observation and quiet lyricism. It is a hugely impressive debut.’ Mark Cocker.

‘Beautifully written, weaving fact and personal reflections fluidly and with real skill.’ Eric Robson.

‘This poetic book is a map, a layered account of Morecambe Bay, its birds, rivers, names, bones, ghosts and lives, its dangerous beauty, its tragedies…(Gillian Clarke.

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