River - Böcker

The Taff is one of the iconic rivers of Wales. It flows south from the highest peaks of the remote Brecon Beacons, following an interesting and varied route to Cardiff Bay. This stunning photographic journey gives an insight into the river's many facets, contrasting rural backwaters with urban landscapes, industrial heritage with unspoilt nature, inland with maritime. This book explores the river's history and hidden secrets and documents how people both past and present have interacted with it, from Isambard Kingdom Brunel to fly fishers and adrenalin seekers. We travel along the river via the 89-kilometre Taff Trail, passing reservoirs, dramatic waterfalls, stunning mountain backdrops and numerous historic bridges. Wonder at the heritage of the former South Wales mining area and watch as the river enters the tree-cloaked Taff Gorge via a legend-rich thermal spring. The book illustrates beautifully how the river meanders through woods and meadows before approaching the bright lights of Cardiff, terminating at the visually stunning Cardiff Bay. Many of the region's famous landmarks are located alongside the river, and are thus explored in this book. They include Castell Coch, Garth Hill, Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff Castle and the Millennium Stadium.

'Water is Life and Heaven's Gift. Here Rivers Goyt and Tame Become Mersey. Flowing Clear From Stockport to the Sea' The Mersey springs to life in the centre of Stockport, fed by the Tame and Goyt rivers, which tumble down from the heart of the Peak District and the wild moors of the Pennines. Its 70-mile journey to the sea takes it through industrial and commercial landscapes, leafy residential suburbs, ancient water meadows, protected wetlands and the wide expanse of its tidal estuary. It enters the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay, having emerged between the Port of Liverpool and the former seaside resort of New Brighton on the Wirral. This unique record, illustrated with new and original photographs, maps and old pictures, charts the journey of one of the world's most iconic rivers. It will appeal to all who live and work within its catchment, as well as visitors from the UK and abroad.

The story of the River Tees is one that combines tales of Roman forts, mythical beings and manufacturing heartlands. Fascinating boom towns, brilliant bridges, areas of outstanding natural beauty and striking industrial heritage have characterised the Tees over the centuries. The river has also played an important part in shaping the identities of the areas that exist alongside it, playing a central role in everyday life. Authors Tosh Warwick and Jenny Parker take us on a journey along the Tees, unveiling the natural beauty, manufacturing history and fascinating stories of the ‘steel river’.

The River Medway travels through the highly populated areas of Gillingham, Chatham, Maidstone and Tonbridge, among a number of other smaller towns and villages. Married to the Thames, the Medway has a rich and varied history. Ancient sites are plentiful along the River Medway; Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman evidence can all be found. Two military battles have also been named after the river: the Battle of the Medway during the Roman invasion of Britain; and the Raid on the Medway, which took place during the second Anglo-Dutch War. Today this heritage is celebrated with the Maidstone River Festival, which has been running for over thirty years. The River Medway is also used by many for recreational activities, including clubs and societies who use the water for paddling and other water sports. With all the Medway has to offer, including pubs, walking routes, wildlife, sites of historical interest and flora and fauna, this river is a delight for anyone who embarks upon its fabulous waters.

The River Don in South Yorkshire flows through a changing landscape. Along with the River Rother and the River Dearne, it forms a river system with a catchment of around 700 square miles and a population of over 1.5 million. The upper reaches of the river are defined by dams which provide a public water supply. The middle section contains a number of weirs to supply mills, foundries and cutlers’ wheels. The lower section contains weirs and locks to maintain the water levels for navigation.Over the course of time, the Don has suffered some very notable floods. In 1536, the forces of the Pilgrimage of Grace were prevented from crossing the river at Doncaster due to flooding, and they subsequently had to enter into negotiations with the King’s forces. In 1864, the Great Sheffield Flood destroyed 800 houses and damaged a number of bridges upstream, killing 270 people. A river with a turbulent past, the River Don has much to offer both residents and visitors, including pubs, walking routes, wildlife, sites of historical interest and the flora. The river is a delight for anybody embarking on its exploration.

This book seeks to explore the River Tyne as it runs from source to sea, using old and contemporary photographs together with postcards to explore the communities, settlements and industries that have existed along its course. The river is formed from the tributaries of the North and South Tyne rivers, which rise in the Scottish Borders and Cumbria respectively. Running for a total of around 120 miles, the waters of the Tyne pass through the moorlands of the counties of Cumbria and Northumberland, through fine agricultural lands, passing many market towns before entering industrial Tyneside and eventually flowing into the North Sea, at the aptly named village of Tynemouth.The Tyne is the lifeblood of many of the communities that sit on its banks; Newcastle upon Tyne may never have existed if the invading Roman Army, under Emperor Hadrian, had not chosen to build the bridge at that particular point on the river in AD 122. The Tyne is a delight for anyone embarking on its exploration.

The Clyde is a river of global importance – it was once the world’s pre-eminent ship-building centre and a major trade hub for the British Empire. This book will explore the history, culture and geography of the river, from its source, in the remote southern uplands, to the city of Glasgow via Scotland’s industrial heartland, and on to where it meets the sea in the beautiful Firth of Clyde.The Clyde rises in a relatively unknown, but ruggedly beautiful, part of the southern uplands. It meanders through moor and picturesque farmland that belies a very active mining past. Our journey takes us past the Falls of Clyde – a spectacular beauty spot and now a UNESCO World Heritage site – and past the mausoleum of Hamilton Palace, one of the grandest country houses ever built in Britain.Then the river reaches Glasgow itself. Beautiful river bridges, stations and riverfront buildings tell the story of the ‘Second City of the Empire’. Over 25,000 ships have been built on the Clyde, including famous oceangoing liners such as the Queen Mary. Today the shipyards specialise in the construction of technologically advanced warships. The Clyde’s trade in tobacco and sugar generated wealth that built the elegant streets of Glasgow. The river also runs right past two of the Commonwealth Games venues.The beautiful Firth of Clyde is home to many points of interest including islands, Second World War torpedo ranges, nuclear submarine bases and beautiful mountains.

The Forth packs more interesting historical and geographical attractions into its relatively short length than any other river in Britain. It rises on the eastern slopes of the mighty Ben Lomond, the most southerly of Scotland’s Munros. It then ambles through the beautiful Trossachs, an area of scenic lochs and forests nestling amid crumpled hills which was the setting for Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem The Lady of the Lake. At Stirling the river enters the pages of British history: it was here that William Wallace’s army defeated England’s forces in 1297. Just seventeen years later, the decisive Battle of Bannockburn took place nearby, an event that helped earn Scotland its independence. The modern-day visitor centre brings the still-extant battle site to bloody life. Stirling Castle itself is the largest in Scotland and one of the country’s most historic. It guards what was for centuries the furthest downstream crossing of the river and was a vital nexus between highland and lowland, east and west. Several Scottish kings and queens were crowned here. After Stirling the River Forth becomes the Firth of Forth – the most substantial estuary on the east coast of Scotland.This book will explore the history, culture and geography of one of Scotland’s most important waterways, from its source down to the Forth Bridges and on to where it joins the sea past Edinburgh, the nation’s capital city.

From a water-laden bog in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales to the mighty Bristol Channel, the River Severn carves its way through some of the most picturesque and varied landscapes in the country. River Severn: From Source to Sea follows the entire course of the river, describing its relationship with the surrounding countryside and how it has shaped local inhabitants’ lives for centuries.A rivulet surfacing on the slopes of Plynlimon marks the beginning of the Severn, known here by its Welsh name Afon Hafren. The youthful Severn passes through rich sheep-rearing hillsides in Wales, before crossing the Marches into England and Shropshire. Here the Severn sheds its Welsh name as it meanders into the former border stronghold of Shrewsbury. Beyond, the Severn enters the Ironbridge Gorge, the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. It meets Bridgnorth, known for its association with the Severn Valley Railway, the Georgian town of Bewdley, historic Worcester, and picturesque Tewkesbury, where it is joined by the River Avon, before flowing through the Vale of Gloucester. The Severn meets the River Wye at Chepstow and finally ends its 220-mile journey at Avonmouth. Illustrated with stunning photography, River Severn: From Source to Sea conveys the topographical and historical importance of the river. Passing through pastoral scenes, Roman cities and medieval fortresses and driving modern industry, the Severn acts as a metaphor for the changing nature of Britain through the ages.

For some the River Trent is synonymous with a northern Staffordshire city, for others the hub of the ceramics industry, perhaps the heart of the brewing world or a famous bridge near a famous cricket ground. But it’s more than all of these combined, its magnitude unmatched anywhere in England. Deriving from Old English meaning ‘the wanderer’ or ‘the invader’, the River Trent carries more water to the sea than other river in the country.Tumbling more than a thousand feet at the southern extremity of the Pennines, it then glides through Trentham and onto Newark. But don’t be fooled by its silvery, sleek nature, for beneath the surface the current is deceptively strong. A fascinating 230-mile-long trek can be made on foot along the riverbanks. Join author Tony Hewitt as he reverses the common trend and approaches the river from the sea, charting its dynamic journey to its source.