From beautiful golden strands to imposing sea cliffs and from quiet coves to busy ports, the diversity of the Northern Irish coastline is matched only by the variety of people who enjoy it and live on it.

Although Northern Ireland is a small country its coastline is surprisingly long, stretching from Carlingford Lough in the southeast to Lough Foyle in the northwest.Travelling its length, you discover the history of our forebears and their hunter-gatherer and agricultural lifestyles; the richness of the Irish Sea and the fishing industry that was so important to the development of the coastal communities; and the industrial development in the Port of Belfast that enabled wider growth throughout the country. Providing a respite from economic toil, the coast is a playground for people from all walks of life: for families enjoying a rest or some surfing on the beaches of the northwest, climbers enjoying the challenges of Fairhead or nature lovers looking for hidden treasures on the shores of Strangford Lough.

The images in this superb book explore the diversity of this valuable natural resource that, in a very real sense, sustains our lives in this ancient and modern land.

Simon Watterson’s fascination with the natural world initially led to a career in science. However, photography allowed him to explore nature in a different way and in 2007 he broke away from science to concentrate on photography. A finalist in several major photographic competitions, he has also had work published in the national press and various magazines. Portrait of the Northern Ireland Coast is his first full length book.

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 845 8, hardback, 214x230mm, 144 pages. Published October 2009.