The Backbone of England
Landscape and Life on the Pennine Watershed

Journalist Andrew Bibby walks the Pennines along the route of the watershed that separates the water flowing westwards to the Irish Sea and the Atlantic from the water heading towards the North Sea, and gains insights into the history, ecology, geology and culture of the area.

Journalist Andrew Bibby walks the route of the watershed in England that separates the water flowing westwards to the Irish Sea and the Atlantic from the water heading towards the North Sea: Skirting the headwaters from Kinder Scout in Derbyshire as far as Hadrian's Wall, he explores various aspects of the area's history, ecology, geology and culture, and meets many of the people whose lives are shaped by the landscape. By choosing a strictly geographical route along the Pennines, rather than a man-made one, he gains crucial insights into how the landscape is created and maintained. This fascinating journey, illustrated with photographs by John Morrison, is a celebration of a much loved but little known part of England.