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The Perimeter: A Photographic Journey around the Coast of Britain
Rediscover Britain in this vivid and intimate full-colour account of one man’s pilgrimage along its rugged shores
On Friday 17 April 2015, photographer Quintin Lake set off from the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral on a five-year journey that would take him around the entire coastline of mainland Britain. Armed with twenty kilos of hiking and photography gear, he walked 11,000 kilometres in 454 days with one goal in to produce a body of photographic work that gets under the surface of the island nation that we call home.
Carefully curated with over 1,200 photos and interspersed with stories of Quintin’s adventures, this book is an immersive visual experience that showcases Britain as you’ve never seen it before. Discover charming seaside towns such as Staithes in Yorkshire, venture to the desert landscape of Dungeness in Kent and marvel at the beautiful desolation of Scotland’s Knoydart Peninsula. Explore the contrast between industry and nature along the Welsh coast path, where plumes of steam rising from the Port Talbot steelworks are as jaw-dropping as the stunning Worm’s Head on the Gower Peninsula. And follow Quintin as he narrates the monumental challenges of wild camping – from battling with midges and stress fractures, to clambering up cliffs to escape a rising tide. Filled with striking photos that capture the glorious and often surprising world between land and sea, The Perimeter is a celebration of Britain – a small island with a vast coastline
On Friday 17 April 2015, photographer Quintin Lake set off from the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral on a five-year journey that would take him around the entire coastline of mainland Britain. Armed with twenty kilos of hiking and photography gear, he walked 11,000 kilometres in 454 days with one goal in to produce a body of photographic work that gets under the surface of the island nation that we call home.
Carefully curated with over 1,200 photos and interspersed with stories of Quintin’s adventures, this book is an immersive visual experience that showcases Britain as you’ve never seen it before. Discover charming seaside towns such as Staithes in Yorkshire, venture to the desert landscape of Dungeness in Kent and marvel at the beautiful desolation of Scotland’s Knoydart Peninsula. Explore the contrast between industry and nature along the Welsh coast path, where plumes of steam rising from the Port Talbot steelworks are as jaw-dropping as the stunning Worm’s Head on the Gower Peninsula. And follow Quintin as he narrates the monumental challenges of wild camping – from battling with midges and stress fractures, to clambering up cliffs to escape a rising tide. Filled with striking photos that capture the glorious and often surprising world between land and sea, The Perimeter is a celebration of Britain – a small island with a vast coastline
- GenresPhotographyTravel
464 pages, Hardcover
Published August 15, 2025
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62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 16, 2025
More than just a photographic journey, but a good read too. What I admire about this book is that it has been created by a genuine long-distance walker. Therefore you get the rough with the smooth. This isn't some pretty coffee table production, but a labour of love, which has taken hard miles and suffering to build (walking with a backpack with heavy gear and the post-production process). It is expensive, but it is also a definitive photo essay of the coastline of mainland Britain. As a fellow walker who has covered the majority of the paths in this work, it resonates strongly with my experiences and it was therefore a joy to read to rekindle the memory of my journeys.
This work reminds me of the maxim, 'we don't see things as they are, we see things as we are' - undoubtedly there is much of Quintin's own life in this book, through the way he interprets the landscape. Walking such huge distances changes you, and you can perceive this change as he completes the rugged coastline of Scotland and makes his way down the east coast to his start point in London.
My only dissappointment is that he did not walk the islands, but perhaps that is another journey to savour for the future. This is more than counterbalanced by how inspiring this work has been for my own photographic journey.
Highly recommended if you love the coastline of Britain.
This work reminds me of the maxim, 'we don't see things as they are, we see things as we are' - undoubtedly there is much of Quintin's own life in this book, through the way he interprets the landscape. Walking such huge distances changes you, and you can perceive this change as he completes the rugged coastline of Scotland and makes his way down the east coast to his start point in London.
My only dissappointment is that he did not walk the islands, but perhaps that is another journey to savour for the future. This is more than counterbalanced by how inspiring this work has been for my own photographic journey.
Highly recommended if you love the coastline of Britain.
October 3, 2025
Beautiful book!
Not only outstanding photographs arranged artfully, but a lively narrative as well.
As an outdoor person myself my hat is off to the author for his dedication to the mission, despite all the hardships, including Covid.
Not only outstanding photographs arranged artfully, but a lively narrative as well.
As an outdoor person myself my hat is off to the author for his dedication to the mission, despite all the hardships, including Covid.
August 30, 2025
I’ve read this book cover to cover. A remarkable story which I enjoyed as much as the photographs.
September 28, 2025
Like others, following Quintin’s journey around the coast of Britain, one cannot fail to be inspired by his journey. His book showcases the best of Britain and he manages to capture the very essence of long distance walking and taking on a challenge.
The photographs are just brilliant, detailing so much that many of us will never actually see live, however, it's great to see places where you have explored and make that reconnection. It also gives you a perspective of other areas to visit in the future.
What I really like was the way that Quintin shows the reader that many of his journeys in England were across areas of land where people are not welcome and shows how little of this treasured land we actually have access to - whether this will change like Scotland, time will tell.
I’ll continue to come back to this book to research new areas, as I continue to explore more of this country. Hopefully the inspiration of Quintin’s photographs will give me that impetus…a wonderful chronology of Britain’s coastline, bravo!
The photographs are just brilliant, detailing so much that many of us will never actually see live, however, it's great to see places where you have explored and make that reconnection. It also gives you a perspective of other areas to visit in the future.
What I really like was the way that Quintin shows the reader that many of his journeys in England were across areas of land where people are not welcome and shows how little of this treasured land we actually have access to - whether this will change like Scotland, time will tell.
I’ll continue to come back to this book to research new areas, as I continue to explore more of this country. Hopefully the inspiration of Quintin’s photographs will give me that impetus…a wonderful chronology of Britain’s coastline, bravo!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews