Coasting: Running Around the Coast of Britain by Elise Downing - Non Fiction - Paperback

Title:
Coasting: Running Around the Coast of Britain Life, Love and (Very) Loose Plans

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781787839816

Overview:
Coasting is Elise Downing’s luminous travel memoir about one audacious year that changed everything. After graduating, starting a new job, and facing the realities of early adulthood, Elise decides to walk, run, and camp her way around the coast of Britain—nearly 5,000 miles—carrying her kit on her back. What follows is not a flawless trek but a candid, often funny, always humbling journey through the wild, intimate corners of the British coastline. Over 320 pages, readers follow Elise through 301 days of training, improvisation, and improvising—navigating with a map she admits she cannot always read, pitching tents in unexpected weather, and learning to trust strangers who become allies along the way. The book blends vivid nature writing with sharp wit and heartfelt honesty, offering both adrenaline-fueled adventure and quiet, reflective moments. Published in October 2021 by Summersdale (an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group), Coasting has earned recognition in the sports-writing world, including longlisting for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year. It is a paperback edition that invites readers to savor the pace of travel, the rhythm of footsteps, and the beauty of a coastline that is as much about inner miles as outer ones.

What You’ll Discover Inside:
This memoir invites you into the everyday realities of long-distance travel and personal reinvention. You’ll encounter the practicalities behind a coast-to-coast journey—the gear that proves essential, the days when the legs refuse to cooperate, and the improvisation required when plans go awry. Elise’s narrative blends practical resilience with a generous spirit of welcome from strangers who become mentors, friends, and companions for a stretch of the route. You’ll see how fear can be reframed as curiosity, how small acts of kindness from unknown people ripple into lasting motivation, and how a dream, pursued with curiosity rather than control, unfolds in unpredictable, often delightful ways. The book also foregrounds themes of independence, self-reliance, and the courage to embrace uncertainty, all delivered in a voice that is warm, witty, and absolutely human.

Who It’s For:
This book is a natural fit for fans of travel memoirs, outdoor adventure, and stories of personal transformation. It speaks to runners, hikers, and anyone who has ever wondered whether to chase a dream, even when the odds aren’t perfectly aligned. Perfect for readers seeking inspiration, readers who enjoy humorous, candid storytelling, and those who love rich descriptions of coastlines and countryside. It also makes a thoughtful gift for graduates, new homeowners, or anyone embarking on a fresh life phase who could use a reminder that the journey is as meaningful as the destination. Whether you’re a casual armchair traveler or a real-world explorer, Coasting offers a vivid invitation to step outside and follow a path that unfolds one step at a time.

Key Highlights:

• Powerful, true-life travel memoir with humor and heart
• 320-page paperback edition from Summersdale
• Indelible portraits of Britain’s coastline
• Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2021
• Appealing to fans of travel writing and endurance journeys
• Explores risk, trust in strangers, and personal growth

About the Author:
Elise Downing is the author of Coasting, the true-life adventure that charted a 5,000-mile journey around Britain’s coast. Her narrative voice blends wit, warmth, and unflinching candor, turning a bold personal experiment into a universal meditation on resilience and connection. Downing’s writing captures the texture of travel—the landscapes that take your breath away, the people whose generosity changes the course of a day, and the inner dialogue that accompanies any ambitious undertaking. Her work resonates with readers who crave authentic stories of perseverance, self-discovery, and the surprising joys that surface when you push beyond comfort zones. Coasting stands as a testament to the power of curiosity and the value of letting the journey lead the way.

Why You’ll Love This Book:
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the routine of daily life, Coasting offers a compelling blueprint for breaking free with curiosity rather than caution. It’s not just a travelogue; it’s a guide to embracing uncertainty, building resilience, and finding companionship in the most unexpected places. The combination of practical adventure detail, lyrical coastlines, and down-to-earth humor makes this memoir accessible to a broad audience—from devoted runners and hikers to readers seeking motivation and joy in life’s imperfect plans. Owning this paperback means having a companion for quiet evenings, a source of inspiration for future adventures, and a vivid reminder that life’s best moments often arrive when you decide to take a first step into the unknown.

Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.