Ready to be filed very nicely next to Amy Jeffs, this National Trust book does a similar thing, but by region, with an eye to being more of a travel guide, as opposed to putting a whole single chronology on it all. So we don't start with the first British Islanders, but at St Michael's Mount, and then see what Arthur left on Tintagel (answer – ghosts, at most, and nothing more real). We soon realise the other change, too – while Jeffs was able to write her own tales, and very well, this is more discursive of what has been said then, and can quote Baring-Gould, Tennyson, Conan Doyle, and all relevant major archivists, poets and antiquarians.

Nicely, this touches on places well catered for by coach trips (Glastonbury), stalwarts of bucket lists (Staffa) and much less well-known places (the Badbury Rings hill-fort, Wandlebury Hill, Pontius Pilate's birthplace). Whatever your engagement with the sort of Fortean history of our lands there will be something to appeal. A final difference is wonderful, and fully-coloured, artwork, bordering on ideal for both mood and representation. The whole is skewed heavily towards some sections of the world – SW England is a whole third of the book, more or less, and this is Britain not the UK – but needs must when the Devil drives, and this takes us to places that had to be included, else things would just look silly. I did, however find a difference between the earlier pages and the later ones – in the sections regarding Scotland, and bound-to-be-mispronounced legends borrowed from Eire, I found the lochs etc very woolly compared to the more obvious remnants of southern England. That said, this does a very good job of making much of this something to aspire to visit – be it a dividing island in the middle of a dual carriageway or not.

Accompanied by some really beautiful artwork, Britain's Landmarks and Legends is a fantastic read about the legends and folklore that follows and shrouds some of Britain's historic places.

Discovering some incredible new places that are filled with history and legend, this book shines a light on places I've never heard of, even in my home county and across the UK where we discover rings of stones, castles of lore and places of natural brilliance.

A real joy to take in, this book will make you want to get up and go outside and see something new.

‘’On a winter’s evening, with mist moving like a cold breath between the stones, it’s easy to imagine that the old spirits still walk here. Even in relatively recent times, children tiptoed up to the chamber and listened for the clink of a smith’s hammer; so did their ancestors, stretching back in an unbroken line for a thousand years, to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. King Alfred himself knew the tale and versions of it were told in feasting halls across Northern Europe.’’


Be on your guard and tread silently for King Arthur and his knights sleep beneath St Michael’s Mount, awaiting the day when the realm will need them once more. Look for the traces of the Arthurian saga in Tintagel and Lyonesse. In West Devon, where Saint Michael crushed the Devil, a formidable church protects the land. At the same time, in Dartmoor druids, ghosts and hounds from Hell add to the mysticism and eerieness of the landscape that inspired the finest Sherlock Holmes mystery The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Who hasn’t marvelled at the sight of Cerne Giant in Dorset? Who hasn’t felt the aura of spirituality, and tranquillity in Glastonbury? Who hasn’t heard the whispers of the past while gazing at Glastonbury Tor? As the sun rises over Stonehenge, the stones sing the silent song of ages lost in the mist of time along with their distant cousins in Avebury. The trees of Chanctonbury Ring hide dark secrets, screams and wails and rituals of the Devil and the White Cliffs of Dover murmur their British lullaby of pride and everlasting might.

The Wild Hunt, the legend of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in the Sherwood Forest, Gogmagog, the Sutton Hoo helmet, the Great Stone of Lyng that bleeds echoing the bloodshed of sacrifices and battles, the Green Men, the secrets of Alderley Edge, Mayburgh Henge and King Arthur’s Round Table, Blencathra and the tale of Excalibur.

‘’The King is gone from Bambrough castle:
Long may the Princess mourn,
Long may she stand on the castle wall,
Looking for his return.’’
(Trad. ballad credited to Robert Lambe, from William Hutchinson’s A View of Northumberland, 1778)

Bamburgh Castle holds the keys to a mythic past from Lancelot’s Joyous Guard to battles of freedom and conquest. Bran’s head secures the safety of the realm, Deirdre and Naoise find refuge in Alba before the tragic end of their story, Diarmuid and Grainne’s legend begins in Ben Gulabin. The terrifying Cailleach brings cold and sadness into people’s hearts, while Ben Macdui is haunted by a dark presence that makes brave men flee in terror. In Calanais, in the Hebrides, a mysterious figure walks down the path towards the stones on the summer solstice, visiting the giants that refused to build a church and were turned to stone.

This is only a mere handful of the legends that can be found in this extraordinary book. Jo Woolf invites us on a journey to the myths of England, Scotland and Wales, a haunting dance within the recesses of a past so distant, yet ever-present in European culture. Embellished with illustrations by Claire Harrup, this gem should definitely find a place in your bookcase.

‘’But remember that, when England is in peril, King Arthur and his knights will wake and ride out valiantly across the plain.’’

Many thanks to National Trust Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fascinating read, with a mix of well-known and obscure sites in Britain that all have a certain aura of mystery to them. A large part of this is due to superstitions and myths, which the book narrates succinctly, while it also tries to weigh what historical evidence might link up with different stories.
I did find it a little strange that the book uses illustrations instead of photographs, and found myself frequently reaching for a search engine so that I could see what some of these places really look like.

Britain’s Landmarks and Legends is a captivating National Trust guide that beckons readers with its alluring cover, making it a book that's hard to resist in gift or book shops. Within its pages is a vast array of information, offering a wealth of facts and historical insights about the many landmarks it covers. It's a comprehensive resource for those curious about Britain's rich heritage.

The book is organised by geographical sections which is a smart touch, the book would make a practical resource for anyone planning a UK trip or staycation. It's the perfect companion for exploring local treasures or delving into the history of places you've visited whilst travelling.

I have a desire for more illustrations or photographs of the featured locations. A stronger visual component would have added to the book's appeal.

It is an informative guide throughout the folklore of Britain, though heavily weighted to the south and with few examples in the northeast or Scotland. Illustrations alone are worth the book! Personally, it's not in-depth enough for me, but as an introduction, it's fabulous. As a travel guide, it will help to pinpoint locations to visit.

A lovely book with charming illustrations. From ancient stone circles to the Cerne Abbas giant, the author gives us beautiful descriptions and interesting historical snippets to make you want to visit these places. A good book to take on holiday, a long train trip or while sitting in your favourite comfy chair. It's just the right size to pack too.

Everything I wanted and more.

Jo Woolf has managed to write a book that was exactly what I was looking for. Organised into geographical sections, she combines natural and social history with myth, folklore, and fact. 

She very adeptly weaves the imaginative details of legend and storytelling with the ‘real’ information on how parts of Britain’s landscape has been formed, changed, and lived with throughout the past. I truly wanted to hop in a car and start a road trip just so I could experience it all in person with her book to hand. 

I would consider this essential reading for anyone wanting to dip into Britain’s long, fascinating, and mysterious past and how its remnants survive today. I loved every page of this.

It's a good book that could be a good guide to design a travel. There's places, landamarks, legends.
I found it informative and interesting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The book has a lot of interesting stories and facts about various British landscapes. The landscapes are not given equal weight; the Lake District is given as much attention as the whole of Scotland, for instance. Perhaps something to do with all the National Trust land in the Lakes? What is also strange is that the majority of the Scottish stories seem to be about Ireland, or at least have a strong Irish connection.
The book is clearly written so that each chapter can be read stand-alone. That is understandable, but it does lead to some repetition. For example, the story of Tristan and Isolde is told twice.
There were some things that I really liked about the book. The illustrations are really nice and definitely add another dimension. I appreciated the use of scientific names of plants (in addition to their English/Welsh names). The mentions of the specific old trees was also something that I liked. I have visited a lot of the places covered, which meant that reading the stories about them was more interesting. All the literary references definitely also added a worthwhile element to the book.
This review is based on a free copy of the book kindly provided by the publisher using the NetGalley platform, in return for an honest review.

For as long as I can remember growing up in our wild and beautiful country there were people desperate to vanish abroad on holiday annually, and to say that this perplexed me right from the beginning would be an understatement because, for the most part, these were people who admitted to not having explored much of their own country and the UK before deciding that warmer climes looked much more inviting.

Now, don't get me wrong, I can understand the weather is often quite an issue in the UK, even throughout the summer months, making it a tricky prospect for most and a chance they would rather not take, but as this delightful book illustrates, Britain has a unique charm and beauty that few countries can rival. Add to that centuries of history, myth and legend and you have got more than enough reasons to brave a British summer or clearing in the weather to take advantage of the fifty landmarks throughout these pages showcasing the very best Britain has to offer.

What particularly excited me about this book is that it doesn't focus completely on just the tourist areas you would expect it chooses to add attractions that are slightly more off the beaten path and then the way the book links each site back to British culture in terms of the history of the place, those it inspired, famous people who lived close by, etc, was all fascinating. Lastly, the photography is breathtaking and some of the most spectacular I have seen in a long time. An inspiring book that is bound to encourage visits to such places by Brits and foreigners alike. Highly recommended.

A gazeteer arranged by English region then with a chapter each on Wales and Scotland, this is a lovely resource that pulls together a lot of sources to give a thorough overview of the topic. After an introduction that opens with a Kipling story that features Puck of Pook's Hill and tales of every part of the landscape being haunted by half-forgotten characters and stories, we set off around Britain - although I should mention here that the South-West takes up over 20% of the book, which seems odd, even though it's a big and ancient region.

Both natural features (Cheddar Gorge, the white cliffs of Dover) and human-created monuments (Stonehenge, Sutton Hoo and other less well-known ones) are covered, and for each Woolf goes through the topography itself, older legends, writings from a variety of sources through the ages then up-to-date archeological research.

She does concentrate on myth and mystery and the feeling of places, as suggested in the quotation above, and she does like to choose an older translation of a source to get that archaic feel, but it's nicely and carefully put together and certainly not full of woo but based on solid sources as well as misty impressions.

There's a bibliography at the end, and an index. Mention must go to Claire Harrup for her beautiful illustrations which really make the book and are hugely evocative. This would make a super gift in print form.

Blog review published 13 September 2023: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2023/09/13/book-review-jo-woolf-britains-landmarks-and-legends/

his is a lovely book from the National Trust that focuses on the wonders of the British landscape and how they have become landmarks over time.

​The book is organised by regions, starting with South West England and moving through the South East, Central England and East Anglia, Northern England and concluding with Wales and Scotland. Within these sections about a half dozen to a dozen features are identified, totally fifty. These include natural features such as Sherwood Forest and the White Cliffs of Dover, to man-made landmarks like Stonehenge and Sutton Hoo.

The landmarks are described with an easy to read, sentimental story-like text, that includes the history and mythology surrounding the feature, plus quotes and poems. The book feels like a charming collection of folklore tales rather than a history or travel guide: it is definitely not an academic textbook. The stylised images also add to the folklore ambience, whereas photographs may be more useful but would spoil the essence of this book.

An atmospheric book of British legends linked to our wonderful landscape. This would make an enjoyable and pleasant gift for anyone to dip into for a bit of tranquility. Beautiful hardback.

I enjoyed this book which I think is best read as a "dip in and read a bit at a time" book. It wasn't the type of book where I felt obliged to read it all - if I had it in print version, it's the sort of book I would probably take on holiday with me and read when I was actually near to the locations described in the book.

I really liked the illustrations - there were a couple in there of places that I have visited and they were instantly recognisable. I think the book would have benefited either from more of these, or from having some photographs included also. Many of the landmarks are accompanied by poetry or quotes, which adds a depth to the description of each location and the legends attached there.

I enjoyed reading my way around the British Isles and finding out about various landmarks and the legends attached to them. The United Kingdom has plenty of exciting landmarks and more legends that you can shake the proverbial stick at. So this book should interest both UK readers but also those either visiting or have an interest in the UK. The landmarks were given enough detail and information without being overly long or boring. Enough to excite the interest and give the reader the opportunity to research more information at their leisure. The book is broken down in the regions which is helpful. You can either read the book from front to back or pick and choose your region. My own criticism is that I would loved to have had more pictures in the book. The illustrations are lovely, but I would have like more or lots of photograph throughout the book. Not each landmark has an accompanying illustration which I feel is a shame.

This has some interesting information about various places in Britain. It mainly covers the folk tales and myths about the selected landmarks but there are also details of the recorded history and literature linked to the places and information about any archaeological evidence. Some of the landmarks have unique flora and fauna and these are mentioned too.

I would say that this is a fair introduction to many of the myths and legends of Britain and would be a good starting point for people who want to explore further but really it is more of a coffee table book than a guide. The illustrations are lovely but I would have liked some maps and photographs too.

I thought the Welsh section was good but I was disappointed in the Scottish selection as it is quite samey and very much linked to Irish myths.

I imagine it will be popular as a Christmas gift.

This is a really beautiful book - it tells the history and legends surrounding some of the most famous landmarks in Britain and how they inspired some of our most famous art. The book also has the most beautiful illustrations of many of the sites - my only mild comment is I'd have loved there to be an illustration of all of them. It's a fascinating read giving a thorough and very readable background to all sorts of history. I received an e copy of the book but I will most certainly be buying the hard copy to add to my shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in return for an honest review #NetGalley #BritainsLandmarksandLegends

This is an enjoyable tour of exactly what it says on the tin- exploring the UK through the natural (and occasionally man-made) sights within.

The sheer range of this, separated by regions of the UK, make this a useful reference guide for deep exploration.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'Britain's Landmarks and Legends.' It's interesting how much I didn't know, often bypassing some of these historical landmarks without giving them a second thought. But who would have known that there are legends behind them, and some date back to well-forgotten eras? I really loved this piece of information and feel that I will revisit a few chapters when I plan to travel near these historical landmarks. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, and thank you to the publisher for this book.

A very attractive book that tells the stories of a number of places and landmarks in the British isles through their legends and folklore.
Beautifully illustrated and full of fascinating detail it is a book that I would dip in and out of rather than read in one sitting. It would be a lovely present or coffee table book.