Book Recommendations

Finding Hildasay

By Christian Lewis

Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs, Adventurers & Explorers, Travel, Essays & Travelogues, General | 320 pages
1 recommendation

The Sunday Times Bestseller – As featured on Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild.

Join Christian Lewis as he walks the entire coastline of the UK – his dog Jet in tow – and rebuilds his life, step by step. With a foreword from longtime supporter Ben Fogle, Finding HIldasay is his inspiring true story of reconnecting with nature and finding hope along the way.

Ex-paratrooper Christian Lewis had hit rock bottom, suffering with depression so severe he would shut himself in his bedroom for weeks. Then while surfing – his sole respite – he cast his eyes along the coastline and realized it was the only place he really wanted to be.

Then, Chris made an impulsive decision. He set himself a challenge: to walk the entire coastline of the UK. He gave himself a few days to rustle up a tent and walking boots, then left for good with just a tenner in his pocket and two days’ worth of food. Little did he know at the time just how long it would take to cross the finish line – and the encounters lying ahead would turn his life around.

Almost six years later, Chris has navigated the West Coast, Northern Ireland, the hard-rock cliffs of Scotland and the perimeters of the Scottish Islands. He spent three months on an uninhabited island called Hildasay, with beloved dog Jet. It was there, the most barren his route had become, that he found within himself the pride and respect he needed – and his journey became all the more remarkable. Happiness and hope was just around the corner . . .

Latest recommendations
Robin Hall
12th Apr 2025
"This is a fascinating and inspiring travel book. It is about a mans trek round the UK coast. At a low point in his life the author sets off on a Charity trek starting in London.

The book provides an insight to the ruggedness and harshness but also the beauty of the British Isles. Along the way he adopts a dog who becomes his best friend .As well as being a travel book this is a book about human kindness and how when at low points in our life strangers and the natural world can mend us.

One particular part of the book is set in the Scottish Isle during the winter when the author is in the remotest of areas and describes the rugged beauty of the Scottish islands.

I read this book while camping on the Moray coast last summer. It inspired me and made be aware you don't have to go too far in the UK to experience adventure.

Thoroughly recommend this book."