Dorset Address Book

Dorset is one of the most attractive counties in England. In its infinite variety the coast excels. It possesses the huge natural harbour of Poole, safe sandy beaches, towering chalk cliffs and a rugged coastline with its coves and bays, all within just 70 miles. Unlike some counties which have a good coast and a not very interesting hinterland, Dorset has both. There are the heath lands that Hardy immortalised in his books and the chalk hills that start near Shaftesbury and roll south and west down to the sea at Lyme. This creates the great vales of Blackmoor and Marshwood with many stunning vistas from the summit of the hills. Man has been shaping the Dorset landscape for generations.There are many prehistoric hill forts, including the almost mystical Maiden Castle just outside Dorchester.The evidence of Roman occupation is strong. Running through the valleys are rivers which with their numerous water mills, provided food and work for generations. Although there are no longer any full-time working mills, the rivers themselves winding through lush meadows with contentedly grazing cattle, provide us with an attractive and seemingly timeless scene.

Chasing the light across this precious landscape can be very rewarding, but it also poses a considerable challenge. Patience to simply sit and wait for the ideal moment is essential – and that is what master photographer Roger Holman demonstrates again and again in the collection of superb images reproduced here.

Address books tend to be well used and have a long life. Along with important contact details, they keep track of the user’s friends and acquaintances, tracing their lives over time and from place to place. And, if properly attended to, an address book eventually becomes a journal in itself, and an attractive and permanent keepsake.

Whether bought as a gift or for personal use, this Dorset Address Book, with its superb pictorial reminders of the county, will provide years of pleasure.