36 Islands

Many of us are accustomed to walking in the majestic hills and peaks of the Lake District - but what about the lakes themselves, and more specifically the islands?

There are 36 islands of reasonable size (there are 38 in all, but two are little more than rocks). All are named and have fascinating histories, from hosting aristocratic homes to inspiring Beatrix Potter, from kennel islands for hunting dogs to saints' retreats to the model for Arthur Ransome's classic 'Swallows and Amazons'. Many are uninhabited - except by wildlife. Some you are welcome to stay on, some are private and require permission to land. Some are easy to get to, others more remotely placed.

Robert Twigger has spent 36 days sleeping a different night on a different island. He follows a route through the Lake District, wild swimming to islands and using a super lightweight pack-raft to transport his gear. Each chapter covers a different lake. Within it, Twigger details his journey from lake to lake and from island to island. Woven into the narrative will be stories and historical material relating to the lake and island in question. Each island will be introduced with a hand-drawn map and illustrations will detail some of what he experiences and discovers. 36 Islands is modern book of Treasure Islands.