Dame Penelope Keith returns for more travels through Britain's villages armed with her trusty Batsford guides. In this series, she's exploring an integral part of Britain's national character: its stunning coastline. Penelope seeks out the community heartbeat that's unique to coastal village life; from fishing and lifeboats to pleasure boating and holiday making, the sea brings both joy and danger; Penelope delves into local crafts and industry as well as arts, history, literature and local stories. She visits three distinct parts of the British coastline and contrasts what the writers of the Batsford guides discovered in the first half of the 20th century with what she sees today. In the first episode, Penelope discovers the seaside villages of West Sussex and the Isle of Wight and is soon immersed in the stories of seafarers, smugglers and shipwrecks. In the village of Bosham she uncovers the real reason behind King Canute's battle with the tide. In this second episode, Penelope discovers the seaside villages of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders and finds herself swept up by coastal tales of epic heroism, intrepid horticulture and smoked herring! One of her destinations is the beautiful island of Lindisfarne. In the third episode, Penelope discovers the idyllic coastal villages of East Anglia where she is plunged into tales of bravery, scandal and intrigue.