There's nothing quite like the thrill of hunting for treasure on the shingle-studded beaches of Britain ... This classic Fifties book on pebble-collecting has just been re-published, in the hope of reigniting enthusiasm for this great British tradition ... The book was a roaring success ... the staple companion to the British seaside experience: a wonderfully therapeutic form of escapism and free fun, whatever the weather. Today, Ellis' guide, with his thoughtful, almost poetic descriptions, is just as useful almost 65 years on - and perhaps it has never been more necessary ... Utterly enchanting. ( Daily Mail)

A beautiful little guide to one of life's simple pleasures - pebble spotting. Where science meets mindfulness. Learn to appreciate their beauty, discover the amazing journey that brought them to you, search for the rare ones. Leave no stone unturned. I love this book. Like all the best nature books it is alchemical, sparking wonder in the mundane. ( Tristan Gooley) A beautiful little guide to one of life's simple pleasures – pebble spotting. Where science meets mindfulness. Learn to appreciate their beauty, discover the amazing journey that brought them to you, search for the rare ones. Leave no stone unturned. Camera or smartphone: photos are great for recording your finds and sharing them with friends online. You can also share your discovery with others via the BGS iGeology app. Therefore when Clive Mitchell‘s new book The Pebble Spotter’s Guide, published by Pavilion Books in partnership with The National Trust, unexpectedly came to my attention, I knew this was a book I about which I had to make further enquiries. A copy now having reached me from the UK, I can clearly see that it is a continuation of this beloved British tradition.Paper and an indelible marker: I’d recommend writing the location and date on the bag and also on a piece of paper to put into the bag with the pebble.

But what is it? Use this beautifully illustrated little guide to find out, and to discover your pebble’s fascinating life story and secrets. It could be even more special than you thought… Ellis broke open the language of stones for me . He clearly loved language for its capacity to grade and sort perceptions but also for the poetry it carried. As an ordinary looking pebble could be sliced and polished to reveal dazzling patterns, so could a word. --( Robert Macfarlane) But what is it? Use this beautifully illustrated little guide to find out, and to discover your pebble’s fascinating life story and secrets. It could be even more special than you thought… Turn a day on the beach or a seaside holiday stroll into a treasure hunt with this lovely little guide to identifying pebbles.

The Pebbles on the Beach: A Spotter's Guide (2018)

More visual in composition than Ellis’ original, which was primarily narrative, The Pebble Spotter’s Guide offers its readers color illustrations of forty different pebbles, complete with explanations of their composition and suggestions about how and where they may be found.

Alas, much to my disappointment, my usual voyage to the UK has already been cancelled for this year, as it was last year, so I’ll not be able to put Mr. Mitchell’s book through its paces along the British shorelines as I should, however I’ll most certainly be taking it along into the field this summer to apply the information it contains to the local spots of pebble potential in search of what wonders they might disclose.Fascinating ... A pebble-hunting family could be most united and happy for hours ... Charmingly illustrated ... Ideal seaside companions. ( The Spectator)