30 January 2009

Coast presenter's great journey brings him to Dundee

Writer and broadcaster Nick Crane, who has presented the popular series `Coast' and `Map Man', will give a talk at the University of Dundee on Tuesday February 3rd.

Nick is presenting his talk - 'Great British Journeys' - as part of the illustrated lectures programme of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

In 'Great British Journeys', Nick traces eight intrepid explorers through the historic landscapes of Britain. The cast includes Gerald of Wales, whose 12th century crusading mission produced a geographical masterpiece, and the indefatigable horsewoman Celia Fiennes, whose 17th century rides took her through every county in England. Nick will also be following in the trail of Thomas Pennant's 18th century scientific expedition to the Highlands and Islands. It promises to be a fascinating and beautifully illustrated talk.

The event is being held at 7.30pm on Tuesday in the D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre in the University Tower building. Entrance is free to Members of RSGS and students, £5 to others. Tickets will be available on the door, though capacity is limited so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

NOTES TO EDITORS
Nicholas Crane is a writer, broadcaster and explorer. He was the main presenter of the hit series Coast and also wrote and presented two series of Map Man. Most recently he has appeared in BBC2’s latest travel series - Britannia. Armed only with his trusty umbrella, he explored the coastline of the British Isles and the heroic figures who mapped its nooks and crannies. He has written nine books, including the story of his 10,000km solo mountain walk across Europe. Nicholas Crane is a rare combination: he’s an expert cartographer and an international explorer with a charisma that brings his personal obsession alive. In 1986 he was part of a two-man team which identified for the first time the geographical Pole of Inaccessibility in Central Asia for which they were awarded the 1992 Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. In 1992-3 he walked alone for 18 months along the entire mountain watershed of Europe, describing this epic adventure in his award-winning book Clear Waters Rising. His next book, Two Degrees West, was an account of his walk down Britain’s central meridian, and was published to great acclaim in 1999. Nicholas’ most recent book was his biography of the world’s first modern, scientific cartographer, the Flemish-born, 16th-century genius Gerard Mercator. Mercator: The Man Who Mapped the Planet, was published in 2002.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk