UK Book Club discussion

This is a new challenge suggested by Nicola to try and read a book based in each county of the UK.

As it was Nicola's idea, the available counties will be as per her list....so no modern metro/postal counties like Merseyside etc and Yorkshire split into 3. It will include counties in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. See Message 7 in the original "Anyone want to read their way round Britain?" thread for full details.

As with Around the World open up your own thread to record your travels....this will probably take me a lifetime.

Would we be starting by listing books already read this year, as we did with the 80 books Challenge, or would we be starting from scratch?

This list is lifted from the website of counties on Nicola's list,

http://www.abcounties.co.uk/counties

I've added it, because it gives more details and it's quite hard to know exactly where some places are, particularly if you are not familiar with the older county boundaries.

There are 94 counties in all....inc.Yorkshire split into 3

ENGLAND

1. Bedfordshire (Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade, Sandy)
2. Berkshire (Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, Windsor, Wokingham, Abingdon)
3. Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Slough, Buckingham, High Wycombe)
4. Cambridgeshire (Cambridge, Wisbech, Ely, March, Whittlesey, Chatteris, Linton)
5. Cheshire (Chester, Stockport, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, Wallasey, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Crewe)
6. Cornwall (Bodmin, Truro, Camborne, Redruth, St. Austell, Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay)
7. Cumberland (Carlisle, Whitehaven, Workington, Penrith, Keswick, Brampton)
8. Derbyshire (Derby, Chesterfield, Glossop, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Swadlincote, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne)
9. Devon (Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Paignton, Barnstaple, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Tavistock)
10. Dorset (Dorchester, Poole, Weymouth, Sherborne, Wimborne Minster, Shaftesbury)
11. Durham (Durham, Sunderland, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, Hartlepool, Gateshead, Washington)
12. Essex (Chelmsford, Basildon, Romford, Southend, Colchester, Harlow, Brentwood, West Ham)
13. Gloucestershire (Gloucester, Bristol, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Tewkesbury)
14. Hampshire (Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Newport)
15. Herefordshire (Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Ledbury, Bromyard, Kington)
16. Hertfordshire (Hertford, Watford, St. Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Hatfield)
17. Huntingdonshire (Huntingdon, St. Ives, St. Neots, Ramsey, Yaxley)
18. Kent (Maidstone, Canterbury, Bromley, Rochester, Margate, Folkestone, Dover, Greenwich)
19. Lancashire (Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Bolton, Warrington, Barrow-in-Furness)
20. Leicestershire (Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Lutterworth)
21. Lincolnshire (Lincoln, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Boston, Grantham, Stamford, Skegness, Louth)
22. Middlesex (City of London, Harrow, Enfield, Staines, Ealing, Potters Bar, Westminster )
23. Norfolk (Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Dereham, Cromer, Hunstanton)
24. Northamptonshire (Northampton, Peterborough, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough)
25. Northumberland (Alnwick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Morpeth, Hexham, Berwick-upon-Tweed)
26. Nottinghamshire (Nottingham, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark, Retford, Southwell)
27. Oxfordshire (Oxford, Banbury, Witney, Bicester, Henley-on-Thames, Carterton, Thame)
28. Rutland (Oakham, Uppingham. Cottesmore)
29. Shropshire (Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Ludlow)
30. Somerset (Taunton, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Wells, Glastonbury)
31. Staffordshire (Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Cannock, Lichfield)
32. Suffolk (Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Sudbury, Haverhill, Bungay)
33. Surrey (Guildford, Croydon, Woking, Sutton, Kingston-on-Thames, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Brixton)
34. Sussex (Chichester, Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Hastings, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Horsham)
35. Warwickshire (Warwick, Birmingham, Coventry, Nuneaton, Rugby, Solihull, Stratford-upon-Avon)
36. Westmorland (Appleby, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Kirkby Lonsdale)
37. Wiltshire (Trowbridge, Salisbury, Swindon, Chippenham, Devizes, Marlborough, Warminster)
38. Worcestershire (Worcester, Dudley, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Malvern, Evesham)
39. Yorkshire
a) North Riding (Northallerton, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Whitby)
b) East Riding (Beverley, Hull, Bridlington, Driffield, Hornsea, Filey)
c) West Riding (Wakefield, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate)

Note added by Ian - 5.2.17 re York.

Though York is the traditional county town of Yorkshire, it didn't form part of any of the three historic Ridings but rather stood on it's own as the City of York at the point where the three intersected. I'm therefore happy for the current city of York to count as any of the three.

WALES (including Monmouthshire)

40. Anglesey/Sir Fon (Beaumaris, Holyhead, Llangefni, Amlwch, Menai Bridge)
41. Brecknockshire/Sir Frycheiniog (Brecon, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth, Llanwrtwd Wells)
42. Caernarfonshire/Sir Gaernarfon (Caernarfon, Bangor, Llandudno, Conwy, Pwllheli, Porthmadog)
43. Carmarthenshire/Sir Gaerfyrddin (Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ammanford, Llandovery, Kidwelly, St. Clears)
44. Cardiganshire/Ceredigion (Cardigan, Aberystwyth, Lampeter, New Quay, Tregaron)
45. Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych (Denbigh, Wrexham, Ruthin, Abergele, Llangollen)
46. Flintshire/Sir Fflint (Mold, Flint, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Connah's Quay, Holywell, Buckley, St. Asaph)
47. Glamorgan/Morgannwg (Cardiff, Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Barry, Caerphilly, Bridgend, Neath, Pontypridd)
48. Merioneth/Meirionnydd (Dolgellau, Bala, Tywyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Barmouth, Harlech)
49. Monmouthshire/Sir Fynwy (Monmouth, Newport, Blackwood, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Tredegar)
50. Montgomeryshire/Sir Drefaldwyn (Montgomery, Newtown, Welshpool, Machynlleth, Llanidloes)
51. Pembrokeshire/Sir Benfro (Pembroke, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Tenby, St. David's)
52. Radnorshire/Sir Faesyfed (Presteigne, Llandrindod Wells, Knighton, Rhayader, New Radnor)

SCOTLAND

53. Aberdeenshire (Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Huntley, Ellon, Turriff)
54. Angus/Forfarshire (Forfar, Dundee, Arbroath, Brechin, Montrose, Carnoustie, Kirriemuir)
55. Argyllshire (Inveraray, Oban, Dunoon, Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Tobermory)
56. Ayrshire (Ayr, Kilmarnock, Irvine, Saltcoats, Kilwinning, Largs, Troon, Cumnock)
57. Banffshire (Banff, Buckie, Keith, Macduff, Portsoy, Dufftown)
58. Berwickshire (Greenlaw, Duns, Eyemouth, Lauder, Coldstream)
59. Buteshire (Rothesay, Millport, Brodick, Lochranza)
60. Cromartyshire (Cromarty, Ullapool)
61. Caithness (Wick, Thurso, Halkirk, Castletown)
62. Clackmannanshire (Clackmannan, Alloa, Tillicoultry, Tullibody)
63. Dumfriesshire (Dumfries, Annan, Lockerbie, Moffat, Sanquhar, Langholm, Gretna)
64. Dunbartonshire/Dumbartonshire (Dumbarton, Clydebank, Cumbernauld, Helensburgh, Alexandria, Kirkintilloch)
65. East Lothian/Haddingtonshire (Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar, Tranent, East Linton)
66. Fife (Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, St. Andrews, Cowdenbeath, Burntisland)
67. Inverness-shire (Inverness, Fort William, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Portree)
68. Kincardineshire (Stonehaven, Banchory, Laurencekirk, Inverbervie)
69. Kinross-shire (Kinross, Milnathort)
70. Kirkcudbrightshire (Kircudbright, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, New Galloway)
71. Lanarkshire (Lanark, Glasgow, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Carluke)
72. Midlothian/Edinburghshire (Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Penicuik, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg)
73. Morayshire (Elgin, Forres, Rothes, Lossiemouth, Fochabers)
74. Nairnshire (Nairn, Auldearn, Cawdor, Ferness)
75. Orkney (Kirkwall, Sromness, Balfour)
76. Peeblesshire (Peebles, Innerleithen, West Linton)
77. Perthshire (Perth, Crieff, Pitlochry, Callander, Blairgowrie, Rattray, Coupar Angus, Kincardine)
78. Renfrewshire (Renfrew, Paisley, Greenock, Johnstone, Port Glasgow, Barrhead, Kilmalcolm)
79. Ross-shire (Dingwall, Stornaway, Tain, Alness, Invergordon)
80. Roxburghshire (Jedburgh, Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Roxburgh)
81. Selkirkshire (Selkirk, Clovenfords, Galashiels)
82. Shetland (Lerwick, Scalloway, Baltasound)
83. Stirlingshire (Stirling, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Kilsyth, Bridge of Allan, Denny, Alva)
84. Sutherland (Dornoch, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie, Lairg, Durness, Tongue)
85. West Lothian/Linlithgowshire (Linlithgow, Livingston, Bo'ness, Broxburn, Whitburn, Armadale, Bathgate)
86. Wigtownshire (Wigtown, Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Whithorn)

NORTHERN IRELAND

87. Antrim (Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne, Lisburn, Newtownabbey)
88. Armagh (Armagh, Newry, Craigavon)
89. Down (Belfast, Newry, Dundonald, Newtownards, Bangor)
90. Fermanagh (Enniskillen, Lisnaskea)
91. Londonderry (Londonderry, Coleraine, Limavady)
92. Tyrone (Omagh, Cookstown, Dungannon, Strabane)

Susan wrote: "Would we be starting by listing books already read this year, as we did with the 80 books Challenge, or would we be starting from scratch?"

Whatever you're happy with.

With that many counties, its starting to look like a much larger undertaking than Around the World!

Some recommendations
Orkney: [Book:Greenvoe|824132] by George Mackay Brown
Caithness: [Book:Highland River|1197729] by Neil M. Gunn
Ross and Cromarty: The Hamish Macbeth books by M.C. Beaton or [Book:Ring of Bright Water|7977001] by Gavin Maxwell
Inverness: [Book:Like|127636] by Ali Smith
Moray: [Book:The Tin Kin|6377525] by Eleanor Thom
Aberdeen: [Book:The Translator|107824] by Leila Aboulela
Kincardineshire: [Book:Sunset Song|1203811] by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Argyll: [Book:Morven Callar|526164] by Alan Warner
Fife: [Book:The Wasp Factory|567678] by Ian Banks
Edinburgh: The 44 Scotland Street books by Alexander McCall Smith or the Rebus books by Ian Rankin or [Book:The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde|288840] by R.L. Stevenson
Borders: [Book:The Reavers|1149999] by George Macdonald Fraser

And for specific islands...
Skye (Raasay): [Book:Calum's Road|1083545] by Roger Hutchinson
Lewis: [Book:The Guga Hunters|6402462] by Donald S. Murray
Harris: [Book:Crowdie and Cream|1036201] by Finlay J. Macdonald
Eriskay: Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie

Oh my Goodness, this is a MASSIVE challenge isn't it? I don't know if I could even find books for some of those counties....

so is London not in a county? Does that mean London doesn't even count in the challenge - hmmmm even if I take into acount the whole of 2011 I've only been to about 2 or 3 counties! Still, I find it hard to pass up a challenge even one that's going to take me till I'm 90.

Ian wrote: "Susan wrote: "Would we be starting by listing books already read this year, as we did with the 80 books Challenge, or would we be starting from scratch?"

Whatever you're happy with."

I thought it was going to be a challenge for next year judging by message 5 on the original thread or did I misunderstand that?

Ian wrote: "Susan wrote: "Would we be starting by listing books already read this year, as we did with the 80 books Challenge, or would we be starting from scratch?"

Whatever you're happy with."

I suggested it as a challenge for 2012 to give people time to compile a list of books and I won't be counting any books I've read this year as I want to start afresh.

Em wrote: "Oh my Goodness, this is a MASSIVE challenge isn't it? I don't know if I could even find books for some of those counties....

so is London not in a county? Does that mean London doesn't even c..."

I'm only doing England to start with as that's what I'm most interested in. London is in Middlesex according to the County List I have chosen so plenty of books to choose from. There are so many different lists of counties I wanted to select just one of them to work from.

I think I'm going to save it for next year too, got so many other challenges to think about not sure I can manage another one yet.

Might start some planning for it though...or I might just wing it...

I might have a go at this. I want to concentrate on Around the World, but reckon I have read a lot of these anyway, so just might start a list!
One nerdy caveat: Reginald Hill has written a series in a place he calls Luton - it bears no resemblance to the real Luton, which he has never visited - please don't let it count! It lets the side down!
Arnold Bennett, much better known for his Potteries series, set a book in Hockliffe, Beds, called "Teresa of Watling St." a mystery book featuring one of the earliest commuters in the early 20C.

If anyone is interested Simeon's Bride is set in Bangor, Caernarfonshire, and any of the Phil Rickman Merrily Watkins books are set in Herefordshire

Love the Merrily Watkins books!

I think I'll start in earnest 2012 but will note down the handful (three) to date and any incidental reads between now and then - I'm going to need an headstart.

I'd like have a go at this - but I want to get a bit further around the world too. Think I'll wait for 2012 though. I would have covered a fair few with Derryn Lake's John Rawlings series but will start afresh. Thank you starfish - I really wouldn't know where to start with Scotland. Maybe serendipidy to start the year though. Charity shops here I come!

Jacky wrote: "Arnold Bennett, much better known for his Potteries series, set a book in Hockliffe, Beds, called "Teresa of Watling St." a mystery book featuring one of the earliest commuters in the early 20C. "

I'm sitting in an office about 2 miles from Hockliffe as I type. I might have a look for that book, when I have a space in my schedule for it!

London sort of divides into 3 - Middlesex north of the river and Surrey south of the river, but some parts of east London are in Essex.

I'm backdating to the start of 2012, but I only expect to have say 5 or 6 so far....this one will take me years.

Starfish13 wrote: "Jacky wrote: "Arnold Bennett, much better known for his Potteries series, set a book in Hockliffe, Beds, called "Teresa of Watling St." a mystery book featuring one of the earliest commuters in the..."

Hello Starfish, my copy came from The Book Castle in Dunstable, but I don't live in that neck of thew woods any more, and don't know if it's still available. It is not his best work, but I found both the local interest and the description of early motoring very evocative.

If anyones looking books from Northern Ireland the first one that springs to my mind is any of the Kevin & Sadie books by Joan Lingard. The first in the series is The Twelfth Day of July Teen books rather than adult but should be a short easy read. I read the second book in series ( Across the Barricades ) in school. It's set in Belfast.

Vikki, I love these books! Although I read them as an adult, I found them deeply moving and enjoyed the whole series. I read them when I was working in London and had met some "mixed Irish" couples.
She has written a number of very good "young adult" books - including a series about the Highland Clearances: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/j...

I noticed when I searched her on here that she'd written other books. Across The Barricades is the one I've actually read though.

Another 1 for Northern Ireland is Let This Be Our Secret - about Colin Howell & Hazel Stewart, 2 convicted murderers. It's in Co Londonderry. Not sure about availability in the rest of the UK at the moment but I bought a copy of it today.

Found a book in the library called Reading on Location with lists of books for different countries, but it also splits the UK down into some of the counties (although disappointingly this also includes the "counties" of Wales, Northern Ireland, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Rest of Scotland). Not entirely convinced how good it is either, as I looked up Oxford/shire, and one book it recommends is set in Bletchley Park.

Anyone want any recommendations?

Having read hardly any so far it's not proving too difficult to find some relevant reads but I can well imagine being in a need of a few recommendations as I get further into the challenge...

Welcome to the group Hazel

Hi Hazel welcome to the group

Em wrote: "Having read hardly any so far it's not proving too difficult to find some relevant reads but I can well imagine being in a need of a few recommendations as I get further into the challenge..."
Can I put in a plea that you consider one of my North East of England novels?! For Durham there's the Durham mining trilogy or the Tyneside Sagas for Northumberland eg The Suffragette. For those who like a bit of history and politics with their fiction! Just a suggestion so no pressure!

Hi Hazel!
I'm still trying not to read anything until 2012 although I did read A Gathering Storm (Rachel Hore) which was sent in Cornwall and really enjoyed it!
I'll look out for your book for Northumberland, Janet. Thanks for info.

That's great - thanks Sue.

If anyone needs a book set in Durham, my new novel, High Moor is set in that area. High Moor

ok...I have a question...I mean this is going to take me my entire remaining life!! lol how long do we have to complete it?

Catherine wrote: "ok...I have a question...I mean this is going to take me my entire remaining life!! lol how long do we have to complete it?"

As long as it takes Catherine! I think we all will take a long time to finish this one!

Graeme wrote: "If anyone needs a book set in Durham, my new novel, High Moor is set in that area. High Moor"

Finished this morning at 05.30 and loved it. Best werewolf novel I have read in ages!

What a nice comment to wake up to on a Sunday morning. Thanks Lynne, I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

I am only doing this challenge incidentally as I'm trying to concentrate on Round the World, but get side-tracked.
I'm not quite sure what to do with fictional counties & areas: have just read Ann Purser's latest Lois Meade mystery: obviously set where Northants meets Leicestershire & Rutland, but no clue as to which one. Guess I'll note it and see which I'm missing at the end! I did read a mystery novel set in Rutland once: I thought it very well done, until the denouement where someone had been poisoning the entire local water supply!

ok..now I have a copy of this to refer to also...and I can list my books next to each county I have read! I may die before I'm finished! lol

ENGLAND

1. Bedfordshire (Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade, Sandy)
2. Berkshire (Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Newbury, Windsor, Wokingham, Abingdon)
3. Buckinghamshire (Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Slough, Buckingham, High Wycombe)
4. Cambridgeshire (Cambridge, Wisbech, Ely, March, Whittlesey, Chatteris, Linton)..A Discovery of Witches..Deborah Harkness(book 1)(read)(Cambridge)
5. Cheshire (Chester, Stockport, Ellesmere Port, Birkenhead, Wallasey, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Crewe)
6. Cornwall (Bodmin, Truro, Camborne, Redruth, St. Austell, Falmouth, Penzance, Newquay)..A Cottage by the Sea..Ciji Ware(23 Jan)(Hemmick, Mevagissey, Fowey, Gorran Haven)
7. Cumberland (Carlisle, Whitehaven, Workington, Penrith, Keswick, Brampton)
8. Derbyshire (Derby, Chesterfield, Glossop, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Swadlincote, Buxton, Matlock, Ashbourne)
9. Devon (Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Paignton, Barnstaple, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Tavistock)..Knit One, Pearl One..Gil McNeil(book 3)(read)(Barnstaple)
10. Dorset (Dorchester, Poole, Weymouth, Sherborne, Wimborne Minster, Shaftesbury)..Blacknowle(nr Kimmeridge/Tyneham Greatwood)..A Half Forgotten Song..Katherine Webb
11. Durham (Durham, Sunderland, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, Hartlepool, Gateshead, Washington)
12. Essex (Chelmsford, Basildon, Romford, Southend, Colchester, Harlow, Brentwood, West Ham)
13. Gloucestershire (Gloucester, Bristol, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Tewkesbury)
14. Hampshire (Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Basingstoke, Newport)
15. Herefordshire (Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Ledbury, Bromyard, Kington)
16. Hertfordshire (Hertford, Watford, St. Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Hatfield)
17. Huntingdonshire (Huntingdon, St. Ives, St. Neots, Ramsey, Yaxley)
18. Kent (Maidstone, Canterbury, Bromley, Rochester, Margate, Folkestone, Dover, Greenwich)
19. Lancashire (Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Bolton, Warrington, Barrow-in-Furness)
20. Leicestershire (Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Melton Mowbray, Coalville, Lutterworth)
21. Lincolnshire (Lincoln, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Boston, Grantham, Stamford, Skegness, Louth)
22. Middlesex (City of London, Harrow, Enfield, Staines, Ealing, Potters Bar, Westminster )
23. Norfolk (Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Dereham, Cromer, Hunstanton)
24. Northamptonshire (Northampton, Peterborough, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough)
25. Northumberland (Alnwick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Morpeth, Hexham, Berwick-upon-Tweed)
26. Nottinghamshire (Nottingham, Mansfield, Worksop, Newark, Retford, Southwell)
27. Oxfordshire (Oxford, Banbury, Witney, Bicester, Henley-on-Thames, Carterton, Thame)
28. Rutland (Oakham, Uppingham. Cottesmore)
29. Shropshire (Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch, Market Drayton, Ludlow)
30. Somerset (Taunton, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Bridgwater, Wells, Glastonbury)..A Walk in the Park..Jill Mansell(9 Nov)(Bath)
31. Staffordshire (Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Cannock, Lichfield)
32. Suffolk (Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds, Lowestoft, Felixstowe, Sudbury, Haverhill, Bungay)
33. Surrey (Guildford, Croydon, Woking, Sutton, Kingston-on-Thames, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Brixton)
34. Sussex (Chichester, Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Hastings, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Horsham)
35. Warwickshire (Warwick, Birmingham, Coventry, Nuneaton, Rugby, Solihull, Stratford-upon-Avon)
36. Westmorland (Appleby, Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Kirkby Lonsdale)
37. Wiltshire (Trowbridge, Salisbury, Swindon, Chippenham, Devizes, Marlborough, Warminster)
38. Worcestershire (Worcester, Dudley, Kidderminster, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Malvern, Evesham)
39. Yorkshire
a) North Riding (Northallerton, Middlesbrough, Scarborough, Whitby)
b) East Riding (Beverley, Hull, Bridlington, Driffield, Hornsea, Filey)..It's Always Been You..Victoria Dahl(book 2)(27 Dec)(Hull)
c) West Riding (Wakefield, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate)

WALES (including Monmouthshire)

40. Anglesey/Sir Fon (Beaumaris, Holyhead, Llangefni, Amlwch, Menai Bridge)
41. Brecknockshire/Sir Frycheiniog (Brecon, Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Talgarth, Llanwrtwd Wells)..Lady of Hay..Barbara Erskine(read)(Hay-on Wye)
42. Caernarfonshire/Sir Gaernarfon (Caernarfon, Bangor, Llandudno, Conwy, Pwllheli, Porthmadog)
43. Carmarthenshire/Sir Gaerfyrddin (Carmarthen, Llanelli, Ammanford, Llandovery, Kidwelly, St. Clears)
44. Cardiganshire/Ceredigion (Cardigan, Aberystwyth, Lampeter, New Quay, Tregaron)
45. Denbighshire/Sir Ddinbych (Denbigh, Wrexham, Ruthin, Abergele, Llangollen)
46. Flintshire/Sir Fflint (Mold, Flint, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Connah's Quay, Holywell, Buckley, St. Asaph)
47. Glamorgan/Morgannwg (Cardiff, Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Barry, Caerphilly, Bridgend, Neath, Pontypridd)
48. Merioneth/Meirionnydd (Dolgellau, Bala, Tywyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Barmouth, Harlech)
49. Monmouthshire/Sir Fynwy (Monmouth, Newport, Blackwood, Cwmbran, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Tredegar)
50. Montgomeryshire/Sir Drefaldwyn (Montgomery, Newtown, Welshpool, Machynlleth, Llanidloes)
51. Pembrokeshire/Sir Benfro (Pembroke, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Tenby, St. David's)
52. Radnorshire/Sir Faesyfed (Presteigne, Llandrindod Wells, Knighton, Rhayader, New Radnor)

SCOTLAND

53. Aberdeenshire (Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Huntley, Ellon, Turriff)
54. Angus/Forfarshire (Forfar, Dundee, Arbroath, Brechin, Montrose, Carnoustie, Kirriemuir)
55. Argyllshire (Inveraray, Oban, Dunoon, Campbeltown, Lochgilphead, Tobermory)
56. Ayrshire (Ayr, Kilmarnock, Irvine, Saltcoats, Kilwinning, Largs, Troon, Cumnock)
57. Banffshire (Banff, Buckie, Keith, Macduff, Portsoy, Dufftown)
58. Berwickshire (Greenlaw, Duns, Eyemouth, Lauder, Coldstream)
59. Buteshire (Rothesay, Millport, Brodick, Lochranza)
60. Cromartyshire (Cromarty, Ullapool)
61. Caithness (Wick, Thurso, Halkirk, Castletown)
62. Clackmannanshire (Clackmannan, Alloa, Tillicoultry, Tullibody)
63. Dumfriesshire (Dumfries, Annan, Lockerbie, Moffat, Sanquhar, Langholm, Gretna)
64. Dunbartonshire/Dumbartonshire (Dumbarton, Clydebank, Cumbernauld, Helensburgh, Alexandria, Kirkintilloch)
65. East Lothian/Haddingtonshire (Haddington, North Berwick, Dunbar, Tranent, East Linton)
66. Fife (Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, St. Andrews, Cowdenbeath, Burntisland)
67. Inverness-shire (Inverness, Fort William, Kingussie, Newtonmore, Portree)
68. Kincardineshire (Stonehaven, Banchory, Laurencekirk, Inverbervie)
69. Kinross-shire (Kinross, Milnathort)
70. Kirkcudbrightshire (Kircudbright, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, New Galloway)
71. Lanarkshire (Lanark, Glasgow, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Motherwell, Coatbridge, Carluke)
72. Midlothian/Edinburghshire (Edinburgh, Musselburgh, Penicuik, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg)..That Autumn in Edinburgh..Ciji Ware(read)
73. Morayshire (Elgin, Forres, Rothes, Lossiemouth, Fochabers)..Island of the Swans..Ciji Ware(read)
74. Nairnshire (Nairn, Auldearn, Cawdor, Ferness)
75. Orkney (Kirkwall, Sromness, Balfour)
76. Peeblesshire (Peebles, Innerleithen, West Linton)
77. Perthshire (Perth, Crieff, Pitlochry, Callander, Blairgowrie, Rattray, Coupar Angus, Kincardine)
78. Renfrewshire (Renfrew, Paisley, Greenock, Johnstone, Port Glasgow, Barrhead, Kilmalcolm)
79. Ross-shire (Dingwall, Stornaway, Tain, Alness, Invergordon)
80. Roxburghshire (Jedburgh, Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Roxburgh)
81. Selkirkshire (Selkirk, Clovenfords, Galashiels)
82. Shetland (Lerwick, Scalloway, Baltasound)
83. Stirlingshire (Stirling, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Kilsyth, Bridge of Allan, Denny, Alva)
84. Sutherland (Dornoch, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie, Lairg, Durness, Tongue)
85. West Lothian/Linlithgowshire (Linlithgow, Livingston, Bo'ness, Broxburn, Whitburn, Armadale, Bathgate)
86. Wigtownshire (Wigtown, Stranraer, Newton Stewart, Whithorn)

NORTHERN IRELAND

87. Antrim (Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne, Lisburn, Newtownabbey)
88. Armagh (Armagh, Newry, Craigavon)
89. Down (Belfast, Newry, Dundonald, Newtownards, Bangor)..An Irish Country Wedding..Patrick Taylor(book 7)(13 Dec)
90. Fermanagh (Enniskillen, Lisnaskea)
91. Londonderry (Londonderry, Coleraine, Limavady)
92. Tyrone (Omagh, Cookstown, Dungannon, Strabane)

Ian wrote: "This list is lifted from the website of counties on Nicola's list,

http://www.abcounties.co.uk/counties

I've added it, because it gives more details and it's quite hard to know exactly where ..."

ok...here's a question...I know we can't use made up names...but if the story takes place in Cornwall(for example) does it have to be in one of the villages you listed, or can it be in any real village?

oh...and when does this end? I am guessing it is ongoing?

Hello,
Birmingham is in the County of the West Midlands and no longer in Warwickshire. The West Midlands was formed in the 1970s.

Happy reading!

I think we just have to do what seems best about places that have changed names.
What interests me is (I am doing the 80 countries as well) how some countries / counties / regions seem to attract a lot of novels, and others very few.
I also understand that it can be anywhere in the county, the example of town names is a memory jogger for people thinking "what IS in Bedfordshire?"

Re queries above:

1)Counties are as per Nicola's original list irrespective of later boundary changes - so West Midlands, Merseyside, Greater Manchester etc etc don't count - see post 1......so Warwickshire is correct.

2) Anywhere within the county will do, even if in extreme examples the place is not mentioned, but the county is blindingly obvious........eg I have just added Gooleness for Lincolnshire which is not a real place but is a pseudonym for Skegness.

3)Timing - al long as it takes

One last thing - when ready to start, set your own thread up as it gets a bit confusing if we post on this thread. Happy reading all. I've done 3 so far - expecting to finish sometime before I die.

Ian wrote: "Re queries above:

1)Counties are as per Nicola's original list irrespective of later boundary changes - so West Midlands, Merseyside, Greater Manchester etc etc don't count - see post 1......so ..."

me too! I am hoping that some day in the future..I will finish this!

Not seen this challenge but will make a start on this as I try to travel around the world

Hi, I was just wondering what the original source of the list is - Bournemouth hasn't been in Hampshire since 1974 (I've lived here for 5 years).
This is such a great challenge and I might try to read some of the Scottish counties since that is where I am from. I won't set a timescale since I have 24 books as part of 2 challenges and my book group's reads to get through too (then there's all the other books I want to read).

I think it is pre-1974, as it includes both dear Rutland ( abolished in 74, back in the last re-organisation) and Huntingdonshire (abolished in the recent re-organisation, was that last year or the one before?)

Kirsty wrote: "Hi, I was just wondering what the original source of the list is - Bournemouth hasn't been in Hampshire since 1974 (I've lived here for 5 years).
This is such a great challenge and I might try to ..."

that sounds awfully familiar!!! I have tons of books that I am reading for other challenges as well!!

I'm from Shaftesbury...you ever been there?

No idea where list came from - Nicola supplied it originally. Definitely pre 1974 and the introduction of metropolitan counties like Merseyside.

can i add The Mousehole Cat (its in penwith in cornwall)

Cornwall is no 6 - the places listed in brackets are just major towns etc. Your book can be set anywhere in the relevant county.

Hi all,

Hoping to help out with perhaps one of the less easy counties, perfect dramatic backdrop as it is.

Both my novels are set in Ceredigion (Cardiganshire) on the West Wales coast. (In fact, the second, not to blow the plot) sees the protagonist head north towards ... well. You'll work it out, but you could technically claim a few other Welsh counties with that journey!

The Long Dry



Everything I Found on the Beach

My urban thriller Lawless Justice is based in Northamptonshire number 24 on the list.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lawless-Justi...

and Stone Cold my YA supernatural thriller is based in East Lothian number 65

Its'a quick read, so easy to cross off your list.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Cold-eb...