A solo video diary celebrating the craftsmen, women and traditions that built Britain — filmed, forged and driven by one blacksmith with 20 years at the anvil.
Every day for six weeks, William Holland will load a portable forge into his battered 90" Land Rover Defender and drive another stretch of the British coast — stopping to work the metal, meet local craftspeople, and capture it all on camera.
The daily footage becomes a YouTube vlog series. The best moments become a 4-part documentary about the state of British craftsmanship. The sparks, the sea air and the squeaking suspension will be very, very real.
This isn't a polished TV production. It's one man, one van and a burning curiosity about what happens when ancient skills meet modern Britain.
A portable forge travels every mile. William makes a piece at each key stop — a living record in steel.
Daily YouTube episodes. Raw, unscripted, no crew. Just a gimbal, good glass and 20 years of stories.
Weavers, coopers, potters, boat builders. Every county has a tradition worth preserving.
Four episodes. Four regions. A portrait of British craft in 2026 — pitched to broadcasters on return.
"Every piece of ironwork tells a story about the hands that made it, the place it was made, and the fire that shaped it."— William Holland, Master Blacksmith · FWCB
From Cornish tin smiths to Orkney weavers — drag to explore just some of the trades and people we're planning to visit.
From St Ives studios to Yorkshire stoneware potteries — the wheel hasn't stopped turning.
South West · Yorkshire
Meeting fellow smiths along the route — comparing notes, techniques and traditions coast to coast.
All Regions
New Forest bodgers, whisky coopers of the Scottish Highlands. Wood shaped entirely by hand.
Hampshire · Scotland
Harris Tweed, Suffolk wool, Welsh tapestry. The loom is still the backbone of island culture.
Wales · Scotland · Suffolk
Clinker-built fishing boats in Devon harbours. Timber, tar and generations of accumulated knowledge.
Devon · Cornwall · Norfolk
Purbeck masons, Lincoln cathedral carvers, Whitby jet artists. Stone that outlasts everything.
Dorset · Lincolnshire · YorkshireArchitectural ironwork, jewellery smiths, silverware. Metal shaped for beauty, not just function.
Edinburgh · Birmingham · Wales
Departing from the gates of Llansteffan Castle on Carmarthen Bay and heading clockwise, the route follows the coast as closely as the Defender's suspension and the B-roads allow. Each leg has a distinct character — and distinct craft traditions to explore.
Depart Llansteffan Castle, Carmarthen Bay, heading west. Gower Peninsula, Swansea copper heritage, Tenby harbour. Into Pembrokeshire — Celtic sea cliffs, coracle makers on the Teifi, St Davids cathedral stone.
Cardigan Bay, Aberystwyth, Barmouth. Snowdonia slate caverns, Portmeirion. Anglesey sea craft, Llandudno and along the Dee estuary into Cheshire. Welsh language, slate and copper traditions throughout.
Lancashire coast, Cumbrian fells to the sea. Lake District green slate quarries. Solway Firth. Into Scotland — Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow shipbuilding legacy, Ayrshire weavers. Kintyre peninsula coast road.
West Highland coast, Fort William. Skye croft traditions. Far north — Caithness flagstone cutters, Orkney if seas permit. Across the top to the east coast. Sgian-dubh knife makers, Highland tweed weavers.
Aberdeenshire fishing heritage, Dundee jute legacy, Edinburgh Old Town trades. Northumberland sword makers, Tyne shiprivet history. Durham mining lamp makers. Whitby jet carvers. Yorkshire dry stone wallers.
Norfolk wherrymen, Suffolk basket makers, Essex oyster culture. Jurassic Coast, Purbeck stone carvers, Cornish boat builders. Final forge at Land's End. North Devon and back to Carmarthen Bay.
Concept trailer and forge demos will live here. Subscribe for launch updates — content drops weekly in the build-up to September 2026.
▶ Concept Trailer — Coast & Crafts 2026
YouTube embeds will replace these placeholders once the channel launches.
William Holland is a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths (FWCB) — one of the highest professional designations in the trade. He runs Phoenix Forge Ltd from Mile End Farm in Carmarthen, Wales, where he teaches blacksmithing courses and produces high-end sculptural and architectural metalwork commission pieces.
He's also a mechanic, welder, fabricator, tractor fitter and restorer of classic vehicles — including a 1937 Chevy pickup currently taking shape in his workshop. The Defender he'll be driving has been through his hands more times than he can count.
This trip isn't a stunt. It's two decades of forging, learning and an abiding respect for people who make things with their hands — pointed at a camera and aimed at the British coastline.
Coast & Crafts offers sponsors genuine, editorial integration into content that celebrates quality, heritage and craft. No awkward reads. No hard sell. Just honest association with a journey that means something.
The audience: outdoor & adventure enthusiasts · crafts & making community · Land Rover / 4×4 owners · heritage and history buffs · UK domestic tourism · independent small business owners.
Interested in a bespoke package — product supply, in-kind support, or regional sponsorship? We'd love to talk.
Brands actively sought: quality outdoor gear · vehicle accessories & recovery kit · Welsh/British food & drink · tool manufacturers · filming equipment · fuel suppliers · heritage clothing.
Get in TouchPre-order to help fund the trip. All items feature the original Coast & Crafts artwork. Print-on-demand via Printful — no minimum order, ships worldwide.
280gsm cotton. Logo front-chest. "A Very British Adventure" back. Sizes S–3XL. Olive, Cream or Charcoal.
Classic enamel camp mug. Full-wrap Coast & Crafts design. The only cup worth drinking from on a coastal cliff.
Structured 5-panel. Embroidered logo. Olive green or washed black. Adjustable strap.
Giclée print on 250gsm art card. Signed and numbered edition of 100. Rolled in protective tube.
5 waterproof vinyl stickers. Logo, badge and route designs. For your van, flask or toolbox.
A hand-forged rose-head nail made during the trip. Mounted on card. A genuine piece of the journey — no two identical.
Whether you're a potential sponsor, a craftsperson who'd like to be featured, a journalist, or just someone who wants to follow the journey — drop William a message below.
Or email directly: william@phoenixforge.co.uk