The United Kingdom's coastline extends to over 12,000 km (7000 miles) – greater than any other country in Europe – and comprises more than a thousand islands and islets. Its mainland and island shores encompass dramatically beautiful scenery including immense cliffs, sweeping sandy bays and great flat estuaries edged with saltmarshes.

As an island people, the British have relied on the coast and the seas for thousands of years and many communities' livelihoods, such as from the fishing industry and tin mining, have left their distinctive mark on the shoreline. For visitors, Britain's resorts and ports offer a huge range of pursuits not least fishing, bird-watching, paddling, sailing and surfing. Whatever the reason for your visit, it is hard to deny the particular magic that exists where the land meets the sea.

For these Coastlines stamps, photographer Richard Cooke spent a number of months surveying the shorelines of the four countries of the British lsles from a helicopter. This huge undertaking has resulted in ten stamps that successfully capture the diversity and magnificence of our coast.