A Coast to Coast Walk

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A wonderful guide for a wonderful walk - Rated
I did the Coast to Coast walk back in '89 (in baking hot weather) and again - partly - in '96 (in pouring rain). Up to this day the memory of this walk remains with me as vividly as ever and I consider that forthnight as the most wonderful two weeks in my life. AW learnt me to appreciate the North English Countryside with its quiet villages and open spaces, its desolate moorlands and austere fells. Furthermore, I consider this guide a little gem because of the hand drawn illustrations, maps and (witty) narrative. I mean - who hand-writes a book?
These days you will need additional map material because the route has changed in places, but this book is a requirement. I still remember reading the C-to-C walker's log book in the Danby Wiske pub where Wainwright in '89 (two years before his death) had written with a somewhat trembling, but recognisable hand: "Don't give up!"

A walk I'll never forget - Rated
Having conceived the ever more popular coast to coast walk I'm sure AW would regret the impact it has probably had on the countryside. He wrote the walk as an example for people to go out and create their own long distance walks; but this is a classic walk that is hard to resist.

Told in the usual Wainwight style of lovely pen and ink drawings, meticulous attention to detail and dry whit, this is a great guide. You should really take (and rely on) the two OS Coast to Coast maps in order to navigate and refer to Wainwright for enlightenment/enjoyment as you go along.

It doesn't really give notes on planning and booking accommodation, but such research is half the fun of setting up for and doing the walk.

The memory of this walk will stay with me for the rest of my life, and reading back through my battered copy of this book from time to time brings it all back to life.