There are many guidebooks published on the Coast to Coast nowadays and it is recommended that you purchase a copy of one to gain in-depth knowledge on the route and services along the way. Below I have reviewed some of them but if you would like to add your own reviews then e-mail me with your review and I will place on here for others to view your thoughts and hopefully help them buy the best book possible for them.

Although this website does not sell any of the books below I have provided links to the publishers or places on line to purchase the books/maps.

Alfred Wainwright – A Coast to Coast Walk: A Pictorial Guide

I offer no apologies for starting with Alfred Wainwright's guide to the Coast to Coast. Like the Lakeland Pictorial Guides I consider this book to be a work of art but, alas, because of a lack of OS mapping which other books offer I do not consider the guide to be the best anymore but a coast to coast walk without AW in your rucksack wouldn't be right! Take the book with you along with a decent map and it is a perfect combination - as long as you have the most up-to-date version of the book.

To buy this book or to see more info click here


Wainwrights Coast to Coast: with Julia Bradbury

Originally shown on BBC television in Spring 2009 the DVD of the series can now be purchased on-line direct from Striding Edge. For those of you familiar with Julia's previous Wainwright walks series you won't be disappointed with this offering and for those new to Julia Bradbury's style then I can only say 'sit back and enjoy'. A potted summary of the route over 6 episodes of half hour lengths, stunning aerial photography, original interviews with AW along the route and much, much more.

Find more information or buy the DVD by clicking here


Coast to Coast Path: St. Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay

Quite probably the book of choice for coast to coasters now that it has been revised again. Loads of information on accommodation, shops, places to visit make this an information filled book. The maps could be a little better but for the sheer volume of information you get with this book that is a very small quibble. Make space in your rucksack for this one.

More information or buy the book by clicking here


Martin Wainwright - The Coast to Coast Walk

Including 1:25k OS maps, rounded corners for slipping in and out of pockets, colour photos, detailed information and anecdotes, local & natural history to help you get more out of the walk and very useful pre-planning information all combine, with the friendly writing style to make this one of the best books on the Coast to Coast to be published.

More information or buy the book by clicking here


Paul Hannon – Coast to Coast Walk: 190 miles across Northern England

I remember walking the Cumbria Way in 2008 with a couple of friends and one of them virtually had a guidebook with route description in front of his face the whole time and needless to say we didn't get lost although I doubt he saw much of route! My friend would love this book for the route description alone. Again, if you back this book up with decent maps you will be just fine.

For more info or to buy the book click here




Terry Marsh – Coast to Coast Walk

Offering both west to east and east to west route details, OS mapping, colour photographs and a good route description this book is only let down by no information on services along the route. More inspiring than some other coast to coast guides this isn't a bad choice for those who have accommodation booked in advance.
One of the things I like about this book is the detail of places and 'things to see' along the route.

For more info or to buy the book click here


Ray & Pauline Moody - Camping It Up!
If you are planning on backpacking the Coast to Coast then this is the perfect addition for your pack. Aimed at making the Coast to Coast trip far easier for the back-packer this small booklet is packed with campsites and plenty of tips to smooth your passage as you 'camp it up' along the Coast to coast! A new edition is out for 2009. While the book can be ordered from any bookshop, it is quicker to buy direct from Rockumentary Press, Seabreeze Cottage, 11 Cliff Top, FILEY, North Yorkshire, YO14 9HG. The cost is £3.99 with 51p for p&p. For more info send Rockumentary Press an e-mail


Doreen Whitehead - Coast to Coast Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Guide 2009
Doreen has produced this full list of accommodation along the Coast to Coast for a number of years now and with many years of running a B&B on the route at Keld there is little that Doreen doesn't know.
For more info or to buy the book click here


Strip Maps
The Ordnance Survey used to produce 2 maps covering the whole route and these were excellent - alas, despite being best sellers they have been discontinued. They can still be bought on eBay for a high price but Harveys have saved the day by producing their own set of two maps to cover the route but (and this is a big but) on a scale of 1:40000.

In 2008 Harvey reprinted the Eastern map on polyethylene with the western version due to be reprinted in 2009. Clear and easy to read with info on services along the way etc these are not quite the perfect replacement for the OS maps but in conjunction with a decent guidebook they will be more than adequate.

The Harvey maps can be bought direct from Harveys by clicking here


Mike McKever - Coast to Coast on an In-growing Toenail
Not a guidebook as such but a written journal of an hilarious account of one couple's adventures walking the Coast to Coast. It is a diary of their progress and is laced with numerous comic asides, witty reflections, and humorous portraits of their fellow 'Coasters' and the people who offer accommodation along the route. An ideal travelling companion for first-time 'Coasters' or a delightful memory-jogger for experienced old hands with a sense of humour

For more info or to buy to book click here



Jan Minshull - Coast to Coast

Not a guidebook but a novel about fifty year old Linda, who, annoyed at being taken for granted by her husband sets off to tackle the Coast to Coast in an East to West direction. What follows trigger reflections on her life and prompts her to consider her future, an outlook which totally changes when she meets Nick, another lone walker.

For more info or to buy the book click here