Coast to Coast Walk books and resources

A-Z for Walkers - Coast to Coast Walk, Adventure Series

This is one of the best resources available to Coast to Coasters. A handy map book that presents the route in standard Ordnance Survey maps (1:25000 scale) and highlights the detailed route in easy to follow yellow. It is a much easier, cheaper and handier option than buying all the relevant Ordnance Survey maps to cover the route. There is also an Offa’s Dyke Path edition.

Coast to Coast Path, Trailblazer Series

Henry Stedman and others
There are many guide books to the Coast to Coast Path (in either direction) but I consider Stedman’s is the best and works well used in tandem with the A-Z map book. This book provides a great overview and details for the whole walk from suggested itineraries to accomodation options, track notes and clear useful mud maps with approximate staged walking times and handy details such as “turn left at gate with tap” when there are several possible gates.
Read this well in advance of planning your trip including using it to decide your accommodation bookings. There is also an Offa’s Dyke Path edition.

Ordnance Survey app

Never mind that much of the C2C route doesn’t have access to wifi and/or a phone signal - subscribing to the OS app will be your friend. If you take the annual subscription, you can download the maps onto your smartphone and the GPS in your phone will show you exactly where you are on the 1:25000 map even when there is no coverage. When you really need to know where you are, which path you are on, or exactly where you have to turn - OS and the little GPS red arrow head will tell you. But take a compass too if you know how to use one. 

Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk, Walkers Edition 

revised by Chris Jetty
The Blessed Alfred Wainwright is the patron saint of the C2C, but his quaint handwritten text (even with Jetty’s additions), pen sketches and drawn maps mean the book is not much use as a guide for walking. Read it if you must, and leave it at home.