The Coast to Coast Walk is unique among Britain's long-distance footpaths in that it was the invention of one man, the legendary Alfred Wainwright, and enjoys no official status like, for example, the National trails in England and Wales. Nevertheless, it has become one of Britain's most popular long-distance walks, which is hardly surprising as it traverses some of the finest walking territory in the country. Starting at St Bees on the Cumbrian coast, the route runs for 192 miles (307 km) to Robin Hood's Bay on the North Sea and lies, for the most part, within the boundaries of three of Britain's loveliest National Parks - the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. As well as the main route there are also alternatives available at several points. Martin Wainwright's description of the route is divided into fifteen chapters, each covering one day's walk (though alternative stopping places are identified for those who wish to spread their journey over a longer period) and each section of the route is described in detail with accompanying Ordnance Survey 1:25 000 mapping and colour photographs. There are also brief feature essays on features or places of particular historical or landscape interest and a Useful Information section at the end which gives details of organisations which provide advice or information on matters such as travel and accommodation. Martin Wainwright (no relation) is Northern Editor of the Guardian. He recently edited A Lifetime of Mountains, a selection from the writings of the Guardian's much-loved Country Diarist, also published by Aurum. A keen rambler, he lives in Leeds.
