Ireland Book

Back in the 70s, Alfred Wainwright wrote a book documenting a path across England, from "Coast to Coast", as it were. It proved a hit. Now hundreds of people walk it each year, perhaps even thousands. This is the second edition of that book, updated for a changing world, while retaining the voice and style of the original.

What drew people to the original book wasn't so much the actual path itself (although the path itself is a quite excellent walking path, although as a path for backpacking it's not particularly great -- at least, not by the standards of this well-traveled American backpacker). What made the book special was Wainwright's distinctive voice, which permeated the words describing the path and attractions along it, and the hand drawings he made to accompany it. As a work of art, this book is utterly fascinating.

As a practical tool for actually undertaking the walk, however, it falls short somewhat. It doesn't really list the things a practical walker cares about: the places to stay, the places to eat meals, the places to purchase food for carrying while walking, the places most amenable to camping, and so on. It would change the character of the book to provide that information, I think. Yet without that information, I wouldn't recommend this book as the sole guide for someone considering a Coast to Coast Walk. Instead I'd recommend Coast to Coast Path: St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay, Planning, Places to Stay, Places to Eat as a better alternative, with more detailed maps to the path and far better information on practicalities along the way. But if you want a book to show people what you plan to do, or will do, this is absolutely a better book to get.

If I were looking only for the art and warmth, this would be the perfect book to get. But I was also looking for the practical details, and on that the book falls short. So I rate this four stars rather than five.