The Two Moors Way: Devon's Coast to Coast (Cicerone Walking Guide)

Clearly described, a useful aid to our walk This new guide written by Sue Viccars for Cicerone clearly describes the Devon Coast to Coast long distance walk step-by-step. The book covers the Two Moors Way across Dartmoor and Exmoor from Ivybridge to Lymouth but has the added advantage of including the Erne-Plym Trail. This trail starts at Wembury and finishes at Ivybridge and enables Walkers to have the added sense of achievement of walking from the south coast of Devon to the north. Six of us walked the Devon Coast to Coast in July 2015 and were delighted that this Guide was published in time for our walk. Although we were well equipped with GPSs and Explorer maps, the Guide added an extra dimension to the walk. One of our party acted as the Narrator reading the wealth of interesting features and anecdotes to as we went along. The book was filled with illustrations of the scenery, buildings, monuments etc. These proved interesting and also useful when checking we were on the right route. Maps were included but were small and not always adjacent to the relevant narrative. Some of the other Cicerone Guides have given more emphasis to larger extracts of Explorer maps. The Guide contains step-by-step instructions for the whole of the route which, in the main, were easy to understand and follow. There were a few instances when the instructions were ambiguous and it would not be a good idea to use the book as the only reference source for the walk. Long distance walkers should always have explorer maps and a GPS is also an advantage. This was particularly the case on parts of Dartmoor and Exmoor where the signage is poor and sometimes non-existent. Luckily there were very few instances of confusion and these were soon sorted. At the beginning of each section there was some essential information. This was particularly useful with regard to where refreshments and provisions could be obtained as this part of Devon is sparsely populated and planning was required to ensure shops, pubs were accessed where possible and built into the itinerary. All in all the Guide proved to be a useful aid to our walk. --By email

Walking The Two Moors Way, Devon s Coast to Coast is a practical, pocket sized guidebook from seasoned outdoors writer, photographer and walker Sue Viccars. Her detailed knowledge and love of the 116 mile route from Wembury on the Channel shore to Lynmouth on the Exmoor coast route is manifest throughout. This guide sensibly divided into eleven day long stages, each headed with a box of key information detailing the start and finish; the distance and likely time required to achieve it; refreshments, toilets, transport, parking, accommodation and maps needed. Readers are given directional notes on the route, which are brief but sufficient though given that it is waymarked. These notes are supported by sections of Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger maps. However, anyone walking the route would be wise to take the more detailed 1:25,000 Explorer with them. Sue Viccars has added copious additional information in her extended introduction, covering such practical questions as food and drink, planning the walk and public transport. She has also added sections on history and geology and more varied information on points of interest along the way. This is interspersed among the directions, but in different type, making it easy to separate the two. Indeed, the book could be used as an armchair journey along the path, especially as it is backed by attractive colour photographs, though it is obviously intended as a practical guide for walkers en route. It certainly fulfils its purpose. --Robert, by email, June 2015

Whether you choose to use this book as a supplement to planning only, or as part of your navigation package for this walk, give it a go, and I hope that you enjoy the walk as much as I did! --Andrew Hoskins, Backpack Magazine