Hi Dan,
Two of us just completed it earlier this month (in that superb weather!) raising over £2000 for our charities. Two good guidebooks are: Henry Steadman's and Anthony Burton's (we used the latter).
Clear "acorn" Trail signs all along; hard to get lost.
For info we did it in 6 days and used these stop-overs and were VERY happy with accommodation, food, helpfulness and friendliness:
WALLSEND -Hadrians Lodge Hotel
15 miles to
HEDDON ON THE WALL, -Houghton North Farm
17miles... a long day, but gets you to best bits sooner..
past CHOLLERFORD - Greencarts Farm
11 miles of the best scenery & wall & Roman sites etc.
STEEL RIGG -Twice Brewed Inn
14 miles, still great scenery/ wall / Roman sites etc.
BANKS -got picked up for excellent Scarrow Hill House (3 m South)
14 miles to
CARLISLE -Abberley House Hotel (very close to Trail)
15 miles to
BOWNESS ON SOLWAY (met by wives in car; lift back to Abberley)
Hope you enjoy it as much as we (& HB) did.
Good luck
Ray.