Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: Daveymac on 30 October, 2018, 05:05:51 pm
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Hi!
I hope you are all well.
I am planning on doing LEJOG in 2019, starting in Lands End and finishing up in John o Groats.
I normally cycle 100- 150kms per day / 60 - 95 miles...and am looking for a scenic and quiet route away from heavy traffic...
I generally navigate using Maps.me and use Google maps as a backup.
Would any of you be able to recommend a nice route?
I would appreciate some advice on places to stop and see and any accommodation tips as well!
Thank you for reading...
Dublin Dave.
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www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
Loads of resources and Journals from previous rides.
Rob
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Hi Robgul!
Thanks for the response.. I will check out the website you mentioned...
Dublin Dave
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Hi!
I hope you are all well.
I am planning on doing LEJOG in 2019, starting in Lands End and finishing up in John o Groats.
I normally cycle 100- 150kms per day / 60 - 95 miles...and am looking for a scenic and quiet route away from heavy traffic...
I generally navigate using Maps.me and use Google maps as a backup.
Would any of you be able to recommend a nice route?
I would appreciate some advice on places to stop and see and any accommodation tips as well!
Thank you for reading...
Dublin Dave.
Why not follow the good old CTC's excellent advice:
https://www.ctc-maps.org.uk/routes/route/1854/map
Great, cheers CTC! :thumbsup: Never would have thought of going that way ;D
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www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
Loads of resources and Journals from previous rides.
Rob
Mostly dead links though :)
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Why not follow the good old CTC's excellent advice:
https://www.ctc-maps.org.uk/routes/route/1854/map
Great, cheers CTC! :thumbsup: Never would have thought of going that way ;D
Well, it kind of works if you follow the instructions and log in. (The map never displays but I can download the GPX file and look at that ok.)
(It's a bit of an odd route, it only uses the A9 to cross the Moray Firth.) 1591.7km.
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www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
Loads of resources and Journals from previous rides.
Rob
Mostly dead links though :)
Just to qualify that ..... "The Journals" section (i.e. content added since the C-E2E site was launched) doesn't have many dead links. These only occur where the content owner has not maintained the URL for their content - many of the links on the Cycle-EndtoEnd site are to external resource, some are pdfs hosted on the main site.
The "BIG LIST" is simply a copy of the old "Ultimate Links" website that ceased in about 2008 (as is explained in the intro text) - and yes there are quite a few dead links (same reason as The Journals section) On balance it seemed worthwhile to leave it online as there are some nuggets there.
For all that, if you take the time to look there is loads of useful stuff to inspire and assist the planning process.
Rob
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www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk
Loads of resources and Journals from previous rides.
Rob
there is also the "chat" that goes with that: https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewforum.php?f=22
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the cyclinguk forum for lejog was a great resource at one point and it still seems to be ok
i was suprised my old login still worked
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Gents , thank you for the responses... I will check out the CTC Map for sure Ben T...
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Ben T... unfortunately you have to be a member of ctc to download or view the map of LEJOG?!
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::-) you can view the route map as it is. Might have to swim some of the route though.... never mind, I though it was quite funny :D::-)
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There's so much choice, unless you really dislike route planning you might be better off devising your own to appeal to your interests and style of cycling.
Through a large part between Devon and Scotland, the major choice is which side of the hills you go, Cotswolds, Peak District, Pennines.
West and staying in England is the shortest and fastest route, it's also the most urban and IMO the least scenic.
Staying West and going into Wales adds plenty of scenery and not really very much distance, you still have a fair bit of urban landscape to negotiate when you leave Wales behind.
Love hills? Go straight up the middle, see the best of the country and tick off some classic climbs. Or with a bit off careful planning, you could avoid the roads with the steepest gradients and still have plenty of scenery, have a look at the Pennine Cycle Way as an example.
Going East adds a bit of mileage and is probably the least common option, if you want an easier ride with very little urban to navigate and as flat as you'll find it's still worth considering.
I chose East, it was an additional 120 miles to the Western route I considered, which over the time wasn't a significant increase in the daily mileage. If I did it again, I'd be tempted to take a bit longer and go straight up the middle.
Scotland has a similar set of options - Island hopping, East, Central, West, though the pros and cons aren't so clear cut.
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I used LeJog to test my routing algorithms, which are intended for long distance cycle route planning.
http://www.gpxeditor.co.uk/routes2/users/BenTaylor/LeJogAlternatives
Shortest is just that, the shortest route, so probably not the way you would choose to go. It goes through the centre of devon and cornwall which probably involves more hills which the others avoid.
Optimum is probably a reasonable all rounder, and is the best at avoiding main roads.
Quickest is (just) hill-averse enough to avoid the cairngorms in favour of the A82, but turns off as soon as it can.
Urban is not intended for long distance routes so I haven't included it, but if you have to go through a city is useful for picking the 'simplest' route.
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Below is my LEJOG I did with Threshold Sports in 2014 (Ride Across Britain). Feel free to download and review. Some good choice of route here as we had Andy Cook (of Andy Cooke Cycling) as head of logistics.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/21c1hg2pqcdqtup/Ride%20Across%20Britain%20-%206th%20-%2014th%20September%202014.gpx?dl=0
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That's ours.
http://peter.chesspod.com/lejog/
I plotted everything in advance before I had a GPS receiver. Typed route sheets, pages torn out of the Philips Navigator Road Atlas, daily ride reports phoned to our son who keyed them in for the beneficiaries of this forum's predecessor. Exciting times!
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Ben T... I think I will need a kayak to do part of that ctc route...
Paul H, Nothereforafastime & Ben T, thank you for your advice and posting routes.. I appreciate it!
I don’t mind adding a few hundred Kms extra for quieter roads and more scenery...
Any thoughts on starting at JOG or in LE?!
Pros and cons to both I imagine..
Also any thoughts on doing this solo?! A few mates are interested but with wives, kids etc I cannot depend on them joining me... !
I got a route off a gent named David Piper.. he was mentioned in a Travelling Two Article on Lejog...I am trying to copy the image of the route.. but can’t attach the image!!
Dublin Dave
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Any thoughts on starting at JOG or in LE?!
Pros and cons to both I imagine..
I would start at LE as then you get over the worst of the climbing in the first few days. The Mendip and Quantock Hills through Somerset don't take any prisoners! The Scottish hills on the other hand tend to be longer but not as steep.
I've done it both ways and I definitely prefer LEJOG as opposed to JOGLE (plus I think 'Lands End to John O'Groats' rolls off the tongue better!)
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Any thoughts on starting at JOG or in LE?!
Pros and cons to both I imagine..
To give the opposite argument, and subjective entirely, but personally I find JoG, like most of the rest of Caithness, a bit of a barren place. Not quite as good a 'destination' as LE.
When I got there I thought ... is this it?
It is also more likely to be raining than in cornwall.
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When I got there I thought ... is this it?
Ah but if you do it with Threshold Sports there is the added benefit of a decent crowd of cheering supporters on your arrival at JOG, an inflatable finish line, hot showers, massage, food, coach home plus a nice, shiny medal thrown in for good measure ;)
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Hi! Yea, I see the prevailing wind is a South Westerly.. so this would aid a LEJOG route..
I heard about the hills in the south and then the worsening weather as you head north,,
It is interesting about the non descript end to LEJOG... I have experienced this before on other tours.. you get there and expect fireworks, panoramic views etc.. and sometimes it can be a little underwhelming!!
But saying that it’s often the journey to this end point that means more...
Have any of you camped on the LEJOG route?
I am planning to hostel, air b nb it... and get comfy nights of sleep!!
Dublin Dave.
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Ah but if you do it with Threshold Sports there is the added benefit of a decent crowd of cheering supporters on your arrival at JOG, an inflatable finish line, hot showers, massage, food, coach home plus a nice, shiny medal thrown in for good measure ;)
That sounds bloody awful.
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Wowbanger, how was the part of your ride up along the West Coast of Scotland?
It looks rugged and wild...and I imagine you had to catch a few ferries?
DD
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It goes through the centre of devon and cornwall which probably involves more hills which the others avoid.
You can't avoid the hills in Devon. Enjoy them
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Wowbanger, how was the part of your ride up along the West Coast of Scotland
;D
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Wowbanger, how was the part of your ride up along the West Coast of Scotland
;D
Must have been around the 5th November
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Any thoughts on starting at JOG or in LE?!
Pros and cons to both I imagine..
Well isn't starting in JOG and heading for LE all down hill, and the reverse all up hill? After all North is up right?
Sorry...
J
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If you go North and have the time, don't finish in JoG, jump on the evening ferry and spend a day or two recovering on Orkney.
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Any thoughts on starting at JOG or in LE?!
Pros and cons to both I imagine..
To give the opposite argument, and subjective entirely, but personally I find JoG, like most of the rest of Caithness, a bit of a barren place. Not quite as good a 'destination' as LE.
When I got there I thought ... is this it?
It is also more likely to be raining than in cornwall.
I've often thought that JOG-LE might be better for the same reason, that LE and Penzance etc is a nicer place to finish. Trouble is that it'd probably be a headwind all the way, so a harder
I think I prefer the idea of Dover-Durness, the other diagonal, so you get the very best bit of Scotland up the west coast. Saying that, you could still add the west coast to a LE-JOG and I definitely recommend it if you have the time! Even if you cut across from Inverness to Durness, you'll add on about 130 miles and have a much much nicer ride.
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If you go North and have the time, don't finish in JoG, jump on the evening ferry and spend a day or two recovering on Orkney.
What a smashing idea! (this is the 3rd time Orkney has come up in conversation recently ... )
[Could non-flying-phobes get back to The South on a plane from Orkney? ]
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The coach trip around Orkney is worth it. http://www.jogferry.co.uk/getdoc/cc44c9ff-c84b-444c-972f-bbbb9a2ff7ec/Maxi.aspx
£64 may seem a lot, but when will you ever be so near again, and you might as well see everything.
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Trouble is that it'd probably be a headwind all the way, so a harder
I think the wind thing is an average - for tourists, it doesn't mean you will always have a headwind south or always have a tailwind north.
When doing LE->JoG I distinctly remember having a northerly headwind when going up the A6.
In other words imho it should be more a decision making factor in which way to go for record breakers going for a fast time , than for tourists.
I think I prefer the idea of Dover-Durness, the other diagonal, so you get the very best bit of Scotland up the west coast. Saying that, you could still add the west coast to a LE-JOG and I definitely recommend it if you have the time! Even if you cut across from Inverness to Durness, you'll add on about 130 miles and have a much much nicer ride.
I've thought that'd be nice, and durness is a nice place to arrive at. Still got some (more) riding to do to get the train back though, at least 50 miles to lairg. Mind it's still 20 miles from JoG to thurso
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[Could non-flying-phobes get back to The South on a plane from Orkney? ]
Don't know about that, but I doubt it.
You can get a ferry to Aberdeen, which is then easier to get south from than JoG, at least by train and more likely by plane.
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I quite like the idea of Lowestoft to Aardamuchen , nominally a 1000km. Add some extra sections and roll back to Fort William on quiet roads. Nice distance for a two week tour. Then sleeper south. We were out on the westerly roads on the Highlands 1000 this year. Sublime.
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[Could non-flying-phobes get back to The South on a plane from Orkney? ]
Yip, check Loganair* - you can fly direct from Kirkwall to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen
*other airlines may be available :)
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Thank you for all the replies...
This summer I left Dublin, where I live and cycled 3698kms around virtually every bit of coastline, back to Dublin.. was a great trip.. took me 24 days..
Last year I cycled from Vancouver, Canada down to Imperial Beach at the Mexican border... a fab trip..
Then the x2 previous summers I cycled down to Faro in Portugal & to Mallorca via Valencia, Spain...
So LEJOG or Jogle is next on my radar!
Re Scotland would a Westerly route be significantly more hilly and involve a lot of ferries compared to travelling the standard route up to LEJOG ?
Any feedback on cycling this solo?
Dublin Dave