John O Groats to Lands End cycle ride

[palkanetoijala31]

Hi despite trying to become the person to do the most full challenges i have had this dream for years of cycling from John o groats to Lands end i will be attempting it with Sara next March - April time.I was wondering if any Tube Challengers on here live close by our route which i have published.

And are happy to either put us up for a night or know of local B&B around their area or just offer us a bit of support here is my route below.

Thurso - John O Groats A836
John O groats - Golspie A99/A9
Golspie - Dornoch A9/local roads
Dornoch - Tain A9/local roads
Tain - Cromarty across ferry at Balnapaling
Cromarty - Inverness A832/local roads
Inverness - Fort Augustus B862
Fort Augustus - Fort William A82
Fort William - Crianlarich A82
Crianlarich - Balloch A82/A811
Balloch - Dumbarton A813
Dumbarton - Hamilton via Clydebank,Rutherglen,Cambuslang
Hamilton - Gretna Green following local roads close to M74/A74 M
Gretna Green - Longtown A6071
Longtown - Carlisle A7
Carlisle - Penrith A6
Penrith - Windermere A582
Windermere - Levens A5074
Levens - Lancaster A6
Lancaster - Cockerham A588
Cockerham - Preston B5272/A6
Preston - Skelmersdale Following local roads south between A59/M6
Skelmersdale - Aintree/Home of the mighty Reds Liverpool Fc to Liverpool
Liverpool - Birkenhead using ferry
Birkenhead - Chester using local roads wherever possible
Chester - Whitchurch A41
Whitchurch - Shrewsbury A49
Shrewsbury - Ironbridge B4380
Ironbridge - Bridgnorth local roads
Bridgnorth - Ludlow B4364
Ludlow - Leominster B4361
Leominster - Hereford B4361/A49
Hereford - Monmouth A49/A466
Monmouth - Chepstow A466
Chepstow - Clifton Suspension Bridge Bristol via local roads where possible
Clifton Suspension Bridge - Congresbury B3129/A370
Congresbury - Burnham on Sea B3133/A38
Burnham On Sea - Wellington A38
Wellington - Exeter via Cullompton B3181
Exeter - Torquay using all Coast roads
Torquay - Dartmouth using all coast roads
Dartmouth - Halwell A3122
Hall - Torpoint Ferry using local roads/a379
Torpoint ferry - Looe using coast roads
Looe - Par crossing ferry at Fowey
Par - Tressilick Ferry using local roads
Tressilick Ferry - Marazion/Penzance using local roads
Penzance - Lands End A30

any help be greatly appreciated.

[A2]

I don't live near any of them as you're bypassing Birmingham, but I can suggest the following website for locating B&Bs

http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/

[A2]

PS. I think you're crazy

[CrunchySaviour]

I've been to Fowey a couple of times, that bit is lovely. In fact, I bet a fair amount of the route is really picturesque. I don't live on the route though.

[editorsfoot]

I got married near Fort Augustus in the summer and know the area through the Highlands well, so I can give you advice on roads etc which might be of some help knowing how fast people in the Highlands actually go

To really throw a spanner in the works, or in the wheels, common practice is to go Lands End to John O'Groats on a bike, the reasoning behind this is the prevailing winds blow from the west, meaning you are more likely to have a tailwind than a headwind, but as you're not going for the record then it might not bother you.

Or you could use this website if you havent found it already

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3397

[palkanetoijala31]

[quote="editorsfoot"} common practice is to go Lands End to John O'Groats on a bike, the reasoning behind this is the prevailing winds blow from the west, meaning you are more likely to have a tailwind than a headwind[/quote]

Yes i heard that i have ridden from John o groat to the south of scotland and lands end to okehampton before and believe me it doesnt make a difference which way u do it the wind always go against u or seems to

[Going Underground]

To really throw a spanner in the works, or in the wheels, common practice is to go Lands End to John O'Groats on a bike, the reasoning behind this is the prevailing winds blow from the west, meaning you are more likely to have a tailwind than a headwind, but as you're not going for the record then it might not bother you.

Have to say Andi if you are still going ahead with this I would consider what Phil is saying...

I have been cyclling to work the last few weeks Ashford Heston and the wind is nearly always in my face for the return journey Westbound.... This can be a bit of a pain and I am only talking about 7 miles both ways here.......

[Root]

Are you "allowed" to use ferries then? Is it really a cycle ride if you're using other methods of transport along the way?

As you know, I don't live anywhere near your route, but all the best with it nonetheless .

[palkanetoijala31]

yes u are allowed to use ferries to cross rivers most of them apart from the mersey are just small and only to get across i could avoid most of them if i wanted but it breaks up the day a little and gives u a slight rest.

[Going Underground]

I would love to be able to do this, just wish I had a spare 2 weeks.....

[nozzacook]

Hi Andi Just to remind you that I live very close to your finish & If necessary could put the both of you up over night.

PS easier to go the other way. 2/3 of weather comes from the south west.

[Going Underground]

Hi Andi Just to remind you that I live very close to your finish & If necessary could put the both of you up over night.

PS easier to go the other way. 2/3 of weather comes from the south west.

With all these weather warnings you might be putting them up at the start.....

[palkanetoijala31]

i think nozza we will reverse the route and start at lands end i take up the offer of accomodation closer to the time thanx

[Going Underground]

On my cycle ride to work today for only the 2nd time since May the wind was from an Easterly direction.... Not sure what the overall count is but must be something like 48 - 2..

On a side issue how can they call the Tour de France a sport...... Pottering about the French Countryside on a nice little cycle ride for 4 weeks.........

[palkanetoijala31]

BUMP

This attempt will go ahead on Monday 6th April from John O Groats and should finish about 21st April at Lands End our aim is to cover roughly 63 miles per day.I will even attempt to update the forum on our progress each day.Here is our rough plan for the days.

Day 1 John O Groats - Brora
Day 2 Brora - Inverness
Day 3 Inverness - Fort William
Day 4 Fort William - Near Balloch
Day 5 Balloch - Abington
Day 6 Abington - Carlisle
Day 7 Carlisle - Morecambe via Windermere
Day 8 Morecambe - Liverpool
Day 9 Liverpool - Bridgnorth
Day 10 Bridgnorth - Chepstow
Day 11 Chepstow - Wellington
Day 12 Wellington - Dartmouth
Day 13 Dartmouth - Fowey
Day 14 Fowey - Marazion
Day 15 Marazion - Lands End