Lands End to John O'Groats

[A Challenge]

What do you mean by that? Is it local busses only and not long distance busses that are coaches (megabus and National Express etc.) or what?

It is buses only, some are local but some are express. Buses exclude National Express and Megabus but would include the Stagecoach X5, although if you're in Milton Keynes heading between Lands End and John O'Groats, you are lost.

Thanks. I would rather do this by train (routes hint: Caledonian Sleeper to Inverness!)

[tufnellpark]

With just a few days to go, this is becoming a major undertaking. Here are some unlikely things that I have had to include in the many hours of planning:

1 Ensuring my week's worth of luggage, which I will be carrying, isn't too heavy. A wheelie suitcase isn't going to work, if I am running for a bus.
2 Dressing for the weather. It's going to be hot in Lands End, raining and cold in John O'Groats. And I must remember to sit on the north side of the bus to avoid overheating.
3 Accommodation booked but I have to definitely make it, otherwise I'll be stuck with no room. If a bus is delayed/cancelled that could mean jumping on a train to reach my destination. Mrs B understandably refused to spend a week, driving a camper van from one end of the country to the other.
4 Many bus stations have poor signage, so I have worked out where I arrive and exactly where I need to depart from. In some towns there are no bus stations, so I will have to walk for a few minutes to catch my next bus, using Google Maps.
5 Finding the best value bus fares using day tickets and areas of validity. What a minefield!
6 Same for rail fares. Lewes to Penzance is £117.60. But Brighton to Plymouth via Reading plus a Ride Cornwall day ticket, makes it £39.00 and includes the bus to Lands End. That took a while to work out but saves me £80.
7 Bus times are constantly changing. I will check the latest timetables the day before I leave. I have already spotted First completely changing a timetable from 15th August, which has added an hour to my journey.

I'm looking forward to it but spending 60 hours over 4 days on buses is going to be tiring. My longest day is 18 hours, which is much the same as a full network challenge. I reckon this is going to be like doing four tube challenges in a row. Wish me luck!

[palkanetoijala31]

doing this over the bank holiday? seems weird I guess it means no national express is allowed.good luck tangy will be after you with guns ablazing

[Iain]

How did it go?

[greatkingrat]

He only started today. I guess he is probably somewhere in the Bristol area at the moment.

[Iain]

Ah ok - was going by Andi's Bank Holiday comment

[michael_churchill]

I've done no research but it seems odd to me that both Clive's route and the one he's trying to beat pass through Newcastle and head up the east coast. I guess it's because of the bus service, but I would have thought a route closer to Cumbria and central Scotland would be shorter.

[greatkingrat]

The west coast route is fairly sparsely populated with Carlisle is the only large town between Preston and Glasgow, so there probably isn't much of a bus service going that way.

[The Orange One]

This seems to be a thing that people are doing now. I find myself curious about the theory and will be timetabling, although I will probably never actually do it. For one thing, I like a bed every night.

Oddly, this challenge is from not-quite-the-southernmost point to not-quite-the-northernmost-point, but such is the power of hype. Besides, Dunnet Head is about 3 miles from the nearest bus stop.

Side note and proposal: Extremities challenge - Lizard Point, Dunnet Head, Ardnamurchan Lighthouse and Ness Point using public transport. Given Ardnamurchan Lighthouse is over 6 miles walk from the nearest bus stop (and also the nearest shop), not to mention Dunnet Head as before, I'd say this was only for the seasoned traveller/challenger/mental patient.

[RJSRdg]

Although they're not-quite-the-southernmost point and not-quite-the-northernmost point, they are the two points on the mainland which are furthest apart. (Lizard Point-Dunnet Head is 833 miles, Lands End to John O'Groats is 837 miles).

[RJSRdg]

The west coast route is fairly sparsely populated with Carlisle is the only large town between Preston and Glasgow, so there probably isn't much of a bus service going that way.

Depends on your definition of large I suppose. Lancaster and Carnforth aren't exactly hamlets..

The route I found went up the east coast as well though.

[jamesthegill]

He only started today. I guess he is probably somewhere in the Bristol area at the moment.

I don't suppose he's passing a town called Portishead at all, is he?

[Steeevooo]

He only started today. I guess he is probably somewhere in the Bristol area at the moment.

I don't suppose he's passing a town called Portishead at all, is he?

[palkanetoijala31]

just thought I be up there Sunday which is the day he is supposed to finish?

[Tube Geek]

He only started today. I guess he is probably somewhere in the Bristol area at the moment.

I don't suppose he's passing a town called Portishead at all, is he?

Shut up