Lejog

im looking to do an extended LEJOG camping tour this summer. im more or less there with equipment and bike, but i have still to sort out the gearing and route.

starting in london i want to travel anti-clockwise down to LE via the south devon coast, then back up through north cornwall, wales and north towards JOG. once at JOG id like to return to london by the east coast.

i was wondering what places along the way are particularly worth riding through. have any of you guys done an end to end of sorts and which parts are worth recommending?

Le Run?

In general, the west coast of Britain is far more interesting than the east. If time is not of the essence than from LE follow the north Cornwall, Devon and Somerset coast, then cross the Severn Bridge and travel north through mid-Wales. the next bit from north Wales to Lancaster is pants, whichever way you do it, then through the Lake District, into Scotland, head to Ayrshire coast, take the ferry across the Clyde then up the Argyll coast to Fort William, then up north to Ullapool and Durness, before going across the top to JoG.

That's the route I took a few years ago, although to be fair, that was on a motorbike and it took me 4 days. But it was fun.

I did a 13 day in the summer (with the old man) and there are a few bits which stood out (although the whole of the country is beautiful save negotiating the midlands/machester mess. My personal best bits were

• cycling up glenshee - down into ballater (beautiful, stunning days riding amazing climbs and descents).
  -i stayed in altnahara and then took the coastal road all the way to jog passing shetland and doune ray nuclear plant.
  -cycling accross the severn bridge/forth road bridge. cycle paths on them let you take it all in (although getting to them is a bit of a bastard).
  -the yorkshire dales north of clitheroe, beautiful.
  
  

the part i disliked the most? Cornwall and Devon. Crowded, busy, leg sapping climbs and aweful signs.

yes west coast is the best a detour into Wales is hilly but worth while. Getting through the lancs industrial conabation is hassle but once north of Preston its all pretty good

Is the 22days it took me to go from lands end to John o'groats a record,has anyone taken longer.Also is getting no punctures unusual?and has anyone managed to book a bike reservation on the train from Wick?

If you've got a blog or diary of it, I'd like to read it. I always like reading them, even if I never get around to doing it myself.

you jogged?

Tandem record attempt (take 2?):
http://www.project7racing.com/end_to_end.html

Just putting it out there, I'm looking to do LEJOG this summer, not fixed and probably on a custom longtail bike (bikepacking)

Hi, Sorry if this is a thread hijack, but im not sure where to ask this question.
My brothers asked me to do a LEJOG with him this summer, and currently my only bike is a converted 80s raleigh arena, and I was wondering what bikes are out there for someone on a budget to do it on, or is it possible for me to return the arena to geared and do it on that?

Here's my blog of a LEJOG I did in 2009, camping all the way. You might find some useful route info in there.

http://lejog.jochta.com/

I found the whole journey brilliant. I particularly liked Cheshire and navigating through the urban areas between Manchester and Liverpool. West and central Scotland is spectacular, SW Scotland was a bit dull, northern Scotland great for isolation and scenery. Cornwall and Devon was hardwork, so difficult to appreciate all the beauty. Some parts of the England/Wales border were great, some a bit dull and hard to find sustenance.

Vague plans to do a JOGLE next year.

John

I was wondering what bikes are out there for someone on a budget to do it on, or is it possible for me to return the arena to geared and do it on that?

depends on whether you are planning on riding with panniers or credit carding it and staying in B&B's etc.

i'd suggest riding a bike with panniers and camping along the way. if you can fit a rack on the raleigh then go for it.

do a couple of long days in it though before hand to make sure the set up is right for you

depends on whether you are planning on riding with panniers or credit carding it and staying in B&B's etc.

i'd suggest riding a bike with panniers and camping along the way. if you can fit a rack on the raleigh then go for it.

do a couple of long days in it though before hand to make sure the set up is right for you

thanks man, we're going for panniers and camping, in the most lightweight way we can manage. creditcard is not in our budget (at least not mine) I did 40 miles on the bike today fixed, and pretty happy with it tbh. The bike shop guys almost had me sold on a new bike too! see if i cant scrape together some nice gears together before i take the plunge.

lots of good advice over on ctc > http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewforum.php?f=22

if you look at the threads, there's plenty about camping and taking routes away from busy roads, such as > http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=65186

Why does everyone moan about Devon and Cornwall? They're only hills! I guess cos I live here I'm used to it! This bodes well for my lejog in July, starting in Cornwall, means the rest will feel flat to me!

Ok, so I've always wanted to do an End to End however being a dad and working long hours meant this had to be be put on hold.
It does appear however that 2014 is my year as my daughter is going on holiday for 2 weeks at the end of August meaning this can finally happen!
I've decided on LEJOG over JOGLE as I didn't fancy battling into headwinds for the majority of the ride.
Due to the limited amount of time available, I've decided to do it in 9 days.
The idea of doing the official 'Ride Across Britain' never really appealed as 1) the timings wouldn't work for me and 2) sleeping in a tent night after night after slogging away for 8-10 hours on the bike in variable
Scottish weather in August/September didn't appeal and 3) the cost ! (£1700.00 p/p or a staggering £3400.00 for the two of us )
I do however like the look route that they take so have drawn my own
routing between my accommodation based on the Strava files of a club member
who did RAB in 2012 to come up with the routing below.

Day 1
LEJOG Day 1 - Lands End YHA to Okehampton YHA
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4063957

Day 2
LEJOG Day 2 - Okehampton YHA to Bath Travelodge
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4068101

Day 3
LEJOG Day 3 - Bath Travelodge to Ludlow Travelodge
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4074715

Day 4
LEJOG Day 4 - Ludlow Travelodge to Haydock St Helens Travelodge
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4093755

Day 5
LEJOG Day 5 - Haydock St Helens Travelodge to Penrith Travelodge
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4114270

Day 6
LEJOG Day 6 - Penrith Travelodge to Bothwell Bridge Hotel
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118567

Day 7
LEJOG Day 7 - Bothwell Bridge Hotel to Braeside House B&B Fort William
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4131604

Day 8
LEJOG Day 8 - Braeside House B&B Fort William to Monarch House B&B Kyle of
Sutherland
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4135397

Day 9
LEJOG Day 9 - Monarch House B&B Kyle of Sutherland to John O Groats to
Castle Arms Hotel Mey
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4140762

Thought I'd also share the costings of the accom that I've booked:
YH Lands End £46.00
YH Okehampton £68.00
Bath Travelodge £35.00
Ludlow Travelodge £35.00
St Helens Travelodge £23.00
Penrith Travleodge £49.00
Bothwell Bridge Hotel £70.00
Braeside House Hotel £70.00
Monach House £75.00
Castle Arms Hotel £95.00
Total £566.00
Total P/P £283.00

I thought I'd post here as a general place to document my trip.
Keen to hear from anyone who has any must see places along the route.

Interesting post, I want to do it this year, but I'm looking at sleeping rough (bivvying) where possible (not in the built up midlands/manc area), not sure of dates, but probably june. I'm looking at your route with interest. I might know some better routes through mid/north devon, will let you know.

Looks like a good route, are you staying off busy roads as much as possible?

why do you choose to cycle through devon and cornwall and not actually go through the dartmoor national park? if you want to ride busy A roads you might as well do it round here! i'll take a look at your route properly when i have time but i'd also suggest going up the east coast of scotland via wick as that was some of the nicest riding imo

I would assume he's avoid the extra climbing of getting up and over dartmoor.

Wave when you pass me in Carlisle (coild even join you for a bit if I'm free)

I would assume he's avoid the extra climbing of getting up and over dartmoor.

yes but thats half the fun! i couldnt wait to get off the A30

I did a vaguely similar route last year though in 8 days. In Scotland we went along the the minor roads to Cromarty and took the Nigg ferry across and stayed in Tain and then next day followed the coast rather than cut inland. We had a strong wind behind that last day so blitzed up the coast.

East Kilbride / Edinbrugh was a mare as was Manchester, Bolton, Preston.

Interesting post, I want to do it this year, but I'm looking at sleeping rough (bivvying) where possible (not in the built up midlands/manc area), not sure of dates, but probably june. I'm looking at your route with interest. I might know some better routes through mid/north devon, will let you know.

Cool, let me know if you can think of any deviations that won't add too much time/climbing.

Looks like a good route, are you staying off busy roads as much as possible?

Yes, pretty much all quietish B type roads.

why do you choose to cycle through devon and cornwall and not actually go through the dartmoor national park? if you want to ride busy A roads you might as well do it round here! i'll take a look at your route properly when i have time but i'd also suggest going up the east coast of scotland via wick as that was some of the nicest riding imo

Hopefully, the roads that I've chosen shouldn't be that busy. If Dartmoor is a must see and doesn't add too much time, could be a plan!

Wave when you pass me in Carlisle (coild even join you for a bit if I'm free)

Awesome! Sounds like a plan.

I did a vaguely similar route last year though in 8 days. In Scotland we went along the the minor roads to Cromarty and took the Nigg ferry across and stayed in Tain and then next day followed the coast rather than cut inland. We had a strong wind behind that last day so blitzed up the coast.

East Kilbride / Edinbrugh was a mare as was Manchester, Bolton, Preston.

Hoping for some of that strong tail wind action too.
You keep a blog/got any photos?