The Route
The route has taken months to craft from scratch. Finding a balance between minor roads and the most direct route is difficult,
but the route we have looks like it'll do the job. There are links to the Google Maps illustration of our routes below, and we've
also worked out the elevation profile and some stats. The final distances will be slightly different due to detours for accommodation.
Day 1 - Land's End to Tintagel
The first day takes us along the A30 and A39 up to the historic birthplace of King Arthur, Tintagel. We'll travel through Penzance,
Redruth and by Newquay, staying inland rather than taking the hilly coastal roads. We're still expecting plenty of hills, but the
relatively short distance should help.
Distance: 75 miles
Highest Point: 213m
Total Ascent: 2136m
Total Descent: 2040m
Highest Point: 213m
Total Ascent: 2136m
Total Descent: 2040m
Day 2 - Tintagel to Tiverton
Travelling inland on the A3072, we take the undulating eastern route to Tiverton (a waypoint for many other LEJOG routes). We don't travel
through any large towns really, and we're hoping for a quiet run. Tiverton is getting close to Mike's territory, so hopefully he'll be able
to translate!
Distance: 75 Miles
Highest Point: 303m
Total Ascent: 1851m
Total Descent: 1890m
Highest Point: 303m
Total Ascent: 1851m
Total Descent: 1890m
Day 3 - Tiverton to Bristol
A nice mix of minor and major roads take us through Taunton, Bridgwater and Cheddar into Bristol (the home of Sustrans).
68 miles is a nice distance, so we should be able to take our time up some of the climbs and take it easy on the flat.
Distance: 72 Miles
Highest Point: 186m
Total Ascent: 1130m
Total Descent: 1194m
Highest Point: 186m
Total Ascent: 1130m
Total Descent: 1194m
Day 4 - Bristol to Inkberrow
The profile flattens as we head into the Midlands, towards Birmingham. We spend the day mainly snaking around the M5 on the A38.
After stopping for some lunch at Gloucester, we'll carry on to Tewkesbury, where we leave the A38 to head to Inkberrow on minor roads.
Distance: 67 Miles
Highest Point: 103m
Total Ascent: ~800m
Total Descent: ~700m
Highest Point: 103m
Total Ascent: ~800m
Total Descent: ~700m
Day 5 - Inkberrow to Congleton
We start the day heading through Redditch and then endure the fun of navigating our way through Birmingham. After many wrong turns (I'm sure)
we'll find our way out through Walsall and take the A34 north through Cannock and Stafford. Continuing on the A34, we head through the centre
of Stoke and join the A527 to Congleton.
Distance: 77 Miles
Highest Point: 206m
Total Ascent: ~1300m
Total Descent: ~1200m
Highest Point: 206m
Total Ascent: ~1300m
Total Descent: ~1200m
Day 6 - Congleton to Chapel-Le-Dale
Our route foolishly takes us straight through the centre of Manchester - we go in on the A34 and head out on the A56 - the bit between will be interesting!
The A56 takes us to Bury, where we hit the B6214 for (hopefully) a calm few miles. We hit the real minor roads after Accrington, taking us to our destination.
Distance: 82 Miles
Highest Point: 422m
Total Ascent: ~1750m
Total Descent: ~1600m
Highest Point: 422m
Total Ascent: ~1750m
Total Descent: ~1600m
Day 7 - Chapel-Le-Dale to Dumfries
Minor roads should provide a relaxing start among some great scenery as we head towards joining the A6 at Shap. We continue to run alongside the M6
on the A6 until we hit Carlisle centre for our lunch break. We then shadow the M6 up to Gretna, where we head west through Annan and into Dumfries.
Distance: 104 Miles
Highest Point: 324m
Total Ascent: 1762m
Total Descent: 2004m
Highest Point: 324m
Total Ascent: 1762m
Total Descent: 2004m
Day 8 - Dumfries to Paisley
Choosing to take a quiet start to the day, we avoid the A76 for a few miles before joining it after Carronbridge until a couple of
kilometres before Kilmarnock. We cut across to the A77 before heading through Barrhead to Paisley.
Distance: 83 Miles
Highest Point: 231m
Total Ascent: ~1800m
Total Descent: ~1800m
Highest Point: 231m
Total Ascent: ~1800m
Total Descent: ~1800m
Day 9 - Paisley to Fort William
At 102 miles, this will be the second longest day of the trip. As we head further north, the options for alternative roads become reduced,
so we stick with the A82 for almost the entire distance. We're hoping for a good road surface to make the miles easier. We're expecting
some spectactular scenery today, as we skirt the edges of Loch Lomond and Loch Linnhe.
Distance: 102 Miles
Highest Point: 352m
Total Ascent: 2585m
Total Descent: 2576m
Highest Point: 352m
Total Ascent: 2585m
Total Descent: 2576m
Day 10 - Fort William to Inverness
Day 10 presents us with a bit of a rest day after the hard slog of day 9. Sticking with the A82 all the way, we head Northeast alongside Loch Lochy
and Loch Ness. We're pinning our hopes on some clear weather to make the most of the views, and tourist-free traffic to make the ride as stress-free
as possible.
Distance: 65 Miles
Highest Point: 128m
Total Ascent:~2000m
Total Descent: ~2000m
Highest Point: 128m
Total Ascent:~2000m
Total Descent: ~2000m
Day 11 - Inverness to Tongue
We've chosen to head north to Tongue, rather than taking the more direct northeast route due to the anticipated nightmarish traffic of the A9.
The B9176 takes us throigh to the A836 which takes us by Loch Loyal straight into Tongue.
Distance: 86 Miles
Highest Point: 264m
Total Ascent: 1683m
Total Descent: 1641m
Highest Point: 264m
Total Ascent: 1683m
Total Descent: 1641m
Day 12 - Tongue to John O' Groats (to Wick)
The final day! We travel East across the North Coast of Scotland through Bettyhill and Thurso over to John O' Groats.
Provided we don't collapse, we'll then cycle the extra few miles South to drink Wick dry before spending the night there.
Distance: 79 Miles.
Highest Point: 154m
Total Ascent: ~1600m
Total Descent: ~1600m
Highest Point: 154m
Total Ascent: ~1600m
Total Descent: ~1600m