Cycling UK Forum

Hi, thanks to all for the posts. I will try going via Trinafour (looks like nice scenery if the weather is good). Will report back on it and the state of the NCN 7 when I get back (late August).

Hi, I have just finished planning my route for my LEJOG starting 7th August this year. You can see my planned route on Komoot at https://www.komoot.com/user/41710246836 ... nding=true
(some bits in Scotland overlap as I may be flexible with stopping points as I am camping, so not all those stages are as long as they appear).

It is mostly following the Cicerone/Nick Mitchell route until Loch Lomond, then the Sustrans route for the rest. Would love some comments/advice.

In particular :

i) Day one (my stage 01 on my Komoot page) I was planning to go via Mousehole as I want to see it again, but I reckon it will be a tougher route than the usual Cicerone route.

ii) my stage 02 on Komoot: I want to avoid the "busy" (according to Cicerone book) A386 out of Plymouth to Yelverton, so am thinking of following NCN 27 which is a bit East of A386 but looks much nicer even if it adds a couple of km. Can anyone else comment on this?

iii) my stage 12 I have identified two possible routes from Loch Tay to Aviemore direction. The NCN7 goes via Pitlochry, but there is a much shorter route (but with three more steep peaks) via Trinafour, I have received some comments on that at viewtopic.php?f=22&t=122686 which makes the shorter route sound good, if a little tough on a bad day.

Would also like to hear from anyone that has been using Komoot. I have found it fantastic for some shorter (2 or 4 day) tours as it both records and gives turn-by-turn navigation while allowing the phone battery to last all day. I am planning to use it all the way for my LEJOG with a solar panel strapped to the rear panniers to keep a battery charged ....

All the best,

Martin

Thanks for the ideas, I hadn't realised a chemist might stock it, useful in case I get stuck even it is expensive. One thing I note is that the bioethanol I have been buying recently for the trangia seems to burn much cleaner than the meths I had bought in the past (no soot on the bottom etc). I also note that "decorators meths" from places like Wilko has a lower concentration of ethanol (they say it could be as little as 60% on the information sheet!). Also had not thought about surgical spirit, just looked up the composition found in one shop, it seems to be the same ethanol content as decorators meths, could be as little as 60%.

Hi,

This summer I plan to do Land's End to John o'Groats camping all the way and cooking on a trangia. It will be the first time I will have gone long enough with a trangia on a bike to use more than 1L of fuel. I am wondering where in the UK are the places to get ethanol, bioethanol or meths while touring? Would appreciate a list from people where they get it. Of course, there is the usual Go Outdoors, B&Q (although they only seem to have 2L) etc, but I was planning on sticking clear of retail parks on my route. I have looked up other regular chain stores and it seems even shops like Millets do not seem to stock it. Are there particular common shops or garage franchises that stock 1L bottles? I know some larger campsites stock it but am staying in smaller sites or wild camping so that that is not likely to be an option.

I know there are other cooking options, but I am a long-term trangia lover and do not want to buy a different stove (just preempting the replies that suggest buying X-stove that runs on Y-fuel).

Looking forward to a list,

Martin

Hi,

Just planning my first LEJOG for this summer. I am planning on following NCN 7 for most of the Glasgow to Inverness section. There is one bit where I was thinking of taking a "shortcut." The shorter route I was thinking of means turning left on to the B846 after leaving Loch Tay (ie leaving the NCN 7) and following the B846 North over what looks like 3 highish peaks (East of Schiehallion). The B846 passes just West of Loch Trummel and to one of the three peaks I mentioned at Trinafour with some very steep sections (15% in places) and then following a minor road almost due north from Trinafour to rejoin the NCN 7 a few km before Loch Garry (marked as Dalnacardoch Lodge on OS map). I think this cuts off about 30km of distance but adds about 250m of climbing (over three peaks) compared to following the NCN 7 via Pitlochry.

Just wondered if anyone else has done this route (even better anyone that has done both?) and can give advice. I will be travelling with 700x38c tyres (triple crankset so have a low gear), about 20kg of luggage including camping gear, but not afraid of a bit of climbing.

Also, can anyone else comment on the state of the NCN 7 following the old A9, I have heard various stories that make is sound poor.

Martin