Hi,
I plan on doing LEJOG in just a few days and haven't got a route sorted yet! At this point it's just stressful because I'm now very last minute and there are so many options. I think I'm just going to focus on getting into Cheshire where I aim to stop at my parents on day 5. There are some quiet NCN routes that google maps wants to take me though around Worcester and then on past Nantwich to Little Leigh (parents') but I don't think the canal paths etc will be good using 25mm tyres on long rides, so any advice would be appreciated there. Here are some links to what I have so far and I welcome any comments. Thank you! I should mention I'm doing this solo, unsupported and camping so I'll be carrying a bit of a load.
http://maplorer.com/permalink.php?file= ... 42_b_day-1
http://maplorer.com/permalink.php?file= ... 21_b_day-2
http://maplorer.com/permalink.php?file= ... 40_b_day-3
http://maplorer.com/permalink.php?file= ... 15_u_day-4
Some route advice please
Re: Some route advice please
Since nobody else has come to your rescue.
Don't despair, there's no reason why you can't just roll up at Land's End with a road atlas and wing it from there. It wouldn't be my approach but you're cutting it a bit fine to be only now thinking about planning a route.
Do you have a particular reason for choosing maplorer.com? Those links you provide don't tell us a lot. This site is a better option in my view. It is one of the best for cycle friendly routes. Depending on how you intend to navigate, you can download routes in various file formats or as a pdf. Have a play and see how you get on and maybe post the results on here for others to pass comment.
Don't despair, there's no reason why you can't just roll up at Land's End with a road atlas and wing it from there. It wouldn't be my approach but you're cutting it a bit fine to be only now thinking about planning a route.
Do you have a particular reason for choosing maplorer.com? Those links you provide don't tell us a lot. This site is a better option in my view. It is one of the best for cycle friendly routes. Depending on how you intend to navigate, you can download routes in various file formats or as a pdf. Have a play and see how you get on and maybe post the results on here for others to pass comment.
Re: Some route advice please
Hi Norman,
Thanks for your reply and link to the website. I'd only used maplorer after a Google search for a way to display maps of gpx files. I've used the site you suggested to create a quick 'default' route that I can fall back on, which seems to follow a lot of what I had loosely planned anyway and avoids main roads where possible.
I'm still very undecided on some parts, for example - Wye valley or not, east of Scotland to avoid A82 or west and try to see some Lochs and Glen Coe etc, or even use ferry crossings. But if I fancy a particular route on the day I can always consult the map and wing it as you've said.
Thanks again. I think I was just getting myself wound up because I couldn't commit to any decisions, but I'm starting to just accept it and think I'll just have to go with the flow a little more!
Leon
Thanks for your reply and link to the website. I'd only used maplorer after a Google search for a way to display maps of gpx files. I've used the site you suggested to create a quick 'default' route that I can fall back on, which seems to follow a lot of what I had loosely planned anyway and avoids main roads where possible.
I'm still very undecided on some parts, for example - Wye valley or not, east of Scotland to avoid A82 or west and try to see some Lochs and Glen Coe etc, or even use ferry crossings. But if I fancy a particular route on the day I can always consult the map and wing it as you've said.
Thanks again. I think I was just getting myself wound up because I couldn't commit to any decisions, but I'm starting to just accept it and think I'll just have to go with the flow a little more!
Leon
Re: Some route advice please
Hi Leon, and welcome to the forum.
Basically, head out of LE towards Penzance.
It's a busy little town, so you can stay on the bypass or go through the middle. Take your pick.
Quietish way out is to follow the coast via Marazion, but there is still a big roundabout to negotiate.
You need to follow a general route to get going.
From Penzance, you need Hayle then Camborne and Redruth, then try to keep northish rather than Truro and southish. The main stumbling block is Bodmin Moor because there's no route across. You need to go round it. Head north round it is my advice.
Camelford and the A39 is ok but not good, though you have little choice. Head along the A395 and turn off via Egloskerry to Launceston then the Old A30 via Polson, Lifton, Bridestowe, and out to Okehampton. From there head for Crediton.
You could go via Truro and Tavistock and the southern route, but the roads are busier. Some folk want to cycle over Dartmoor, but I think they're mad.
If you want to cycle on Dartmoor, come down and make a separate trip out of it. You have far enough to go to JOG without making it difficult for yourself.
Hope that helps.
Basically, head out of LE towards Penzance.
It's a busy little town, so you can stay on the bypass or go through the middle. Take your pick.
Quietish way out is to follow the coast via Marazion, but there is still a big roundabout to negotiate.
You need to follow a general route to get going.
From Penzance, you need Hayle then Camborne and Redruth, then try to keep northish rather than Truro and southish. The main stumbling block is Bodmin Moor because there's no route across. You need to go round it. Head north round it is my advice.
Camelford and the A39 is ok but not good, though you have little choice. Head along the A395 and turn off via Egloskerry to Launceston then the Old A30 via Polson, Lifton, Bridestowe, and out to Okehampton. From there head for Crediton.
You could go via Truro and Tavistock and the southern route, but the roads are busier. Some folk want to cycle over Dartmoor, but I think they're mad.
If you want to cycle on Dartmoor, come down and make a separate trip out of it. You have far enough to go to JOG without making it difficult for yourself.
Hope that helps.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Some route advice please
The Wye valley is very nice but the route through Gloucester, to the east of the Severn, is flatter I think. One variation of the Wye valley route from Chepstow is to head through the Forest of Dean past Symond's Yat and Ross-on-Wye.
I rode a LEJOG in late May /early June and the A82 wasn't too busy. We joined it at Crianlarich, via Callander and the A84/A85. This avoids the section along the shores of Loch Lomond and in particular that between Tarbet and Ardlui, which is the really unpleasant bit in my view. I enjoyed the ride over Rannoch Moor and the descent of Glen Coe . Similarly we tackled the first section of the Great Glen, between Fort William and Fort Augustus, early on a Sunday morning before the traffic had built up. From Fort Augustus to Inverness I recommend the old military road on the south side of the Loch. If I do it again I will probably use the route through Arran and Kintyre.
I rode a LEJOG in late May /early June and the A82 wasn't too busy. We joined it at Crianlarich, via Callander and the A84/A85. This avoids the section along the shores of Loch Lomond and in particular that between Tarbet and Ardlui, which is the really unpleasant bit in my view. I enjoyed the ride over Rannoch Moor and the descent of Glen Coe . Similarly we tackled the first section of the Great Glen, between Fort William and Fort Augustus, early on a Sunday morning before the traffic had built up. From Fort Augustus to Inverness I recommend the old military road on the south side of the Loch. If I do it again I will probably use the route through Arran and Kintyre.
Last edited by Norman H on 21 Jul 2016, 11:26pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Some route advice please
Hi I used the canal system when I did a JOGLE in November last year. Some of it was great, such as Carnforth to Lancaster, but the canals further south were a bit grim - Trent & Mersey especially. The towpaths were generally good as you reached urban areas. The Bridgewater Canal wasn't too bad. It was all bikable though slow going and I used a Dawes Galaxy bike and standard tyres.
Re: Some route advice please
I did JoG to Carnforth last year, still got all my route notes if you've got an email address I could send them - written on a Mac, so might not open 100% if you are using a pc
Print out on A4 they are small bits of cut and paste map with guidance notes, you'll just need to reverse them, or just rewrite them in reverse - used minor roads and NCN routes for most of it
Print out on A4 they are small bits of cut and paste map with guidance notes, you'll just need to reverse them, or just rewrite them in reverse - used minor roads and NCN routes for most of it
Re: Some route advice please
Thanks all for the helpful advice. Aaron, I have messaged you my email address.
Re: Some route advice please
Mick F wrote:Hi Leon, and welcome to the forum.
Basically, head out of LE towards Penzance.
It's a busy little town, so you can stay on the bypass or go through the middle. Take your pick.
Quietish way out is to follow the coast via Marazion, but there is still a big roundabout to negotiate.
You can avoid the roundabout by picking up the cycle route from Penzance station. It is closed at the eastern end but there's an escape route which takes you back onto the road in Longrock but it avoids the big roundabout on the A30. Take the road to Marazion (fine views of St Michaels Mount) and then pick up route 3 which will take you to Hayle.
Another alternative when leaving LE is to follow the B3306 from Sennen to St Just and Zennor to St Ives, then go via Carbis Bay to Hayle. This road is a bit lumpy in places, though.
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com