Cycling UK Forum

Hi all, I am planning a 10 day LEJOG in September and would really appreciate it if any locals or experienced end to enders could give my route the once over. I have added in trips to Lizard and Dunnet for the full South-North trip too

1 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22054820
2 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11808965 (will have a plan B around Dartmoor if bad weather)
3 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11816998
4 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11818242
5 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11818602
6 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11818785
7 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11818892
8 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11819131
9 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/11819205
10 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22054838

I will probably change the starts/finishes of each day slightly based on accommodation, but if anyone has any pointers on where this route might be improved I'd appreciate it.

I'm trying to balance getting it in to 10 days, whilst not doing too many main roads and getting some nice scenery in


many thanks

Ben

Hi,
I like the way you are going to the lizard...............Dartmoor is not that bad, views are worth the effort, summertime its just showers, don't be put off.
And after two days its all plain sailing with little climbing

Day 7 at 57.2 miles, "continue on to the A74(M)."
Maybe not!

On Day 3 you are missing Wells and Glastonbury town centres I would do them both, they are both charming and Wells Cathedral is beautiful also both offer a chance for a coffee stop

You are taking the old Bristol road from Wells over the Mendip this is a quiet road but one of the toughest routes over. I live 10 miles from here so know these roads well

One option would be to go west after Wells through Wedmore and up Cheddar Gorge which is an iconic climb - steep at the bottom but much easier than your current choice, or just stay on the a39 if you are in a hurry

Chew Magna is nice and there are coffee stop options- google Salt and Malt on Chew Valley Lake

There are lots of ways over the Seven Bridge I wouldn't do your route. I grew up in Bristol and often cycle over to Wales. Look into the Bristol to Bath cycle path which you could pick up at Wellow near Radstock and take through the two tunnels to Bath (longest dedicated cycle tunnel in Britain) then follow the Path to Coalpit Heath (turn off main path at Mangotsfield/Shortwood Station) and follow quiet lanes to Tockington and Aust where you join the Bridge

I'm happy to help with Day 3 if you need it. I'm doing my 3rd LeJoG in August and know this part of the route well

I can probably also help with Day 4

I've got a 9 and 5 day route on ridewithgps

Day 7: why go round by Longtown? Just head straight to Gretna, loads of advice on here.
Day 7 : why go via Moffat and then out by the Greenhillstairs? Unless you really enjoy climbing hills even if you go to Moffat to get food I'd come back out and pick up route 74 again from Beattock
Day 6 : if you are fed up of roads when you get to Dalston 145k there is a cycleway right into centre of Carlisle. Runs beside river Caldew and it's tarred and quite a pleasant ride with very few people on it when I've used it.

On your final day I would either go via The Crask Inn /Altnaharra or up the A9

I've done both and although you hear a lot of people advising against the A9 once you get past the busy bit it's a stunning run in

This year I'll make the decision on the day based on the weather. If it's bad on stay on the A9

Day 3 when you get over the Bridge either go via Tintern or Tutshill/ St Braviels both stunning - I do a route where I go out on one and back on the other

Hi,

NATURAL ANKLING wrote:Hi,
I like the way you are going to the lizard...............Dartmoor is not that bad, views are worth the effort, summertime its just showers, don't be put off.
And after two days its all plain sailing with little climbing

I think I am correct in saying that at 1490 feet the hill above Warren House Inn on Dartmoor will be your highest elevation on the whole trip? so better not miss that

Day 3, worth looking at a route going through Wedmore then Axbridge. Here you can used the shoot shelve tunnel to get under the Mendips. Then follow the strawberry line to Clevedon. After that it's an easy route following the avon cycleway to the avon bridge.

Day 2, after Exeter I would stick to the Cullumpton road til Westcott then head across through Kentisbeare and on to Culmstock. Apart from having a decent coffee shop at Culmstock the climb you've picked up onto the Blackdowns is a killer.

Day 4 I'd go via Wentnor Pulverbatch Longden and HookaGate into Shrewsbury - quieter road than the A488, though it may be a little hillier. Quickest route would be A49 up through shropshire of course, but would be rather grim...

honesty wrote:Day 3, worth looking at a route going through Wedmore then Axbridge. Here you can used the shoot shelve tunnel to get under the Mendips. Then follow the strawberry line to Clevedon. After that it's an easy route following the avon cycleway to the avon bridge.

That's what I'd do, but it's arguable that Chew Lake, Ashton Court and the Clifton Suspension Bridge (from below) are worth seeing. The current route does seem to go around in circles after crossing the Avon, though.

I feel it's not the most fun to ride through the Avonmouth industrial area, though. The carriageway can be rather busy with lorries rushing to make their deadlines or get off to a flying start, the curves of the mouths of the side roads and site accesses are wide and the cycle track only has priority over a couple of them. It's not like you can see the river much from there, either. The cycle route slightly inland may be better, although I've never ridden that.

honesty wrote:Day 3, worth looking at a route going through Wedmore then Axbridge. Here you can used the shoot shelve tunnel to get under the Mendips. Then follow the strawberry line to Clevedon. After that it's an easy route following the avon cycleway to the avon bridge.

Shoot Shelve Tunnel is new to me. Where does it start and finish?

mnichols wrote:

honesty wrote:Day 3, worth looking at a route going through Wedmore then Axbridge. Here you can used the shoot shelve tunnel to get under the Mendips. Then follow the strawberry line to Clevedon. After that it's an easy route following the avon cycleway to the avon bridge.

Shoot Shelve Tunnel is new to me. Where does it start and finish?

Shute shelve that should be. Poor spelling on my part. It's just above Axbridge and goes through the hill to Didcot.

Day 3

Have a look at this route from September 2015 when I rode with a girl doing LEJog solo, she is now doing a slightly longer ride called Ever East where her and her partner are basically riding in an easterly direction till they get back to the UK.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/892301682