7th and Final LEJOG

Specific board for this popular undertaking.
geocycle
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Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 9:46am

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by geocycle »

cycleruk wrote:
puffin wrote:Hi cycleruk,
Yes to both questions, the lane looks beautiful in your photo.
Here's my route, do you have any thoughts?
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22969258
Best wishes


Tebay to Orton is a bit of a roller coaster as you will discover and there are 2 cafes in Orton. One attached to the chocolate factory and the other, Orton Scar Cafe, on the exit of the village.The last time I was in the Scar cafe I had Beetroot soup. (an acquired taste. :wink: )
I haven't cycled north from Orton (motorbiked a couple of times) so can't help thereon.

Hope the weather is good for you as it will be a testing day and enjoy the ride.
P.S. What is your previous days route.


I find the hill from Slaidburn quite tough although great downhills as suggested above. The A65 is a bit hairy but ok for 2 miles! In contrast the A683 is not bad at all and probably not worth taking the parallel route on an end to end. North of Orton is a big hill over the edge of Great Asby Scar then you into rolling Eden Valley pastureland. I was a bit disappointed with the chocolate factory cafe but Orton Scar cafe is good.
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RickH
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Location: Horwich, Lancs.

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by RickH »

puffin wrote:...I've found out that I'll cross the half way mark just before going under the M61 on Grimeford Lane WNW of Bolton, so there's a landmark I've never looked for before. Also, I have found that the big climb south of Tebay can be avoided simply by taking the next left turn...seriously, I've never noticed it.

Good Old Grimeford Lane! :D Despite having lived only a couple of miles away from there for nearly 35 years I don't think I've ridden that road more than a couple of times apart from doing JEJOG.

Looking at your route for day 7 a few comments:-

Coming out of Westhoughton (miles 18-20) as you come up Church St I'm not sure it is worth wiggling though the Wingates Industrial Estate (unless you want to stop for a bounce around at AirVault trampolining! :wink: ) rather than just going straight up to the A6 & turning left. My usual route coming up from Daisy Hill & through Westhoughton would be to turn Left onto Cricketers Way (where your mile 18 is) then take the 1st right onto Bolton Road, left onto Central Drive & right onto Church St, just up from where you start your wiggles, before joining the A6 at the end of Church St.

Have you any particular reason to not join the canal towpath where you cross over the Leeds-Liverpool canal at approx 27.5 miles, rather than the convoluted route you've set to join it about a mile further on? There is easy access to the canal on your right just as you come off the bridge & the path quality is as good as any you'll be riding on later.

Are you set on Slaidburn for that night's stop? When I did LEJOG - an organised trip - by a very hilly route (the standing joke became that if you were at a junction & weren't sure which way to go, if one way was uphill that would be the correct route!). One of our days was Waddington to Kirkby Stephen. 3 of us decided to give the climbs over to Ingleton a miss by heading up the Ribble valley before swinging round north west over towards Ingleton, going through Wigglesworth & Rathmell. Our route was several miles further than the rest of the party but, even though none of us were particularly quick cyclists, we were in Ingleton well before any of the others. Having been over in the Bentham area a few times since there are some good little lanes that keep you off the busy roads apart from a very short stretch, not much more than 1/4 mile, of the A65 near Settle where there doesn't seem to be a sensible alternative.

Once you've got to Slaidburn you're well into the lumpy bits & probably won't save much climbing by detouring more to the east. From Waddington to High Bentham you can save about 400m of ascent on the easterly route, but it adds about 6 or 7 miles to the distance, but rolling miles rather than big hills. But that would mean stopping somewhere near Bolton by Bowland to keep the days' distances similar.
Former member of the Cult of the Polystyrene Head Carbuncle.
puffin
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Joined: 15 Aug 2010, 3:29pm
Location: Bicester / Aylesbury

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by puffin »

cycleruk wrote:
puffin wrote:Hi cycleruk,
Yes to both questions, the lane looks beautiful in your photo.
Here's my route, do you have any thoughts?
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22969258
Best wishes

Hi, Nothing to add really. The route out of Slaidburn is a bit undulating, as is most of the days route.
There is a nice steady scenic climb from about mile 4.5 to 6 up the side of a valley. The last time I cycled over there it was an eclipse of the sun. Very eerie as we had just started the climb but by the time we reached the crest normal daylight had resumed. Over the top and my mate did 50mph on one of the downs but I chickened out at 45 mph. It's a bit twisty as you will see, and keep an eye out for the sheep.
On the left at mile 10 is the Great Stone. :- http://www.bowlandwalks.co.uk/index.php ... ourstones/ and from here is a 2 mile downhill into Bentham.
There is a cafe somewhere in Bentham but I have never seen it and there are shops if you want provisions.
At mile 16.5 you hit the A65, this is a busy road as it's a main route to the Lakes. It's wide enough at this section but take care.
You turn off the A65 at 18.5 but if you want a brew/butty then stay on the A65 until right turn onto the A683 and Devils Bridge.
Snack bar and toilets :- http://devilsbridgesnacks.com/?Kirkby_L ... Local_Area
There is a parallel route to the A683, on the west side of the river Lune, from Devils Bridge to NCN68 :- https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26826753
Distance is the same but not sure about elevation gain.
Tebay to Orton is a bit of a roller coaster as you will discover and there are 2 cafes in Orton. One attached to the chocolate factory and the other, Orton Scar Cafe, on the exit of the village.The last time I was in the Scar cafe I had Beetroot soup. (an acquired taste. :wink: )
I haven't cycled north from Orton (motorbiked a couple of times) so can't help thereon.

Hope the weather is good for you as it will be a testing day and enjoy the ride.
P.S. What is your previous days route.


Thanks for the tips and the reassurance, here's my route the day before
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22969116
puffin
Posts: 559
Joined: 15 Aug 2010, 3:29pm
Location: Bicester / Aylesbury

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by puffin »

RickH wrote:
puffin wrote:...I've found out that I'll cross the half way mark just before going under the M61 on Grimeford Lane WNW of Bolton, so there's a landmark I've never looked for before. Also, I have found that the big climb south of Tebay can be avoided simply by taking the next left turn...seriously, I've never noticed it.

Good Old Grimeford Lane! :D Despite having lived only a couple of miles away from there for nearly 35 years I don't think I've ridden that road more than a couple of times apart from doing JEJOG.

Looking at your route for day 7 a few comments:-

Coming out of Westhoughton (miles 18-20) as you come up Church St I'm not sure it is worth wiggling though the Wingates Industrial Estate (unless you want to stop for a bounce around at AirVault trampolining! :wink: ) rather than just going straight up to the A6 & turning left. My usual route coming up from Daisy Hill & through Westhoughton would be to turn Left onto Cricketers Way (where your mile 18 is) then take the 1st right onto Bolton Road, left onto Central Drive & right onto Church St, just up from where you start your wiggles, before joining the A6 at the end of Church St.

Have you any particular reason to not join the canal towpath where you cross over the Leeds-Liverpool canal at approx 27.5 miles, rather than the convoluted route you've set to join it about a mile further on? There is easy access to the canal on your right just as you come off the bridge & the path quality is as good as any you'll be riding on later.

Are you set on Slaidburn for that night's stop? When I did LEJOG - an organised trip - by a very hilly route (the standing joke became that if you were at a junction & weren't sure which way to go, if one way was uphill that would be the correct route!). One of our days was Waddington to Kirkby Stephen. 3 of us decided to give the climbs over to Ingleton a miss by heading up the Ribble valley before swinging round north west over towards Ingleton, going through Wigglesworth & Rathmell. Our route was several miles further than the rest of the party but, even though none of us were particularly quick cyclists, we were in Ingleton well before any of the others. Having been over in the Bentham area a few times since there are some good little lanes that keep you off the busy roads apart from a very short stretch, not much more than 1/4 mile, of the A65 near Settle where there doesn't seem to be a sensible alternative.

Once you've got to Slaidburn you're well into the lumpy bits & probably won't save much climbing by detouring more to the east. From Waddington to High Bentham you can save about 400m of ascent on the easterly route, but it adds about 6 or 7 miles to the distance, but rolling miles rather than big hills. But that would mean stopping somewhere near Bolton by Bowland to keep the days' distances similar.


Thanks for all the advice Rickh, I've cycled past that early access to the canal 5 times. Grrr. Thanks to for the simplification of Westhoughton, I always get lost trying that wiggle. I'm committed to Slaidburn now, but next time, the easterly route seems very attractive.
Thanks again
notlobgp14
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Location: Leyland Lancashire

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by notlobgp14 »

route ending 116

wow, you like your hills
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Mick F
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Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by Mick F »

notlobgp14 wrote:route ending 116
wow, you like your hills
That's flat.
Been there, ridden there, and it's flat in comparison to down here.

Route 202.
Try going through Rob's Passage rather than over the Cadbury Hills to Bickleigh.
Cadbury is hilly and tough.
Mick F. Cornwall
notlobgp14
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Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by notlobgp14 »

MickF I'll Escort puffin along the flat route, it certainly won't include Samlesbury Bottoms, Mellor, Ramsgreave and Cow Ark
puffin
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Location: Bicester / Aylesbury

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by puffin »

notlobgp14 wrote:route ending 116

wow, you like your hills


Have you seen the one ending 658??? :)
puffin
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Location: Bicester / Aylesbury

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by puffin »

Mick F wrote:
notlobgp14 wrote:route ending 116
wow, you like your hills
That's flat.
Been there, ridden there, and it's flat in comparison to down here.

Route 202.
Try going through Rob's Passage rather than over the Cadbury Hills to Bickleigh.
Cadbury is hilly and tough.


Thanks Mick, I'll look at that. Is there a breakdown of Rob's Passage on the forum?
puffin
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Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by puffin »

notlobgp14 wrote:MickF I'll Escort puffin along the flat route, it certainly won't include Samlesbury Bottoms, Mellor, Ramsgreave and Cow Ark


Lol! That day does have a bad end. I dread it every year.
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Mick F
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Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by Mick F »

puffin wrote:Thanks Mick, I'll look at that. Is there a breakdown of Rob's Passage on the forum?
Loads of them.
I nicknamed it Rob's Passage after a chap called Rob S on here first described it. Not seen Rob on here for years and years.

Heading North:
Head out of Crediton on the A3072 for Bickleigh, but take the first right after leaving the town. There's a couple of thatched cottages at the junction.

Take the back road past the parkland, and then to Thorveton and out to the A395 turning left for Bickleigh.

Rob's Passage is especially important heading South as the A3072 route Bickleigh/Crediton takes you up Bickleigh Hill, and it's a pig to climb.

Screen Shot 2018-02-14 at 10.05.53.png
Mick F. Cornwall
puffin
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Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by puffin »

Thanks Mick, that's brilliant. My route was 66.1 miles + 4662, now its 70.0 miles + 4354, much more to my liking. Thanks again.
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RickH
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Location: Horwich, Lancs.

Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by RickH »

notlobgp14 wrote:MickF I'll Escort puffin along the flat route, it certainly won't include Samlesbury Bottoms, Mellor, Ramsgreave and Cow Ark

The route through Salmesbury Bottoms, Mellor & Ramsgreave was always one of my favourite routes to Whalley. In my view, the only really bad climb is the short, steep bit out of the bottom of, the aptly named, Salmesbury Bottoms.

For reference for the "8th & final LEJOG", if you want to avoid hills don't veer east (I know I've already suggested going east of Slaidburn) but follow, at least approximately, route 6 which follows minor roads along a similar corridor to the M6 & West Coast rail line along the edge of the hills.
Former member of the Cult of the Polystyrene Head Carbuncle.
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Mick F
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Re: 7th and Final LEJOG

Post by Mick F »

Mick F wrote:
notlobgp14 wrote:route ending 116
wow, you like your hills
That's flat.
Been there, ridden there, and it's flat in comparison to down here.

notlobgp14 wrote:MickF I'll Escort puffin along the flat route, it certainly won't include Samlesbury Bottoms, Mellor, Ramsgreave and Cow Ark
How many feet per mile?

3,600ft of ascent in 61 miles.
That is flat at 59ft per mile.

Try riding round here.
100ft per mile is normal.
Mick F. Cornwall
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