Cycling UK Forum

Hello everyone. I've read many many posts on this forum and have learned a lot. Thank you to all contributors!

I'm about to undertake a Lejog beginning at the end of May. I have about 20 days available and plan to stay with friends, wild camp, and occasionally hotel.

I would be grateful for any comments on my planned route. I plan to visit friends in Bodmin, Cullompton, Chilcompton and Liverpool and so have included these places on my route. I might also visit my cousin in Kendal but I'm concerned that the Lake District will be crazily traffic bound in June. Also, I can't get to Penzance until late in the evening and so I will have to start from there and go to Lands End and then double back.

Heres my route - many thanks in advance:

http://cycle.travel/map/journey/63539

Mick F will tell you the best way to go in Cornwall and where the best pasty shops are!!

Question.

I know your route and the roads here.
You come up and pass Crowdy Reservoir and then turn across Davidstow Moor - old RAF air station - but turn north to join the road to north of Launceston.

Hilly from the moor, down across the river, then up again.

Do this instead
You have to go on the A395 for a few miles, but it's much easier:

Edit to add:
............. turn east onto the A395 at Davidstow. Follow this through Hallworthy and over Wilsey Down and find a left turn onto minor roads to go through Tresmeer and Egloskerry. This road will take you to St Stephens just north of Launceston.

As you come out by the church, turn right onto the A388 (staggered junction) then immediately left and drop down into Newport at a mini roundabout opposite a Spar shop. Turn left up the hill a short way, then right. (east)

This road will take you to the north of Launceston on a fairly level road (Launceston town is high up on a hill with a Norman castle to your right). Pop out at a T junction and go right, following this to pop out onto the Old A30 by Launceston rugby ground and turn left.

Cross Polson Bridge over the border into Devon, and keep going.

Go through Lifton Down, Lifton, Tinhay, Portgate, Lewdown, Combebow, past Bridestowe, and climb up to nearly 1,000ft at Sourton where you turn left onto the A386 at a T junction.

Go under the A30 dual carriageway and follow the road past the services and Little Chef etc. Do not go onto the A30 despite the signpost for Okehampton.

Follow the A386 for less than a mile and see a small crossroads. Turn right signposted Meldon. This little road goes down hill and bends to the left and becomes an almost disused part of the Old A30, pop out onto the Old A30 proper, bearing left, and head into Okehampton town.

You are now about 100miles from LE and where most folk stop for their first night.

If you visited your cousin in Kendal it would make your trip to Penrith a lot simpler. But you would miss out on a lot of hills and scenery.

Mick - thank you for your suggestions. Ive updated my route as best I can but cycle.travel is putting up a strong fight around Merton. I'll have to fiddle with it a bit more I think. I've read a lot of your posts as I've researched my route and I can see that the lejog community has a lot to thank you for. I appreciate your helpfulness.

Paulatic - Thank you for your input. I'm mostly concerned about traffic in the Lakes. Its been about 40 years since I've been there and it was crowded then.

EverRed wrote:I've read a lot of your posts as I've researched my route and I can see that the lejog community has a lot to thank you for. I appreciate your helpfulness.

It's my pleasure.

No point in having knowledge if you don't share it.

I don't count Kendal as being in the Lakes, more as on the edge.
There are back lanes into the town and going out either use the A6 to Shap or NCN 70 to rejoin your original route.
Traffic going into the Lakes will bypass Kendal and other main traffic will be on the M6 going to Penrith.
Yes Kendal is busy but so is any town nowadays.

I used the A6 most of the way from Preston to Penrith to avoid the Lakes last summer, and the traffic was light. I took a small diversion to avoid busy A590 - see aatached link, but ignore the loop at mile 30 - just go straight across at the junction with A65.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27192456

Mick F,

You've been very helpful reviewing proposed cycle routes and I wonder if you could comment on my intended use of the Cicerone End to End Cycle Route. You have also offered to provide your recommended route for the entire ride, can you do so if you feel it is preferable to the Cicerone route?

Thanks.

Ken J.

Hi Ken, and welcome to the forum!

I've not studied the Cirerone Route to be honest. From what I make out from what I've seen, they send you over Dartmoor.
Sorry, I would never agree to send someone over Dartmoor on an End2End as it's too tough. If you want to "do" Dartmoor, come down and stay over for a weekend, and you can do the whole lot as a separate thing rather than tiring you out on only your second day from LE.

It's a long way. In the region of 900miles. Even doing 80miles a day, it'll take you the best part of a fortnight, so in my opinion, you should make it as easy as you can. If there are places you want to visit and ride through, do it as a separate thing .......... like Dartmoor.

I spent some time writing out in detail the instructions but it's a bit wordy. It would be better if I got off my bum and found an online mapping program that I like so I can draw it out and give a link. I had one done, but BikeHikeUK stopped hosting links, so I then went to BikeRouteToaster and transferred them over, but I think even that's defunct now. So I'll need to start again with a new map.

Rather than post the whole thing on one post, I'll do it in chapters.
Chapter One now, and subsequent chapters tomorrow and onwards.

You’ll need a good road atlas to follow my instructions.

Basic route is:
LE, Okehampton, Crediton, Tiverton, Taunton, Bridgwater, Bristol

Severn Bridge, Monmouth, Hereford, Leominster
- OR -
Gloucester, Ledbury, Leominster

Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Warrington, Wigan, Euxton, Preston
Garstang. Lancaster, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle

Lockerbie, Moffat, Edinburgh
- OR -
Langholm, Hawick, Galashiels, Edinburgh

Perth, Pitlochry, Inverness, Dingwall, Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, Wick, JOG.



Chapter One

From LE follow the A30 to Penzance.
You can either go through the town centre or follow the bypass round to the north of the town. Either way, you end up on a roundabout on the A30 and follow this to another big roundabout where you can bear left for Hayle.

Go through the centre of Hayle and come out at another A30 roundabout. Take the second exit signposted Connor Downs. This is the Old A30 and you’ll be getting on and off that until you reach Okehampton.

Go over the Downs, and keep going and through Camborne town centre and into Redruth town centre following the old roads and the route of the Old A30. After Redruth, head for Scorrier and Blackwater again on the Old A30.

At the other end of Blackwater, you come to a roundabout at Three Burrows. Get on the A30. It’s single carriageway mainly and ok to cycle on. In the future, they are going to dual this stretch and I’m going to have to sort out a better cycling route!

You could turn off at Three Burrows onto the A3075 towards Newquay, but I think that’s taking you out of your way. Some folk have gone that way, then worked their way east back along the A392 through Quintrell Downs to pick up my described route.

Follow the A30 to Zelah - turn off the main road and go through the village Old A30 - and out again for a short time back on the A30 turning off left through St Newlyn East.

Cross the A3058 at Gummow’s Shop and cross the A392 at White Cross and go through St Columb Major. At the other end, pop out onto the A39 and head north and this will take you to Wadebridge. You can go down through the town, or stay up on the main road, but either way you will end up north of the town on the A39 heading for Camelford.

A few miles north of Camelford, turn east onto the A395 at Davidstow. Follow this through Hallworthy and over Wilsey Down and find a left turn onto minor roads to go through Tresmeer and Egloskerry. This road will take you to St Stephens just north of Launceston.

As you come out by the church, turn right onto the A388 (staggered junction) then immediately left and drop down into Newport at a mini roundabout opposite a Spar shop. Turn left up the hill a short way, then right. (east)

This road will take you to the north of Launceston on a fairly level road (Launceston town is high up on a hill with a Norman castle to your right). Pop out at a T junction and go right, following this to pop out onto the Old A30 by Launceston rugby ground and turn left.

Cross Polson Bridge over the border into Devon, and keep going.

Go through Lifton Down, Lifton, Tinhay, Portgate, Lewdown, Combebow, past Bridestowe, and climb up to nearly 1,000ft at Sourton where you turn left onto the A386 at a T junction.

Go under the A30 dual carriageway and follow the road past the services and Little Chef etc. Do not go onto the A30 despite the signpost for Okehampton.

Follow the A386 for less than a mile and see a small crossroads. Turn right signposted Meldon. This little road goes down hill and bends to the left and becomes an almost disused part of the Old A30, pop out onto the Old A30 proper, bearing left, and head into Okehampton town.

You are now about 100miles from LE and where most folk stop for their first night.

Thanks Mick, duly copied and pasted and printed.

My ride will be in September so if you are kind enough to continue through the stages, I will be most grateful.

By the way, I am a seasoned long distance cyclists so 120 - 130 miles a day (randonneuring) is the plan with wild camping and some B&B's or inexpensive hotels to remove the stink and wash some clothing every now and then.

However, I will endorse your philosophy of taking the time to smell the roses but as a solo rider used to riding long distances sans company, I know from experience that I will become fidgetty if I don't make the most of each day - and if I stop to look at the sights I will rue the lack of progress towards the end goal.

I actually do better backpacking where the progress is naturally slower and one can 'look around' whilst still on the move. But alas, that will not be the case on the bike dodging traffic and the need to 'get out of the way' and the journey done with.

Ken J.

Mick F - I used virtually all of your route via Wye Valley, with a detour to avoid Bristol. Scroll through following link for digital format of route on a day by day basis - will hopefully save you recreating it from scratch!

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=121231

Shadwell,

I'll take a look at that too, but 16 days?

Nice leisurely ride and no doubt the way it should be ridden - one day.

Ken J.

You can always combine the days and do it in 8...or even 4!!

Hi guys and good evening!
Glad to be of service!

Here's Chapter Two and Three as a double whammy.

Chapter Two.

Pass through Okehampton town centre through the main junction and up the hill to a left turn at some traffic lights. Go down to a small roundabout and take the second exit up hill. This is the B3215 Appledore Hill.

Keep going, and it the road becomes the A3072 through Bow village and you come out at Copplestone onto the A377 to Crediton and go straight into the town.

At the far end of the town centre, you turn left onto the A3072 again, and this is where some folk go wrong.

If you stay on the A3072, it takes you to Bickleigh to join the A396 for Tiverton, but it’s a hilly road over the Cadbury Hills but there’s an easier route.

This is nicknamed “Rob’s Passage” after a chap from Plymouth called Rob described it to me.

As you leave Crediton on the A3072, the road drops down round a long righthander and passes over a little bridge and between two cottages. Turn right at these cottages, then a short while later, right again and head through Thorverton village. Various little lanes will get you there, all pretty much of a muchness.

Other side of Thorverton you cross the river and turn left at a big pub onto the A396 for Bickleigh. Cross the river over the narrow bridge and carry on to Tiverton.

Bear right at a roundabout under a footbridge still on the A396, and right at the next one onto a minor road past Blundell’s School (posh private skool) and go through Harberton and Sampford Peverell to the A361 dual carriageway. You cross this road over a flyover and sort of cloverleaf and wind back on yourself.

The road is fast and busy, but wide, and before you get off the slipway, you can ride along a layby, and by the time you get to the end of it, you reach a busy roundabout. Total distance on the dual carriageway A361 is only half a mile.

Head straight across the roundabout. It’s a bit fast, but it’s fine if you get a move on. If you have difficulty, get off and cross the road on foot. It’s the M5 Junction 27, so can be a bit hectic.

Straight on is what you want, and it’s the A38. Not too busy because the big traffic is on the M5. Head north for Wellington and turn off through the town centre as it’s the easiest route.

Other end of the town, join the A38 again and head for Taunton. There’s a few different routes you could take through the middle of Taunton, but personally I just follow the signposts for A38 Bridgwater and Bristol.

Continue on the A38 north for Bridgwater and you come out at a crossroads by Morrisons. Turn right at the traffic lights and head north. From Bridgwater, it is 15miles of completely flat road!

Trouble is, there’s a hill at the end of the 15miles, and it’s narrow and busy. I have gone onto the pavement up the hill as it’s away from the narrow lanes of a dual carriageway section.

Carry on to Churchill and turn off left onto the B3133 for Congresbury and join the A370 for Bristol via Flax Burton and Long Ashton.

Join the A3029 at Ashton Gate and cross the River Avon onto the busy A4. Go under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and through a tunnel, then off right up a steep hill to go past Bristol Zoo.

Chapter Three.

At this point, it’s worth stating that after going past Bristol Zoo, you can head out over the Severn Bridge and up the Wye Valley.

From the Zoo, you want to head north-west-ish to Westbury on Trym on the A4018 and minor roads for Easter Compton and Pilning to join the A403 for Aust.

At Aust - mainly just a service area for the M4 - you can find the pedestrian/cycle way over the Severn Bridge. Cross the bridge, and go north up the A466 through the Wye Valley and Tintern, Llandogo, to Monmouth.

Go through the town, staying on the A466 keeping north to join the A49 south of Hereford.
Straight through Hereford to Leominster.

If you don’t want to cross the Severn, head out past Bristol Zoo for Filton on the A38.

Stay on the A38, it is busy near Bristol, but gets quieter as you go north because the heavy through traffic is on the M5.

Keep going to Gloucester. The roads round Gloucester are a bit hectic, but not too bad, you just have to keep an eye on the traffic and know where you are going.

You need to head NW onto the A417 for Hartpury and Ledbury.

From Ledbury, you need the A438 and the A417 for Hope Under Dinmore to join the A49 for Leominster.

Personally, I reckon that the Gloucester route is easier and better than the Wye Valley route as it’s shorter and flatter. The Severn Bridge route is good for the achievement of riding over the suspension bridge, but it’s a little further.

Which ever route you have taken to Leominster, head north up the A49 to Ludlow.

Go through the town, but be aware of the steep hills and the oneway streets. It’s a lovely old town and well worth resting at a cafe in the town centre.

Keep going up the A49 past Onibury and cross the railway level crossing, and head for Church Stretton. Turn off at Little Stretton over the railway onto the Old A49 through Church Stretton and All Stretton, then back onto the A49 for Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury town is approached from the south across a big roundabout crossing the A5. Don’t take the A5 bypass but head straight across northwards into the city. Going north, look for signposts for Whitchurch A5191 and then back onto the A49 at Battlefield.

A better more quiet route instead of the busy A49, is to take the A528 Ellesmere Road through Albrighton to Harmer Hill. Straight on, the road turns into the B5476 and aim for Wem. Carry on on the B5476 via Tilstock to Whitchurch.

Go straight into Whitchurch rather than the modern A41 ring road, joining the A49 beyond the town heading for Tarporley and Warrington. Go through Tarporley town centre and rejoin the A49 into Warrington.

I was brought up round here!

Stay on the A49 straight through Warrington and Newton le Willows but you have to cross the M62 junction 9 into Winwick. It’s busy but there are traffic lights, so keep in lane and follow the traffic onto the A49 north to Ashton in Makerfield.

Continue on the A49 into Wigan (went to school there!) and follow the A49 for Standish (lived there!) Straight on through the town continuing north on the A49 through Euxton (pronounced X-ton) and Bamber Bridge and Walton le Dale into Preston crossing the River Ribble on the A6.

Head straight through the city on the A6. There are quieter routes, but I don’t know them, and the A6 route was fine as far as I was concerned.