Getting home from John O'Groats

[rareposter]

There's a couple of "bike taxi" services in that area specifically for LEJOG riders:
http://www.johnogroatsbiketransport.co.uk/
http://www.highlandcycletransport.co.uk/

They'll take you/your bike to nearby stations, airports etc. Wick Airport does flights to Edinburgh (although obviously you'll need to acquire a bike box from somewhere or get the bike separately couriered). There's a car hire place at Wick Airport too which will do one-way hires (price depending on what the car is and how long you want it for plus there's usually a one-way surcharge).

Stations in Thurso, Wick and obviously Inverness.

All depends on how much time, luggage and money you've got as to which method works best for you!

[cycleruk]

One way car hire sounds interesting?

[rareposter]

One way car hire sounds interesting?

Most car hire companies do it - they may not always advertise it since its a massive hassle for them to then return the cars to where they need to be and there's usually a "one-way surcharge" to accommodate this so it can be expensive.

Someone I know who's doing LEJOG later this year has just booked a flight from Inverness to Luton for £12 (that's for him, the bike is being couriered). Worth looking - Flybe, LoganAir and EasyJet all do cheap internal flights.

[mattheus]

Hmmm … budget airline to Luton ….

or ferry to the Orkneys for a day-or-two, then the sleeper back to London …

Nice to have a choice I guess!

[Oldjohnw]

Hmmm … budget airline to Luton ….

or ferry to the Orkneys for a day-or-two, then the sleeper back to London …

Nice to have a choice I guess!

Sleeper back to London? You'd need to get to Aberdeen/ inverness first.

[mattheus]

Sorry, I was referring to this option:

Or you could get a ferry to Orkney and another ferry from there to Aberdeen (good train services)

I find this VERY appealing, and might be the reason to ride to JO'G one day!

[cycleruk]

Hmmm … budget airline to Luton ….

or ferry to the Orkneys for a day-or-two, then the sleeper back to London …

Nice to have a choice I guess!

Sleeper back to London? You'd need to get to Aberdeen/ inverness first.

Problem is I don't live anywhere near London
Lancaster or Preston nearest mainline station to me.

[mattheus]

Hmmm … budget airline to Luton ….

or ferry to the Orkneys for a day-or-two, then the sleeper back to London …

Nice to have a choice I guess!

Sleeper back to London? You'd need to get to Aberdeen/ inverness first.

Problem is I don't live anywhere near London
Lancaster or Preston nearest mainline station to me.

That's a nice problem to have.

p.s. I'm nowhere near Luton ... that was why partly why I was hinting that a cheap fare to Luton airport isn't really all that useful, and I doubt I'm alone ...

[Chris Ince]

Train from Wick to Inverness and then on down south
Train from Wick to Inverness and then flight from Dalcross (Inverness airport- Luton, Gatwick, Manchester etc)
One or two local transit companies take bike to Inverness on cycle trailer
Cycle from Wick to Inverness via A9, wind behind can be done in a day

[bikepacker]

The train from Wick to Inverness calls at Thurso after Wick so it is often easier to go to Thurso as it is closer to JOG. A friend of mine who did it last year said the souvenir kiosk at JOG had a phone number of someone who took him and his bike to Inverness but I never asked him the cost.

There is also the possibility of flying from Wick to Manchester with a change at either Inverness or Aberdeen. Might be worth looking up the cost of that.

[PeterT]

Courrier for the bike from JOG to home. Bus to Wick. Train to Inverness. Flight to Birmingham. Cheaper than train at the time.

[ferrit worrier]

The train from Wick to Inverness calls at Thurso after Wick so it is often easier to go to Thurso as it is closer to JOG. A friend of mine who did it last year said the souvenir kiosk at JOG had a phone number of someone who took him and his bike to Inverness but I never asked him the cost.

There is also the possibility of flying from Wick to Manchester with a change at either Inverness or Aberdeen. Might be worth looking up the cost of that.

not quite
Jog to Thurso 19.7
Jog to Wick 16.4

The train starts at Wick if it's busy you stand a better chance of getting on at wick.
Malc

[cnb]

When I finished Le Jog, I used the train back to Inverness then Hired a car on a point to point basis..Dropping it off in Gateshead which left me a short ride home...I didn't plan to do that but the trains from Inverness were all busy and I hadn't booked...It worked out well in the end...

[cycleruk]

Just been testing the water,
Currently a train ticket = £132. That is Wick to Lancaster with two changes.
I did come across a ticket for Wick to Glasgow for £32 but would then need to get on to Lancashire.
(And still need to guarantee the bike as well?)(And is the bike going to be free?)
If and it's a BIG IF will be looking for June-ish with the longer days.

I have unfinished business with LeJoG as, due to a tummy problem, I had to pack after 400 miles (Warrington).
I have planned an 8 day B&B from home to JoG and that will do for me, health being good.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31798326.
I know I will miss out the conurbations of Warrington/Preston but that doesn't bother me as it would only fall short by about 40 miles in the overall total.

A hire car/van is still being considered.

[Paulatic]

You can get Glsgow Central to Lancaster as cheap as £14.50.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/t ... 0/1230/dep
Bikes go free and you can book ahead with the ticket. Use a browser web page as some of the apps don’t give you book a bike option.
Hope your health holds up to achieve it. Good luck