7 day LEJOG 2021

Specific board for this popular undertaking.
lanterne_rouge
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Joined: 10 Feb 2021, 2:24pm

7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by lanterne_rouge »

Hi all,

I'm in the very early stages of planning a LEJOG later this year (covid permitting!) around late May early June (for some nice long days)

I want to cycle it in 7 days due to time off work giving myself a day either side to get to and from the finish (home being in Newcastle upon tyne)

I'm going to stay in hotels/B&B's along the way and carry all my stuff.
I came across this map when doing some research https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21476114 - thanks to whoever created this! :)

My tentative stops so far are below (mileage is a quick estimate from the map above of the daily amount)

Exeter (approx 131 miles)
Worcester (approx 138 miles)
Lancaster (approx 151 miles)
Langholm (approx 97 miles)
Perth (approx 125 miles)
Inverness (approx 127 miles)
John O'Groats (approx 133 miles)

This route looks to be a good mixture of main and minor roads, I'm a fairly experienced cyclist so don't have much worry about the main roads but would rather not if a quieter option was available. Worcester to Lancaster looks quite flat so felt a good day to make good progress.

Just looking for any advice on this route or if i've over or underestimated any of the legs, the choice of stops is very quickly by the larger availability of hotels/B&B's but completely flexible on any of these stops.

Many thanks!

LR
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cycleruk
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Joined: 17 Jan 2009, 9:30pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by cycleruk »

I would suggest that you do a thorough check of the route. There are a few queries but the notable one is at mile 240 uses the M5 motorway. Fast but not recommended. :wink:
Also goes through Preston on the "Old tramway bridge" (Mile 412) which may be closed. https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2019/02/o ... pse-fears/
Easy re-route and personally I would use the A6 through to Broughton. Yes it will be busy but cycle lanes on it.

Mile 108- detour?
Mile 213.5 - detour?
Mile 249 -interesting?
Do individual days routes and have a look at the climbing and how that will impact on each day.
You'll never know if you don't try it.
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Paulatic
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Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Paulatic »

I’d agree with @cycleruk you need to break that down into days and then go over it thoroughly.
Looking at that route from Lancaster it’s harder than need be The A6 north is fine just avoid getting onto the Kendal bypass.
It’s a hard way through Penrith with two unnecessary climbs and in Carlisle ( think I’ve seen this route before) it’s going round and round a lethal roundabout. Then heading up a busy A7 to Langholm. From there it’s very scenic, quiet, and hilly. On a 7 day E2E I’d really consider Carlisle relief road, Gretna, Moffat, A701 to the bridge. You can loose a lot of time getting through Carlisle and also Edinburgh.
Perth north look at the A9 cycle path miles of it are now resurfaced.
Inverness make sure the Cromarty ferry is running. It wasn’t last September when I was up.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
lanterne_rouge
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Joined: 10 Feb 2021, 2:24pm

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by lanterne_rouge »

Thanks both - great advice, creating each leg sounds like a great idea, will certainly factor in your advice (especially the M5 bypass!)

Ferry! I thought that was a bridge! :D :D

I'll definitely look to skirt Carlisle and pass Edinburgh to the west.
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Mick F
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Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Mick F »

Look at using Rob's Passage rather than going over the Cadbury Hills.

Rob's Passage was named by me after having it described by Rob S who used to post on this forum.

search.php?keywords=Rob%27s+Passage&terms=all&author=Mick+F&fid%5B%5D=22&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search
Mick F. Cornwall
Boring_Username
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Joined: 2 Mar 2017, 2:38pm

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Boring_Username »

You might want to look at the amount of climbing on each day. For example Day 1 looks a lot hillier than Day 2 so making the daily effort a bit uneven?
Jamesh
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Joined: 2 Jan 2017, 5:56pm

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Jamesh »

Exeter seems a bit far south tbh.

I stopped at oakhampton.

Best following Mick F route through Cornwall.

I went up the A49 dull but quick.

Then hoped on ferry across Mersey and A6.

I did it in 8 days, and traveled Friday night Bradford to st Ives.

Then Sunday traveled home for work on Monday ouch!!

Cheers James
philvantwo
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Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by philvantwo »

Catching a ferry? Thats a big no no!!
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Paulatic
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Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Paulatic »

philvantwo wrote:Catching a ferry? Thats a big no no!!

Why?

Visiting beautiful Cromarty to wait for the ferry can only be a bonus if it were running at the right time.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
philvantwo
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Joined: 8 Dec 2012, 6:08pm

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by philvantwo »

If you read the post, it was the Mersey ferry, too much of a short cut for my liking, plus he had a car assisted day in South Wales!
:|
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cycleruk
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Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by cycleruk »

philvantwo wrote:If you read the post, it was the Mersey ferry, too much of a short cut for my liking, plus he had a car assisted day in South Wales!
:|

Paulatic is referring to the Chromarty ferry that is in the O.P's route at the beginning of the this topic.
You'll never know if you don't try it.
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Paulatic
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Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Paulatic »

philvantwo wrote:If you read the post, it was the Mersey ferry, too much of a short cut for my liking, plus he had a car assisted day in South Wales!
:|

Of course I read the post. You didn’t specify any ferry so as already pointed out reference goes to the OP.
However how can taking any ferry be construed as a short cut? Surely just a means to completing the route choice of any individual. There’s some good cycling the other side of the Mersey ferry and very very flat. :D
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
Enigmadick
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Joined: 5 Mar 2016, 11:28am

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by Enigmadick »

Using ferries is definitely not taking shortcuts IMHO as getting to them involves going well away from the shortest possible route.

The Fal and Fowey ferries are to the south of the shortest route through Cornwall and Devon: the Mersey ferry is to the west of the shortest route through the North West and the Cromarty Ferry is way the east of the direct climb over The Struie.

But there's more to life than this - alas not presently as we're still in lockdown.
ENIGMA DICK aka Richard Barrett
nickyboy
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Joined: 17 Feb 2020, 5:54pm

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by nickyboy »

We are doing LEJOG hopefully this May and I've put a fair bit of work into the route. Whilst there are some parts that are irrelevant to you (such as Day 5 we route home to Glossop and thus Day 6 start from Glossop) there is a fair bit that is consistent with the route you've posted.

It keeps off busy roads and seeks to minimise climbing whilst being as scenic as possible. It is a 10.5 day route but may give you some ideas for your 7 day route. The key differences (other than our Glossop detour) is that we take the A7 Dromochter Pass out of Perth rather than through the Cairngorms and our last day route to JoG is a little different. Other than that it is quite similar. It certainly doesn't have the issue that others have pointed out on the route you proposed


https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30824481 LE to Camelford
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30826375 Camelford to Wellington
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30825370 Wellington to Gloucester
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30825482 Gloucester to Crewe
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30825535 Crewe to Glossop (half day)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31683794 Glossop to Tebay
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31374779 Tebay to Tushielaw
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30825804 Tushielaw to Perth
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30825884 Perth to Aveimore
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31960183 Aveimore to Brora (via Nigg Ferry)
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30826000 Brora to JoG (via Dunnet Head)
lanterne_rouge
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Joined: 10 Feb 2021, 2:24pm

Re: 7 day LEJOG 2021

Post by lanterne_rouge »

Thanks all for responses & suggestions so far.

Going to stay at Okehampton at the end of day 1 and miss Exeter out, just working on the next legs now.

Thanks for those links Nick :D
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