Route complete - comments??

[LindaB]

Below are the rwgps files for our 21 Stage, 1,056 mile LEJOG, starting June 8th. I’m so grateful for all the tips (and entire routes) that I’ve used from Forum members, but would so appreciate any further comments and suggestions.

Generally, we’re looking to minimize hills while staying off busy roads, and see a bit of the UK while we’re at it. We have 2 layover days – Ironbridge and Inverness.
Our B&B’s and hotels are all booked, so the end points of each day are fixed, but the route is still mine to play with.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119222 Lands End to Newquay (54.8mi 3892 ft gain)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119211 Newquay to Launceston (49.8 mi 3801 ft) Has the Camel Trail survived the winter storms?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119194 Launceston to Tiverton (51.0 mi 4041 ft) About 2.5 mi on A386 before Okehampton – looks narrow; how busy?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119188 Tiverton to Glastonbury (52.7 mi 2673 ft) Best way through Taunton? I’m thinking of switching route to Canal Path.
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119169 Glastonbury to Chepstow (57.8 mi 3412 ft) Have best approach to Severn Bridge?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119139 Chepstow to Leominster (56.2 mi 4488 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119133 Leominster to Ironbridge (37.5 mi 2126 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119100 Ironbridge to Nantwich (51.4 mi 1965 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119092 Nantwich to Orrell (49.8 mi 1612 ft) Condition of Trans Pennine Trail after Runcorn?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119080 Orrell to Glasson Dock (51.8 mi 2035 ft) Best route through Preston?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119064 Glasson Dock to Grasmere (52.3 mi 3677 ft) Condition of Lune Estuary Path?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119036 Grasmere to Longtown (52.1 mi 3580 ft) Best to just stay on cycle route through Carlisle?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119015 Longtown to Innerleithen 57.2 mi 4462 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118943 Innerleithen to Edinburgh (31.9 mi 1488 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118929 Edinburgh to Perth (46.5 mi 3108 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118917 Perth to Blair Atholl (38.9 mi 2845 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118906 Blair Atholl to Carrbridge (57.2 mi 2884 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118900 Carrbridge to Inverness (45.3 mi 2095 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118880 Inverness to Lairg (57.3 mi 3192 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118851 Lairg to Bettyhill (44.9 mi 2312 ft)
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4118832 Bettyhill to JOG (58.3 mi, 3369 ft)

[Bicycler]

Re: Orrell-Preston-Glasson-Lancaster

Looks fine to me. Not the quickest or most direct but a decent quiet rural route through central Lancs. You need to be careful not to lose NCN 6 heading through Preston City Centre, but if you keep to it it'll keep you away from the worst of the city's roads and hopefully you'll be out the other side in no time.

Lune Estuary Path is fine. First bit has a slightly loose gravel top but is fine on all but the narrowest of road tyres: http://goo.gl/maps/3tiOc. The rest is tarmac http://goo.gl/maps/kxd4d

[Redvee]

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119169 Glastonbury to Chepstow (57.8 mi 3412 ft) Have best approach to Severn Bridge?

I'd go straight down the Portway, mile 35, and turn off at Park Road to go through Shirehampton and pick up you planned route, I use this route quite often. The only hazards you might encounter from mile 42 - 45 are people walking their dogs and a pair of swans at mile 44 and the sewer works a little further on. The A403 can be ridden by using the 'pavement' aka shared use path though the likleyhood of seeing a pedestrian is very low. I would use the other side of the bridge as it's more sheltered but less chance of a picture down the river.

[LindaB]

Thanks, Bicycler, we'll stick with the Lune Estuary Path and hopefully be able to follow the bicycle routes through Preston and Lancaster.

Redvee, I got much of my routing to the Severn Bridge from your "bridge to bridge" route on rwgps - thank you! Had not realized we could ride on either side of the bridge! Will switch to the NE side since you say it's more protected. I chose the southern side of the River Avon thinking it was quieter and gave better views of the river. Do you suggest the Portway to Park Rd. etc. beacause it is faster? smoother? Looking at the "street view" of the Portway, I'm thinking my companions would find the south side path more enjoyable, though Portway looks wide and very rideable. Unfortunately I haven't found a "street view" for the path.

[Redvee]

I ride the Portway cause it's faster and smoother and is one option for my commute to work. The pavement along the Portway is a shared use path to Park Road. I have ridden the tow path a few times though it can get quite muddy after heavy rain and high river tides like we had recently, this was a month ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10A2x0SNlOc Riding the tow path is approx 3.5 miles longer than the Portway which in a LeJoG ride isn't much to worry about.

[cycloret]

I notice from LE to Penzance you intend to follow the B3315, others less bothered with traffic might have chosen the A30, I followed the Alan Pewsey route which I enjoyed, even more so because it was the start of the adventure. It's a quiet route though whether it's any better than another I'm not certain. Different people have different priorities. I'll cycle in traffic but it reduces my enjoyment considerably.

Your last two days look similar to mine as does some of the day before. It all looks so inviting to ride it again yet wait, I remember several times saying to myself during the boring grind through parts of Scotland , never again. Yet the South West which others have complained about because of the hills, I enjoyed the most. Must have been the weather.

Day 1 LE to Lanlivery
http://www.bikemap.net/route/624719#
Michael's 2010 LEJOG
http://www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk/index. ... &Itemid=93

[Paulatic]

Going to Longtown. Just after mile 36 I would Trn left and take the cycle way alongside the northern relief road. It's fast and in no time you will be at route 10 Kingsmoor and onto Rockcliffe Metal Bridge and a lovely quiet route into Longtown. Cycling through Carlisle is the pits and very time consuming IMHO

[notlobgp14]

Last year we took Route 7 out of Carlisle, once you get in the lanes after crossing the river in town it's a brilliant section of the ride. Follow through Cargo, then just where the Cycle Route turns sharp left for Gretna you can head for Justicetown too rejoin your planned route at Mile 49

[LindaB]

Thanks for the suggestions... After watching Redvee's video of the towpath on the S side of the Avon in Bristol, I'm definitely changing to the Portway on the other side of the river! If it's a gorgeous sunny day we can ignore the Garmin and follow the maps to the S side.

I have been looking at cycloret's suggestion of Pewsey's route between LE and Penzance. Orginally just wanted to avoid the A30 so didn't consider it, but since we do this section twice (once from the train [we hope there's going to be a train...] station at Penzance to LE, and then back again to begin our LEJOG) maybe we'll do it a different way each time.

As for Carlisle I'm weighing Paulatic's routing around the city- looks like a time and mile saver, but was thinking we might we wanting to head into town for some lunch about then. I'm not sure why we'd get to the "Metal Bridge" (at least as shown on rwgps OSM cycle map), looks like the NCN 7 turns off before getting there (as described by notlobgp14, since his route is on that part, too).

Starting to feel this route planning is a "life's work", but hope it makes everything (well nearly everything) work smoothly on the ride!

[loafer]

hi linda
that looks a great route might borrow some of it for next year but in reverse will be doing a joggle will be taken my g/f so need to be gentle with her .. on your day from Longtown to Innerleithen if you need a great coffe stop cant do better than here http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction ... tland.html been calling in there years watching it slowly been built really stunning place... just past mile 28 you cant miss it
larry

[bogmyrtle]

As for Carlisle I'm weighing Paulatic's routing around the city- looks like a time and mile saver, but was thinking we might we wanting to head into town for some lunch about then. I'm not sure why we'd get to the "Metal Bridge" (at least as shown on rwgps OSM cycle map), looks like the NCN 7 turns off before getting there (as described by notlobgp14, since his route is on that part, too).

Starting to feel this route planning is a "life's work", but hope it makes everything (well nearly everything) work smoothly on the ride!

If you choose to use the Northern Development Route you don't need to go to Metal Bridge (or Gretna). From the NDR turn left at the last roundabout before junction 44 (at Asda, signed R'cliffe on the road). Carry on a little way (past Stobart Rail) and then take the first right which takes you over the motorway. After that take the first left which puts you on cycle route 7 and after a bit of zig zagging joins up with your planned route at the disused railway line. Just make sure you use a map for the zig zaggy bit as there is a shortage of cycle route signs.
Even if you plan to go into Carlisle, it is much more straightforward to go straight up the A7 , left at Parkhouse Road, straight over the roundabout (take care here cos traffic crossing your path is either coming off or going on to the motorway so it is shifting) at Asda and then follow the remainder as described above.

[Redvee]

Thanks for the suggestions... After watching Redvee's video of the towpath on the S side of the Avon in Bristol, I'm definitely changing to the Portway on the other side of the river! If it's a gorgeous sunny day we can ignore the Garmin and follow the maps to the S side.

Riding the towpath isn't always a mudbath, the video was after the recent rains and high tides. I prefer riding it in the summer as you get the shade from the trees and when the sun does poke through the branches it is quite pleasant. By my reckoning you'll be passing through Bristol on June 12th, a day I'm not working...

[LindaB]

Redvee - You're correct, we'll be passing through Bristol on June 12 - would be delighted to have a guide if you find yourself free that day! Will have to figure out how to contact you. Getting a phone (not a smart one, I don't think) for the UK is on my list of things to do... think we'll try to pick one up in London the day before we start. I've heard carphonewarehouse is the place to check out. I've updated my route that day based on your comments (and your rwgps "bridge" file). The link is still the same:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4119169. I've left us on the south side of the bridge for now, but looks like we can switch to N side if wind is bad (maybe it usually is??).

cycloret - your blog mentions you downloaded OSM relief maps for your gps. Don't think mine show contours. Do you remember what site you downloaded from?

Loafer - I've seen the Buddhist Monastery on the map, but didn't know we could stop for just coffee there; appreciate the tip.

I have a new addiction: The little orange man in rwgps (and google maps, of course) who, when dragged onto the map, gives the street view. So tempting just to keep looking at every mile of the route!

[Dean]

I'd suggest Red Bank is a better route between Hawkshead and Grasmere. You get far more walkers than cars round there, and you can have a pint at the Drunken Duck before descending to Grasmere.

[bogmyrtle]

The only thing about Redbank is the road is steep and walkers wander all over it. Going up you loose momentum dodging them and going down can be like ten pin bowling!