Cycling UK Forum

Spinners wrote:I'll take the tranquility of that well-earned pint in JOG over the tackiness of LE any day.

JOG is a tacky miserable commercial dump too. Though you get a view of the Orkneys.

wearwell wrote:

Spinners wrote:I'll take the tranquility of that well-earned pint in JOG over the tackiness of LE any day.

JOG is a tacky miserable commercial dump too.

That's not my recollection. Not even close.

pwa wrote:Having found myself warming frozen fingers under a hot water tap at a campsite at Wick in August, some years ago, I would not look forward to cycling those northern roads in March. And snow / ice could bring progress to a halt.

Last March the average daily maximum temperature in Wick was 8.3c, which would feel cooler if there was wind. Fine for hardy types, perhaps.

March down here can also be unpleasant though perhaps nothing like Scotland. I think March is just such a bad month to do this in: any exhaustion or injuries will be exacerbated by the cold or wet and the shorter days won't help. I'm guessing that it's in Easter - that's in late March 2016 but any earlier and there could be snow in either direction.

I used to regularly go winter climbing in Scotland in March and this year there was a lot of snow much later – cold and wind can be a problem, whichever way you go and whenever, and winds seem to be bit haywire at the moment. Did big ride in May and was windy every day, apart from first half of one day and I wore warm clothes every day, as did everyone else I saw. Getting to the start and back from the finish can be awkward and may be best determinant of which way you go.

Not sure I share the view that one end or the other is more or less attractive. At LE early on 11 May couldn’t see a lot, even though Cornwall is beautiful everywhere:



Whereas at JOG on 18 May at 8.30 pm it was great, with stunning views of the islands:



Noting Mick’s comments about tourists at LE, shortly after I left the signpost to go to my accommodation, an unusual group of tourists turned up - a pod of orcas arrived off the headland. The very kind hosts at the John O’Groats Guest House, who were as excited as I was by these unusual visitors, drove me to the headland and I had the rare privilege of seeing a group of killer whales just off the coast of Scotland. This made the trip feel very special (saw them in more detail on Springwatch when I returned home).

Message is do whichever way you want to but be aware March can have cold weather and days are short.

Good luck

I've just completed 762miles of my first leg, the I started in wick then up to duncansby head, brief stop at jog then up to dunnet head, didn't want to be accused of not doing it properly!

I've had headwinds, tailwinds all sorts .....never felt I was going the wrong way ( except on the A9 into Inverness, DONT DO IT) the weather has been a struggle at times and on many descents I've had to don my waterproof top and lined waterproof hat, in March it's going to be very tough I imagine. That said I did 119 miles on my fully loaded big dummy just so I could get back to Banbury and escape the heat, I've a couple of rest days on on to LE and of course the lizard!

My choice of direction as mentioned by others way mainly made by how difficult it is to get to/ from jog. I boxed the bike and flew up easy really but would have been difficult to arrange coming back.. My plan at LE is to hire a van one way and back to Banbury

Bigdummysteve wrote:I've just completed 762miles of my first leg, the I started in wick then up to duncansby head, brief stop at jog then up to dunnet head, didn't want to be accused of not doing it properly!

Chapeau! Excellent stuff.

Bigdummysteve wrote:I've just completed 762miles of my first leg, the I started in wick then up to duncansby head, brief stop at jog then up to dunnet head, didn't want to be accused of not doing it properly!......

You can do it how you like.

I did lejog; Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Preston turned left at Gretna for Ardrossan - Arran - Kintyre -Mallaig - Armadale - Kyle of Lochalsh - Dingwall - Lairg - Bettyhill - JOG
.
A few extra miles avoiding some of worst (traffic) roads. If anybody thinks I didn't do it properly I couldn't give a monkeys!

wearwell wrote:
I did lejog; Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Preston turned left at Gretna for Ardrossan - Arran - Kintyre -Mallaig - Armadale - Kyle of Lochalsh - Dingwall - Lairg - Bettyhill - JOG

That's a nice Scottish leg. I like it a lot.