my plan for end of May
Re: my plan for end of May
At the northern end of your route, don't go via Tongue; turn right at Altnaharra and go B873/B871. Saves c.350m climbing and 9km distance.
Re: my plan for end of May
Oops, I've just seen this on a parallel thread.nickyboy wrote: ↑12 Sep 2022, 9:44am To provide some element of balance, we did LEJOG last year on a route of our own making which was largely small lanes and B roads
Other than one small issue in Taunton at morning rush hour, I don't recall any problems at all with any road traffic. Quite the contrary, we experienced polite and respectful drivers. I can only remember one poor road surface (the Peebles-Penicuik road)
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Re: my plan for end of May
done with thanks
down to 908mls with 46100ft, it wont be like that in the end as i always get lost
also thinking 1st week June
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40836341
Re: my plan for end of May
Mick F's route is a good one!
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.
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: my plan for end of May
Agreed!
Mick F robbed me of most of the hills in Cornwall for which I was truly thankful by the time I got to Oakhampton. That last 10miles to Bettys place was a killer though!
Mick F robbed me of most of the hills in Cornwall for which I was truly thankful by the time I got to Oakhampton. That last 10miles to Bettys place was a killer though!
Re: my plan for end of May
Yes, it's a long long steady set of climbs up to Sourton on the Old A30.
Much faster going the other way!
Much faster going the other way!
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: my plan for end of May
Mick's route out of Cornwall is going to be my choice, shame about missing the hills though.
Re: my plan for end of May
The trick really, is to follow the old toll roads. These formed the modern road network when the car industry took off.
It wasn't until the late 50's that bypasses and motorways took over, leaving the old toll roads much quieter as the decades passed.
There are exceptions of course, but consider (for instance) the B3181 heading north from Exeter.
The M5 takes most of the traffic.
Many many roads like that these days, hence the Old A30 from Launceston to Okehampton. The road doesn't even have a number any more.
Think about the Old A9 heading north for Inverness. A9 dual carriageway takes it all now, and much of the Old A9 is nothing more than a cycle track.
It wasn't until the late 50's that bypasses and motorways took over, leaving the old toll roads much quieter as the decades passed.
There are exceptions of course, but consider (for instance) the B3181 heading north from Exeter.
The M5 takes most of the traffic.
Many many roads like that these days, hence the Old A30 from Launceston to Okehampton. The road doesn't even have a number any more.
Think about the Old A9 heading north for Inverness. A9 dual carriageway takes it all now, and much of the Old A9 is nothing more than a cycle track.
Mick F. Cornwall
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Re: my plan for end of May
And what a fabulous track it is! We dreaded Drumochter but when we read the sign (somewhat in disbelief) at the top we could be described as stunned! We hadn't really worked too hard to get there, though House of Bruar face filling may have given us some energy...
Oh and the downhill is distillery country too !
Re: my plan for end of May
Why leave the adequate path beside the A9 after crossing Kessock Bridge? The loop you have added includes a loss of altitude to sea level followed by a climb to get back up to the A9.
I see no advantage in following the route on the west side of the Kyle of Sutherland after leaving Ardgay, better to cross the bridge at Bonar Bridge, thus avoiding the staircase at Invershin rail bridge.
At Tore roundabout it could be less stressful to walk and push the bike across the northbound A9 rather than cycle round the roundabout which can be busy at times!
I see no advantage in following the route on the west side of the Kyle of Sutherland after leaving Ardgay, better to cross the bridge at Bonar Bridge, thus avoiding the staircase at Invershin rail bridge.
At Tore roundabout it could be less stressful to walk and push the bike across the northbound A9 rather than cycle round the roundabout which can be busy at times!
Re: my plan for end of May
After leaving Inverness, cross the Kessock Bridge on the western side behind the crash barrier.
Just as you get to the other side, drop down to the firth, and follow the Old A9 via Beauly, Muir of Ord, Dingwall, Evanton and Invergordon.
Join the A9 but go through Tain.
The rest of the A9 to Wick and the A99 to JOG is fine.
Just as you get to the other side, drop down to the firth, and follow the Old A9 via Beauly, Muir of Ord, Dingwall, Evanton and Invergordon.
Join the A9 but go through Tain.
The rest of the A9 to Wick and the A99 to JOG is fine.
Mick F. Cornwall
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Re: my plan for end of May
thanks for the advice Ron
pleasantly surprised Mick F, by going up the coast brings me under 900mls with 1200ft less elevation
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41234319
pleasantly surprised Mick F, by going up the coast brings me under 900mls with 1200ft less elevation
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41234319
Re: my plan for end of May
Where's the accommodation?
You seem to be planning a very detailed route, which IME isn't always possible unless the stops are also planned. Maybe you have them fixed, or maybe you're bivvying where and when at the side of the road...
Your route does look quite ambitious for 7 days, distance wise seems OK, but for me I'd be looking at less lanes and more minor A and B roads. Or at least have a plan B, an idea of where I could jump on a faster route to make time up. I needed to do this a couple of times on a planned 1,100 mile eastern E2E over 11 days. This didn't cut much distance, but it's easy to underestimate, the extra time in the lanes compared to the better progress you can make on some roads.
You seem to be planning a very detailed route, which IME isn't always possible unless the stops are also planned. Maybe you have them fixed, or maybe you're bivvying where and when at the side of the road...
Your route does look quite ambitious for 7 days, distance wise seems OK, but for me I'd be looking at less lanes and more minor A and B roads. Or at least have a plan B, an idea of where I could jump on a faster route to make time up. I needed to do this a couple of times on a planned 1,100 mile eastern E2E over 11 days. This didn't cut much distance, but it's easy to underestimate, the extra time in the lanes compared to the better progress you can make on some roads.