Views on this route for LEJOG

[Goaty]

Hi, I'm planning on doing LEJOG over 13 days with 2 friends in July. We'll be camping on the whole and carrying everything with us on our bikes. I'd be grateful for views on whether this looks like a broadly sensible route: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/576276

[cycle tramp]

Um... not really too much to add- but from a local perspective.. I would;

From Taunton Town centre take the path which follows the river Tone from Taunton's centre then at Firepool/Obridge change to feom the river path to the canal path and follow that until Creech St Michael.. then get back on your route from there.
Whilst your speed might drop a couple of mph, due to gravel tracks and the occasional dog walker - it's probably preferable to getting lost and or weaving around urban traffic as you use the roads to head out of Taunton over the motorway, plus you get to avoid the traffic lights at the motorway roundabout- and that could save you fifteen minutes


*to be continued....

[cycle tramp]

Further North, but as part of the same day, your route picks up the villages Chedzoy, Stawell and then crosses the A39 to Chilton Polden...

As a local, I wouldn't go that way... the lane from Stawell to the A39 is short but steep and ultimately pointless because no sooner are you across the A39 then it goes steeply down. And that's the other thing. On the map, it looks like there is a cross roads between the A39 and the lane - how ever on real life - it's not, infact you can't even see the other entrance to tge other lane, which means cycling along the A39 for a bit - which is an incredibly narrow A road which is heavily trafficked by artic lorries. If you use Google Street View you'll see what I mean.

The alternative is when you get past Chedzoy, look for the cycle path which goes West(ish) and follows then man made drain (King Sedgemoor Drain) which is a bikevpath of flat crushed gravel. That will take you to Bawdrip, from Bawdrip you want the converted railway path which runs uninterrupted under the A39, and its alot less steep, and has a sealed tarmac surface.
From Bawdrip, take this path to Cossington. At the end of the path head right (East) towards Chilton Polden- using middle road, and pick up your route again. On your map, strangely this lane does not exist. In real life it does - again, check out Google Street View

Whilst this recommendation does see you riding on crushed gravel path, you do loose a pointless energy sapping climb and you face less conflict which artics. It probably saves you 15 to 35 minutes depending on your hill climbing abilities.

[cycle tramp]

Also on the same day - I'd also check out the Strawberry line which runs from Axbridge to Yatton. It's another off road path, and is in most part mostly crushed gravel. Again any loss of speed from its surface should be made up for by the fact that there's no need to navigate.

[nickyboy]

I'd take the Carlisle Western Bypass (A689) rather than go through the city centre.

[Paulatic]

I'd take the Carlisle Western Bypass (A689) rather than go through the city centre.

That’s debatable when you come in via Sothwaite and Upperby as it adds around 4 mls.
Coming vis Dalston then the Western relief road is a no brainer.

[pwa]

duplicate post

[pwa]

From Chepstow to Usk and then to Abergavenny I'd stick to the two B roads, the B4235 and B4598, which climb and descend efficiently, saving you energy, and have provided me with some very pleasant miles over the years. You will get some traffic on those roads, but not enough to spoil it. And they are both scenic.

Your route seems designed to minimise traffic, which is obviously a choice you have made. I like that, though I wonder if there will be times when you feel drawn to nearby, faster and easier B roads at the end of a long day. It would be interesting to hear back from you when you have done it.

[toontra]

I'd take the Carlisle Western Bypass (A689) rather than go through the city centre.

Personally I disagree. It adds distance and it's a soulless, feature-free stretch of road with heavy traffic.

On my LEJoGs (6 and 5 day solo unsupported) I usually went the fastest route, which meant many A-roads, so I'm not averse to them per se. But ring-roads are almost always longer and used by heavy through traffic. Going through towns and cities is usually the most direct route and offers a welcome break after long stretches of nothing much to see, plus the opportunity to top up supplies.

[geocycle]

Looks a nice route. The route chosen from Kirby Lonsdale through to the Eden Valley is really nice. It’s not the flattest but worth it if you are not in a huge hurry. For reference the A road from KL to Sedbergh is perfectly rideable if you want to get more quickly or the weather is rough. I love the road that runs along the flank of the Howgills to Tebay and then you are climbing over Asby scar into Eden. Lovely.

[Redvee]

Around mile 70 in Clapton In Gordano is a steep climb, you could turn left before the hill and drop into Portishead and pick up NCN26 to the M5 bridge and NCN41. Part of NCN41 isn't accessable in Lawrence Weston but your route misses the closed section. The part of NCN41 over M5, under M49 was recently resurfaced and lighting added it's entire length between Lawrence Weston Road and Merebank. The section of your route along A403 is on a sahred use path, not that there's many pedestrians walking along there, it might be better to cross the Severn on the leeward side of the bridge, ie the same side as the services as the bridge gives some shelter from the wind coming up the river.

[Redvee]

Another option from the Severn Beach area to the Severn Bridge is this route a local cycle club posted in their instagram profile.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47060609

They do say it's not suitable for road bikes and I'm guessing you won't be on road bikes with narrow tyres etc.

[Norman H]

That looks like a very nice route. Avoiding busy main roads is often at the expense of increased distance and can be quite hilly but 989mi and 8200m of climbing is very reasonable. And unless I’ve misunderstood Cycle Travel’s altitude data it seems to be indicating a maximum gradient of 3.8%. If that’s correct it’s quite an achievement.

[sparnel]

Two of us doing LeJog over a few weeks. Could anyone give us a route that would take us from Leigh to the Clitheroe area please? We will be in Leigh on Thursday. Is using the main roads the only option?

[Norman H]

Two of us doing LeJog over a few weeks. Could anyone give us a route that would take us from Leigh to the Clitheroe area please? We will be in Leigh on Thursday. Is using the main roads the only option?

At the risk of derailing this thread here’s a brief description of the route that I took:

From Leigh head through Westhoughton (B5215 & B5235) and join the A6 to Adlington. Leave the A6 in Adlington and take the minor road that runs alongside the M61 and through the outskirts of Chorley, where it crosses the M6. You need to head to Lower Copthurst and Top o’ th’ Lane where you can join regional route 91. Route 91 can be followed all the way to Clitheroe, through Brindle, Hoghton, Salmesbury Bottoms, Mellor and Whalley.

If you want more information I suggest you start a separate thread.