Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle

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Overview

Complete the Lands End to Johns O’Groats Cycle in only 14 days! Are you up to the challenge of cycling the length of Britain? This is a once in a lifetime trip and travels over 950 miles taking in some of Britain’s finest scenery along the way. The End-to-End is an incredible journey to fundraise for, or simply challenge yourself and take part in an amazing outdoor experience.
Highlights

The beautiful countryside of Southwest England

Magnificent views of the Lake District

The dramatic Scottish highlands and rugged coastline

The ski centres of the Cairngorms

Getting off your bike each day!!

With 14 full days of cycling averaging 70 miles a day, this is a full-on trip but still well within the reach of most competent cyclists. Starting at the tip of Cornwall at Lands End, we head northwards (trying to keep the wind at our backs!) to John O’ Groats in Scotland.
In the evenings we generally eat as a group at a local pub restaurant which we will organise or alternatively order in a takeaway. You are, of course, able to do your own thing if you wish.

It is a fully guided and supported trip.
Single room option £150.

End to End Cycle

Itinerary

This itinerary is a guide only and is subject to change. Whilst we endeavour to uphold the proposed daily mileages, this cannot be guaranteed due to changes with campsite bookings.

Day 1: Join tour in Penzance

Meet in Penzance from 15:00 onwards. Here you will be met by your Tour Leader, given a full kit check and briefing before going out for our first group meal together.

Day 2: Lands End to Bodmin (60 miles)

After breakfast and making packed lunches, we will be transferred to Lands End for our first group photo at the world-famous landmark sign. From here we begin our Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle journey! We head north-east and cycle through this quiet, picturesque area of the UK.

Day 3: Bodmin to Tiverton (70 miles)

From Bodmin we cycle through beautiful countryside, skirting around Dartmoor National Park. It is a challenging day today with many hills to overcome but the views make up for it!

Day 4: Tiverton to Bath (75 miles)

We continue our journey northwards past Taunton and on to the historic city of Bath…which as those familiar with the area will testify, is surrounded by some very demanding hills!

Day 5: Bath to Hereford (70 miles)

Leaving Bath we push up over the hills that surround the city and head up towards Gloucester, from here we head slightly eastwards towards the picturesque town of Ross-on-Wye. A short cycle northwards and we hit our destination for the night…Hereford.

Day 6: Hereford to Market Drayton (80 miles)

A long but very scenic day today as we head directly north up past Shrewsbury and Telford and on to our stopover at Market Drayton.

Day 7: Market Drayton to Lancaster (85 miles)

Another long day as we make our around the big cities of the North West, nipping between Liverpool and Manchester keeping on as quiet roads as possible. Once through the built up areas, it is plain sailing up towards the Lake District.

Day 8: Lancaster to Carlisle (80 miles)

A stunning day today as we skirt the beautiful Lake District and head through Kendal and Penrith. A major climb today is to Shap which is a challenge, but by this time you should breeze up it! After some fantastic downhill sections we head into Carlisle for our stopover.

Day 9: Carlisle to Peebles (65 miles)

Today we head across the border into Scotland and straight into fantastic scenery and stunning roads to ride. A shorter day today, we head into Peebles for our stopover.

Day 10: Peebles to Perth (75 miles)

A treat today as we head into the stunning city of Edinburgh and across the Forth road bridge with great views across the city and onto the Forth rail bridge. Once across we head directly north to Perth.

Day 11: Perth to Ballater (66 miles)

This is the first of two days that most people find the most challenging of the trip. However, they are also some of the most stunning. We head into the famous Cairngorms National Park and onto the big climb of the day, the Spittal of Glenshee. Luckily, once over this beast, it is more or less downhill into Ballater.

Day 12: Ballater to Inverness (71 miles)

This is our second big day in the Cairngorms, it picks up where we left off yesterday and we are straight into the climbs, some are long and gradual, and others short and steep! Again we forgive the terrain due to the stunning scenery. Today we have to overcome “the Lecht”, which many find the hardest climb of the whole trip, long and winding with sections of 20%. Make no mistake, this will test the fittest of riders! Once over the summit though we have lots of downhill to rest our aching legs! You will never forget this day on your Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle!

Day 13: Inverness to Lairg (50 miles)

A much shorter day today enables our legs to have a nice rest after the Cairngorms. A straightforward cycle into the small town of Lairg completes the day.

Day 14: Lairg to Portskerra (60 miles)

Again a fairly short day with a few hills near the end to get the blood pumping again! Most people really enjoy this day as it has a fantastic feeling of complete isolation and if the weather is kind, it is picture postcard stunning.

Day 15: Portskerra to John O’ Groats (40 miles)

The final day! A nice easy day today, we head through the main town from this area, Thurso, and then along the final 20 miles towards the holy grail of cycling…..John O’ Groats!

Congratulations! You made it!

We should be in camp reasonably early which will enable you time to explore and take plenty of photos. We then use a local pub for a well-earned drink and celebratory meal.

Day 16: John O’ Groats to Glasgow

Today you and your bike will be transferred to Glasgow where we hope to arrive by around 16:30. From here we say our goodbyes.

Included

Tour Leader/s and support driver

Two man tents

Large mess tent

15 x nights campsite fees

15 x breakfasts (cereals, fruits and yoghurts)

14 x lunches (bread, ham, cheese, tuna, salad, pasta salad, fruit and cereal bars)

All luggage transported during your trip

Tea, coffee and biscuits.

Not included

Bike and helmet (available to hire from us for £160 for this trip, please make us aware on the booking form if you require bike hire)

Camping mats and sleeping bags

Transport to and from pick up and drop off points

Evening meals, drinks and snacks

Insurance

Trip Suitability

You will be cycling for at least 8 hours each day but the Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle is not a race! This is a group trip and we like to cycle as such. You will be cycling through rugged landscapes which are very hilly, and the pace will be determined by your cycle leader. If you are unable to keep to this pace, you will be asked to either travel in the support vehicle or you will be provided with detailed route notes to continue at your own pace.

You are advised to prepare before coming on the trip, anything cardiovascular will help as will of course cycling. Importantly you need to do some 8+ hour cycles so you will know what is required. You will need to get some hill practice in!

If you would like a more detailed training plan please contact us on info@moreadventure.co.uk. Alternatively check out our training weekends which are an excellent way to build on skills that are required for an End 2 End. You will receive a 10% discount on these weekends if you are booked on any other More Adventure trips.

Most important of all is a positive attitude!

Food and Accommodation

Accommodation for this trip is camping in two-man tents. As a group you will be expected to erect tents each evening and take them down each morning. This will be done as a group with help from the leaders.

Campsites are generally nice quiet spots in the countryside (as much as possible). All have hot water showers and basic amenities.

Breakfast will be a continental buffet style, which is laid out in our mess tent each morning, and packed lunches will also be laid out for you to help yourself after breakfast. Breakfast will include cereals, fruit, yoghurts, bread and jams. Lunches will include breads, ham, cheese, tuna, salad, fruit, pasta salad and cereal bars. We will also be stopping at shops along the way for people to buy snacks and drinks.

Evening meals and drinks are not included in the price. Most evenings we will give you the opportunity to eat out as a group at a local pub/restaurant. At some rural campsites leaders will pickup takeaways for you. Approximate costs per evening meal £10-20.

Equipment

We recommend road/touring bicycles for this trip. Please contact us if you are unsure whether your bike is suitable.

Bikes are not included in the price, but are available to hire from us. It is very important that if you bring your own bike it is in good working order and you bring plenty of spares. Please bring at least five spare inner tubes. You must bring suitable, reasonably new tyres (e.g. Continental Gatorskin, Bontrager Race Hardcase; Schwalbe Marathon Plus). We do not provide helmets but we strongly recommend you bring your own to wear.

You will be required to bring all your own bedding for camping, camping mat, sleeping bag and pillow.

Weather and Clothing

This is Great Britain, so be prepared for the weather! The trip will continue in all but the absolute worst of weathers. Generally the best clothes to wear while cycling are light and comfortable. Please bring a lightweight waterproof top and a lightweight windproof top. Make sure you bring enough clothes for each days cycling and for evening meals. Better to “have and not need than to need and not have”!

There are limited clothes washing facilities on this trip so please pack accordingly.

Luggage

All luggage will be transported between campsites as you cycle. You are therefore limited to one suitcase/large holdall and one daysack. Please bring a suitable bag to carry waterproof, windproof and snacks whilst cycling. This could be a small pannier or daysack.

Tour Leaders

For this trip you will have at least one (depending on size of group) leader who will ride with the group and one leader who will be in the support van, setting up camp and generally supporting the cyclists.

The Lands End to John O’Groats Cycle will run on a minimum number of 6 persons.