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17 August 06,

Myself and two friends planned to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity. We were lucky enough to have a… » more

Myself and two friends planned to cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for charity. We were lucky enough to have a driver and a support vehicle so we wouldn’t be slowed down by having to carry heavy panniers. We decided to set off from Lands End to make best use of the expected prevailing south-westerly winds.

Here is a summary of our trip:

Day 1

We didn’t arrive at John O’Groats until 7 pm due to our support vehicle being requisitioned and having to find another one, and also the traffic jams (that were seemingly all to common place in Cornwall). Lands End itself has been turned into a theme park of sorts (albeit there is probably nothing there that would merit going too far out of your way to go and see!). Due to our late start we only managed to cover 28 miles that evening due to failing light. We then set off in our support vehicle to Newquay where we had pre-arranged to go and stay with friends. Being summer time (early August) Newquay was especially lively and provides sufficient entertainment for young and old alike.

Day 2

We drove back to our starting point where we had left off the previous evening, and set off cycling again. The days journey took us through Cornwall and over Dartmoor. We had been pre-warned that this would be the most gruelling stage of the trip. With the steep ascents to contend with, we found this to be no exaggeration. Getting over Dartmoor itself was not too hard going and provided spectacular views once at the top, but it was the steep hills, entering and leaving Dartmoor that were the real energy sappers. That said we managed to cover 107 miles, but we were somewhat behind schedule at this point. We again stayed with friends just south of Bristol, but this left us with an hour and twenty minute drive to get to their home, and the same again drive again the following morning to get back to our starting point, which only served to put us further behind schedule.

Day 3

We had to try and claw back some miles this day so it was always going to be tough. Despite taking some time negotiating Bristol we managed 128 miles which put us about 10 miles north of Cheltenham. It seemed like an age getting off the toe of England that is Cornwall, but once we had done this we could start heading due north. We stayed at a fantastic Bed & Breakfast called Pardon Hill Farm in the village of Gotherington. This was a family run B&B and after a hearty evening meal we felt sufficiently revived for the next day.

Day 4

Following an early rise and a full English Breakfast we were back on the road and covering the miles quickly. The countryside was relatively flat, save for one or two steep ascents of around 500 feet each, and before the day was out we had covered a further 118 miles and found ourselves 5 miles south of Warrington. We stayed in a Travelodge which was perfectly adequate for what we needed although the breakfast in the morning was a little bit disappointing.

Day 5

Again the countryside was relatively flat so we were making good time. We cycled through Warrington and Wigan and as we were a little behind schedule at this point we decided to sacrifice some of the more scenic roads as described in the various guide books we had brought with us, in favour of some of the arguably less scenic, but certainly quicker, A roads. After a long stretch of the A6 we found ourselves just short of Carlisle and having covered 122 miles. We once again stayed with friends near Castle Carrick which provided for plenty of rest and recuperation.

Day 6

From Carlisle we soon found ourselves in Gretna Green, made famous for hosting many a civil ceremony for young English couples (being just north of the border where the Scottish law provided for 16-18 year olds to get married without parental consent!). It was a huge motivating factor knowing that we had cycled the length of England, but we entered Scotland with some trepidation knowing there were going to many steep ascents. From Gretna Green we made our way to Kilmarnock having covered 117 miles. We were lucky enough to be put up by friends.

Day 7

The morning saw us travelling through Glasgow and over the Erskine Bridge and onto Loch Lomond. It was here where we really started to appreciate the scenic views Scotland had to offer. We continued along the A82 and finished the day in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis. It had been a long day and we had covered 123 miles having taken in an arduous climb. We stayed in a youth hostel this evening at Spean Bridge which proved to be perfectly adequate for an evening although breakfast was not provided and we stayed in a dormitory of 8 people and not having arrived until 10 pm we did not exactly ingratiate ourselves with our fellow hostellers as most of them were asleep.

Day 8

We continued along the banks of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness, and through to Inverness. We finished the day in Brora having covered 115 miles. We stayed with a very hospitable Scottish family in a large country house and we ate venison with them in the evening (shot from their estate) and were served porridge in the morning.

Day 9

By this stage we were ahead of schedule and left ourselves 66 miles on the final day to complete the trip. Although we were very close to the coastline there were several deceptively steep climbs to negotiate before we finally arrived at our destination, John O’Groats, 2 pm that day. Relief all round – we’d made it.

Punctures – 2
New Tryes – 2
Crashes – 1
Amount raised - £5,000 and counting
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