strofiwimple
Veteran
- Location
- sunderland
I arrived home last Thursday night (7th June) after completing the trip in 13 days. Originally I had the idea of just pootling till I felt I wanted to stop for the day but having read some horror stories of people being stuck at Wick or Thurso for a couple of days because they couldn't get their bikes on the train I decided to structure the ride more and pre-booked accommodation and trains back home. In retrospect this was probably the better option.
Overnight stays were Land's End Hostel the night before the start then Wadebridge, South Molton, Portishead, Leominster, Church Minshull, Preston, Penrith, Tushielaw, Cowdenbeath, Pitlochry, Inverness, Altnaharra, Jog. I based the route on the ctc b&b route and adapted slightly where needed.
If anyone is planning a similar route just get in touch and I will be more than happy to give info on accommodation, route etc.
Maybe because it was at the start and everyone told me how hard Cornwall was I mentally prepared myself for a slog of a first day but I didn't find it as tough as I was expecting. Admittedly I used the A30 for the first 30 miles up to the three burrows roundabout-if you can put up with the traffic noise there is what for all intents and purposes is a yard wide cycle lane up to that point.
Devon was the beast I had been told and with 28c temp plus a strong headwind it was the hardest day of the lot-until the very last day when I was hit by a gale force headwind and torrential rain from Bettyhill to Jog-50 miles took almost nine hours
That was my only 'down day' of the whole ride.
Highlights are too many to mention but I had forgot what amazing scenery this isle has to offer and in Scotland in particular I stopped so many times to take in the views.
Would I do it again? a definite yes, would I do it again solo? a definite NO! The highs & lows are much better shared, two of my mates joined me south of Manchester, one stayed with me to Penrith and the other stayed with me to Edinburgh and these were the most enjoyable days of all.
My trusty super galaxy came through without a hitch and I was lucky enough to get no punctures at all (unlike one of my mates-3 in the space of 2 hours!)
Considering our climate I was very lucky with the weather with only 2 days of deluge, mind you going past Thurso I'm sure I saw an auld fella with a white beard wearing a white robe knocking up a boat with loads of animals (two by two) waiting to get on board
As lucky as I was with the sunshine the same cant be said of the wind, I didn't have a tailwind for the whole ride save for a weird 20mile stretch from Lairg to Altnaharra (so much for the south westerly come June). The first week was in hot (too hot at times) sunshine yet when I left Pitlochry at the start of day nine it was minus2!
My advice to anyone thinking of doing it is-stop thinking and do it
you will enjoy it immensely and lastly-invest in a Brooks saddle, my backside was probably the only part of me that didn't ache at one time or another!
Overnight stays were Land's End Hostel the night before the start then Wadebridge, South Molton, Portishead, Leominster, Church Minshull, Preston, Penrith, Tushielaw, Cowdenbeath, Pitlochry, Inverness, Altnaharra, Jog. I based the route on the ctc b&b route and adapted slightly where needed.
If anyone is planning a similar route just get in touch and I will be more than happy to give info on accommodation, route etc.
Maybe because it was at the start and everyone told me how hard Cornwall was I mentally prepared myself for a slog of a first day but I didn't find it as tough as I was expecting. Admittedly I used the A30 for the first 30 miles up to the three burrows roundabout-if you can put up with the traffic noise there is what for all intents and purposes is a yard wide cycle lane up to that point.
Devon was the beast I had been told and with 28c temp plus a strong headwind it was the hardest day of the lot-until the very last day when I was hit by a gale force headwind and torrential rain from Bettyhill to Jog-50 miles took almost nine hours
That was my only 'down day' of the whole ride.
Highlights are too many to mention but I had forgot what amazing scenery this isle has to offer and in Scotland in particular I stopped so many times to take in the views.
Would I do it again? a definite yes, would I do it again solo? a definite NO! The highs & lows are much better shared, two of my mates joined me south of Manchester, one stayed with me to Penrith and the other stayed with me to Edinburgh and these were the most enjoyable days of all.
My trusty super galaxy came through without a hitch and I was lucky enough to get no punctures at all (unlike one of my mates-3 in the space of 2 hours!)
Considering our climate I was very lucky with the weather with only 2 days of deluge, mind you going past Thurso I'm sure I saw an auld fella with a white beard wearing a white robe knocking up a boat with loads of animals (two by two) waiting to get on board
As lucky as I was with the sunshine the same cant be said of the wind, I didn't have a tailwind for the whole ride save for a weird 20mile stretch from Lairg to Altnaharra (so much for the south westerly come June). The first week was in hot (too hot at times) sunshine yet when I left Pitlochry at the start of day nine it was minus2!
My advice to anyone thinking of doing it is-stop thinking and do it
you will enjoy it immensely and lastly-invest in a Brooks saddle, my backside was probably the only part of me that didn't ache at one time or another!
Hope you don't feel too down in the next few days like I did (& still do on occassion). And yes I would/will do it again 
Tony
