LEJOG - local/previous knowledge required

[Lpoolck]

I am completing LEJOG unsupported with one of my friends in August.

I have drafted up my LEJOG route and I would appreciate any local knowledge or any previous knowledge in order to suggest any amendments to my routes. I am wishing to stay away from busy roads as much as possible, and to keep the climbing down if possible . The start and finish point of each day are set (accommodation is booked) so these unfortunately cannot be changed:

Day 1 - Lands End to Okehampton - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771959
Day 2 - Okehamption to Cheddar - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771963
Day 3 - Cheddar to Leominster - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771956
Day 4 - Leominster to Liverpool - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771955
Day 5 - Liverpool to Dufton - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771952
Day 6 - Dufton to Hopehouse - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21574519
Day 7 - Hopehouse to Perth - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21574587
Day 8 - Perth to Aviemore - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771946
Day 9 - Aviemore to Lairg - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21575491
Day 10 - Lairg to John O'Groats - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/21740987

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Your route on day 4 through my part of the world looks interesting. For the most part it's on relatively quiet roads that I'd be happy with, but it takes you onto the A49 for a short section after Ludlow (which could be avoided if you don't mind a short detour past Pearce cycles and through Stanton Lacy) and then again from Church Stretton all the way to Shrewsbury which I wouldn't really recommend due to being busy with lorries and not particularly wide. You wouldn't enjoy it.

There are a couple of alternatives and the one I'd suggest is to change your route from Ticklerton (just before mile 22) to go to Cardington, Comley, Longnor, Great Ryton, Condover, Betton Strange and into Shrewsbury via a short section of the A458 (Wenlock Road).

The other thing I notice from your route is that in Shrewsbury it takes you past the railway station up a flight of steps then the wrong way along a one way street. You'd see a nicer side of the town if you turn left after crossing Greyfriars Bridge (at Coleham, approx 36.5 miles on your map) and follow Victoria Avenue through The Quarry.

I hope that's of some use.

 

[snorri]

Day 9, break off your route at Ardgay and make for Bonar Bridge then keeping the water on your left, rejoin your route at Invershin. This proposal would save you carrying your bike down a flight of stairs at the Invershin railway bridge and also give you the opportunity to take on stores and refreshments at Bonar. You would make better time going via Bonar, wider road and less undulating, but If you have time and you want pretty, follow your original plan.

 

[User482]

Day 3: your route out of Cheddar towards Burrington, and a couple of places in the Forest of Dean is on bridleways - did you mean to do that? Overall, that's a very hilly route you've picked. I echo the advice from @Rickshaw Phil about avoiding the A49 through Shropshire and Cheshire - I used it on my LEJOG and it was grim.

I'd head out of Cheddar on the Strawberry Line to Yatton (though avoid it in the wet), then Clevedon, Portbury, Shirehampton, Hallen, Pilning, Chepstow, Offa's Dyke to Trelleck, Monmouth, A466 to Hereford, then the lanes to Leominster.

 

[mjr]

Day 2 - Okehamption to Cheddar - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771963

I don't understand the double-back after mile 60 near West Lyng. Also, the A361 is pretty grim cycling - pretty narrow with some motorists driving too fast for the road - so I'd either continue on the canal/river paths and back roads (NCR 3 / 33) until north of the A39 and rejoin your route at Shapwick, or use the parallel back roads through North Curry, Athelney, Burrowbridge, Middlezoy, Greylake and then the minimum of the A361. I'd also cross straight across the A39 if you can - I've had a few scares from motorists on that road, including when driving. The Wedmore-Cheddar B road isn't the most fun either but it's usually OK and I think it's gently downhill and pretty simple in that direction, which might be good near the end of a day.

Day 3 - Cheddar to Leominster - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771956

That's a legbursting start to the day and bridleway as @User482 mentions - are you sure it's rideable? The top looks on streetview like grass track with large boulders. I'm lazy so I'd use the Strawberry Line NCR26 (even in the wet, IMO) and Shute Shelve Tunnel to get across the Mendips to Clevedon, then NCR 410 to Portbury and the Avonmouth Bridge, although the planned NCR 26 along the Walton/Weston B road is faster and not bad off-peak. I suspect the Shipham Road and even the Gorge itself would also be much easier than your planned route.

 

[ianbarton]

On day 4 the Post Office at Hanmer (West of Whitchurch) does excellent homemade sandwiches and cake. Nice seats overlooking the Mere and it's on your route.

 

[jay clock]

You say you want to avoid main roads and have day 1 on the A30. A horrific road, If you do decide to stick with it, I implore you to avoid any sections with dual carriageway. Essentially a motorway with no hard shoulder

 

[jay clock]

Needs some tinkering but here is a route I did from Winchester to Padstow. needs reversing

These are as actually cycled

Launceston to Padstow. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1181175891

Okehampton to Launceston. took the old A30 parallel to the new A30 a few miles south

Newquay to Padstow the B3276 is fine

 

[Tigerbiten]

The only reason to go to Tongue on day 10 is to stop at the hostel.
It's both shorter and flatter to turn right at Altnaharra on the B873 alongside Loch Naver direct to Bettyhill.

 

[Lpoolck]

Your route on day 4 through my part of the world looks interesting. For the most part it's on relatively quiet roads that I'd be happy with, but it takes you onto the A49 for a short section after Ludlow (which could be avoided if you don't mind a short detour past Pearce cycles and through Stanton Lacy) and then again from Church Stretton all the way to Shrewsbury which I wouldn't really recommend due to being busy with lorries and not particularly wide. You wouldn't enjoy it.

There are a couple of alternatives and the one I'd suggest is to change your route from Ticklerton (just before mile 22) to go to Cardington, Comley, Longnor, Great Ryton, Condover, Betton Strange and into Shrewsbury via a short section of the A458 (Wenlock Road).

The other thing I notice from your route is that in Shrewsbury it takes you past the railway station up a flight of steps then the wrong way along a one way street. You'd see a nicer side of the town if you turn left after crossing Greyfriars Bridge (at Coleham, approx 36.5 miles on your map) and follow Victoria Avenue through The Quarry.

I hope that's of some use.

Phil, thanks for taking the time to help me amend this day - I have edited the route - after Greyfriars Bridge there appears to be a nice tarmacked cycle path beside the river so I have taken this - is this what you mean? Thanks Chris.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771955

 

[Lpoolck]

On day 4 the Post Office at Hanmer (West of Whitchurch) does excellent homemade sandwiches and cake. Nice seats overlooking the Mere and it's on your route.

Thanks for the recommendation - 60 miles in. Looks like a perfect place to stop for lunch.

 

[Lpoolck]

Day 9, break off your route at Ardgay and make for Bonar Bridge then keeping the water on your left, rejoin your route at Invershin. This proposal would save you carrying your bike down a flight of stairs at the Invershin railway bridge and also give you the opportunity to take on stores and refreshments at Bonar. You would make better time going via Bonar, wider road and less undulating, but If you have time and you want pretty, follow your original plan.

Thanks for the advice - going your way as saved me 0.5 miles and 514 feet of climbing. Your route looks like it has nice views of the hills on street view!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Phil, thanks for taking the time to help me amend this day - I have edited the route - after Greyfriars Bridge there appears to be a nice tarmacked cycle path beside the river so I have taken this - is this what you mean? Thanks Chris.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771955

That's better. The path by the river isn't going the way I meant but that reroute has put you onto some quieter residential roads than the ones on the original.

The bit through Cardington to Shrewsbury is great but I'd reroute it slightly from miles 26-30 to pass Comley rather than Enchmarsh and Lawley as that reduces the amount of climbing (the climb up to Enchmarsh is an evil one that gets steeper the further up you go).

 

[Ian H]

On day 1 you would be better going along the A3075 and cutting across to St Columb Major following the A39 to Camelford to rejoin your existing route. This avoids a nasty section of the A30.
Day 2: the first part looks pointlessly hilly. I'd stick to the A3072 through Bow and Copplestone, then the back road (Higher Road) towards Crediton and the A3072 again to Bickleigh (a hilly but spectacular road—a favourite with cyclists). Past Tiverton and Sampford Peverall I wouldn't bother with the towpath, slow and full of dog-walkers. The road through Halberton is fine. The A361 will be busy at rush hour, not too bad otherwise; difficult to avoid without a major reroute from Taunton.

 

[Lpoolck]

Day 3: your route out of Cheddar towards Burrington, and a couple of places in the Forest of Dean is on bridleways - did you mean to do that? Overall, that's a very hilly route you've picked. I echo the advice from @Rickshaw Phil about avoiding the A49 through Shropshire and Cheshire - I used it on my LEJOG and it was grim.

I'd head out of Cheddar on the Strawberry Line to Yatton (though avoid it in the wet), then Clevedon, Portbury, Shirehampton, Hallen, Pilning, Chepstow, Offa's Dyke to Trelleck, Monmouth, A466 to Hereford, then the lanes to Leominster.

Thanks @User482 I have taken your suggested route, it appears so much better so thank you. There is a part of the A49 at Callow for 2 miles that I have not been able to avoid without a large detour!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/20771956