Lejog - roads to avoid or roads not to be missed!!

[mykaloon]

Here's a summary of our whole route. Any last minute changes we should make (less than 2 weeks to go now!)

Day 0 (route from Penzance to LE for photo etc then same route back to Penzance before heading off next morning headed for Okehampton) - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1303342
Day 1 - Penzance to Okehampton - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1334408
Day 2 - Okehampton to Bristol - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1302596
Day 3 - Bristol to Clun - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1302859
Day 4 - Clun to Warrington - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1302933
Day 5 - Warrington to Kendal - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1303222
Day 6 - Kendal to Moffat - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1315892
Day 7 - Moffat to Dumbarton - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1315922
Day 8 - Dumbarton to Fort William - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1318666
Day 9 - Fort William to Inverness - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1318697
Day 10 - Inverness to Tongue - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1318714
Day 11 - Tongue to John o' Groats - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1318729

 

[just jim]

On the Inverness to Tongue part you take a bit of a dog-leg route to get to Evanton. There is a cycle path that will take you over the Kessock Bridge (nice views - might see a dolphin) to Tore, then over the causeway.

Beyond that you have a gradual ascent and a sharp downhill via the Struie road to Bonar Bridge - nice!

As mentioned earlier, beyond Bonar Bridge you see a definite change in terrain - the siting of the Crask Inn is perfect in this regard, so you should consider a rewarding pause there.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

On day four (Clun to Warrington) I notice that you are using the A488 along the Hope Valley to get to Shrewsbury.

If it was my trip I personally would rather use the parallel route to the east (unclassified) which passes Norbury, Wentnor, and Bridges then goes through Pulverbatch, Longden, Hook-a-Gate and into Shrewsbury.

The reasons for this are that:
1) It's a quieter road than the A488 but just as wide and less twisty, giving opportunity for traffic to pass.
2) It's a more scenic route (the Hope Valley feels like a tree lined tunnel in places).
3) It avoids Minsterley and Pontesbury, which seem to have more than their fair share of fast and aggressive drivers.
4) Most importantly - It crosses the Shrewsbury bypass on a bridge so you don't have to negotiate the very cycle unfriendly A488/A5 traffic island.

The downside is that the summit of this section is 130 feet (about 40 metres) higher than the A488 but hopefully this will be made up for by the descent of Cothercott Hill and 10 miles of (mostly) downhill from Pulverbatch to Shrewsbury.

I hope this is of help.

 

[mykaloon]

Thanks Phil - have tweaked my Day 4 from Clun to Warrington as you suggested. Only 5 days to go now....

Thanks again to you all for all the help in fine tuning my route!

 

[Scoosh]

If you are able to post up your progress as you go, it gives an opportunity for the CC folk around the country to meet you and escort you around their local patch !

I've been fortunate/privileged to assist a few folk in this past week - but you're not coming to Embra (a good idea if doing LEJoG IMHO )

Have a great ride !

Bon Courage !

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

So, how did it go?
I hope you had a good trip but looking at how the weather was, , I suspect you got quite wet at times.

 

[Paul Walters]

as just jim says.....
Edinburgh - (old A9) Inverness - Lairg - Bettyhill -JOG (via Strathnaver).

I did this in reverse, as it were, on a JoGLE direction.
The Bettyhill/ Strathnaver valley/Loch Naver road was THE BEST part of the whole route & you'd get an opportunity to stop,however briefly or otherwise,at The Crask Inn. A marvellous place with great hospitality.
You can do Tongue next time

Yep +1 for Strath Naver and Bettyhill being THE BEST PART OF THE ROUTE.....+ Crask Inn.... I'd do it all again for that road and valley... the ride down Strath Naver to Bettyhill (heading north) was stunning.

 

[Paul Walters]

A picture of the raod that runs by Loch Naver for those that haven't ridden it.

It was a blisteringly hot day when I rode along here in 2008... so hot we decided to swim in the Loch.... which was sub-zero! I had two new lumps in my throat when I got out !! BRRRRR!

 

[Holly]

Don't go on A49 however tempting. It is a major trunk road and windy so vehicles are driven dangerously to overtake. Avoid at all costs.

A road not to miss is the 10 mile downhill into Breamar!! Highlight of the trip for me! When I say 10 miles I mean 10 miles! I think it's the a93 but I'm not certain. We spent the afternoon gently climbing through the cairn gorms to reach the top at about 4pm and then to see the easy ride into Breamar smiles all the way.

Cheddar gorge is another good place which is just after the hevenly sommerset levels.

 

[stumpy66]

as just jim says.....
Edinburgh - (old A9) Inverness - Lairg - Bettyhill -JOG (via Strathnaver).

I did this in reverse, as it were, on a JoGLE direction.
The Bettyhill/ Strathnaver valley/Loch Naver road was THE BEST part of the whole route & you'd get an opportunity to stop,however briefly or otherwise,at The Crask Inn. A marvellous place with great hospitality.
You can do Tongue next time

the Crask inn is great, justdont stay in the bunkhouse