The flattest route through Devon and Cornwall ...

[Landsurfer]

Thats the whole point of the post .... did you not read the OP .... the flattest route through Devon .... thats not a flat route .....

 

[briantrumpet]

Erm, flat? ... this didn't feel too lumpy... it certainly avoids killer climbs, and was pleasant (in the St Ives to Exeter sense) https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1386461

I'm sure it could be tweaked, but the 'old A30' isn't a bad road at all, and goes from Sourton.

 

[nickyboy]

Having done LEJOG , and doing JOGLE next summer can anyone recommend the flattest route from Surton Cross to Lands End please... Mileage is not an issue just the flattest, easiest route ..... please ...
We .. ok I .... struggled heading north last year on the LEJOG ...

Depends what type of roads you want to ride on. A30 will be flattest but I presume you don't want to do that.

Flattest non-A30 is probably Sourton Cross -Launceston - Camelford - Wadebridge - St Columb Major - Redruth - Hayle - Penzance - Land's End

Using RWGPS that gives 54ft/mile climbing. I can't believe there is anything flatter. We are doing a similar route LEJOG next year but mainly minor roads (the above is, in the main, A roads). Our climbing is about 70ft/mile

 

[Ajax Bay]

Depends what type of roads you want to ride on. A30 will be flattest but I presume you don't want to do that.
Flattest non-A30 is probably Sourton Cross -Launceston - Camelford - Wadebridge - St Columb Major - Redruth - Hayle - Penzance - LE

No matter what else I tried, I could never get Sourton-LE below 2000m ascent and max 7.8%.

As a benchmark, the A30 all the way is 150km + 1721m.
My first stab at this is the same as @nickyboy: that comes to 162km + 1749m (so 'flatter' than A30 route). And about the same if one heads SW from Camborne via Marazion. In reverse, that's roughly the route I took on Day 1, but stayed 'high' (ENE) after Davidstow and took a straighter line via Holsworthy towards Hatherleigh (first night).
Going south about via North Brentor, Callington, Liskeard, (SW of) Bodmin, old A30 line, Goonhavern, before picking up the Scorrier, Redruth etc roads, comes up as 166km + 1793m.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

Here's the flattest route for LEJOG in general I've been able to come up with: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/33522 . It's about 25% less climbing than a more typical route, at the cost of an extra hundred miles. But those extra miles aren't in Cornwall or Devon, so you could nick that section and then go your own way.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Here's the flattest route for LEJOG in general I've been able to come up with: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/33522 . . .in Cornwall or Devon . . you could nick that section and then go your own way.

I've looked at Richard's route to Okehampton (Sourton Cross) and reversed it.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31670065
Comes out at 185km + 2019m - some lovely roads but significantly more climb (and 20km longer).
Richard - you might be interested in this topo map:
https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/maps/b9/England/

 

[footloose crow]

I've looked at Richard's route to Okehampton (Sourton Cross) and reversed it.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31670065
Comes out at 185km + 2019m - some lovely roads but significantly more climb (and 20km longer).
Richard - you might be interested in this topo map:
https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/maps/b9/England/

I have just looked at that RidewithGPS route too and agree that it is a good (ie.interesting, quiet roads) route as well as a flatter one. Up to Bodmin Moor anyway, haven't cycled the rest of it.

 

[Ajax Bay]

as well as a flatter one

For the avoidance of doubt, it's not flatter. @nickyboy 's suggestion ("Flattest non-A30 is probably Sourton Cross -Launceston - Camelford - Wadebridge - St Columb Major - Redruth - Hayle - Penzance - Land's End") is 280m less climb (but does spend a fair time on the A39, which is a perfectly good road to cycle on (ime and imo)).

 

[mjr]

As a benchmark, the A30 all the way is 150km + 1721m.
My first stab at this is the same as @nickyboy: that comes to 162km + 1749m (so 'flatter' than A30 route). And about the same if one heads SW from Camborne via Marazion. In reverse, that's roughly the route I took on Day 1, but stayed 'high' (ENE) after Davidstow and took a straighter line via Holsworthy towards Hatherleigh (first night).
Going south about via North Brentor, Callington, Liskeard, (SW of) Bodmin, old A30 line, Goonhavern, before picking up the Scorrier, Redruth etc roads, comes up as 166km + 1793m.

I don't see how you're arriving at those numbers without some long lengths of A road.

 

[mjr]

I've looked at Richard's route to Okehampton (Sourton Cross) and reversed it.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31670065
Comes out at 185km + 2019m - some lovely roads but significantly more climb (and 20km longer).

At a glance, the two seem to differ slightly in some places, including the RWGPS doing laps of Land's End. Enough to explain much climbing? I don't know.

 

[Ajax Bay]

the RWGPS doing laps of Land's End. Enough to explain much climbing?

My error for the short (?500m) extra lap. But that area around the LE 'attraction' parking is dead flat, as you may remember. So close to zero extra metres.

 

[Ajax Bay]

can anyone recommend the flattest route from Surton Cross to Lands End please.

the whole point of the post .... did you not read the OP .... the flattest route through Devon

Flattest non-A30 is probably Sourton Cross -Launceston - Camelford - Wadebridge - St Columb Major - Redruth - Hayle - Penzance - Land's End

I don't see how you're arriving at those numbers without some long lengths of A road.

OP asked for the flattest route; A roads (other than staying off the dualled A30 like any sane rider) not an issue.
As I said: "does spend a fair time on the A39, which is a perfectly good road to cycle on"
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31686068
163km + 1714m
40km on the A39 and some on the quiet A road into Newquay and then some on the A3075 to Scorrier. Depends on whether you want to 'get it done' or want to wiggle around (and up and down) after 'X' days on the road.
The last 90km is my Day 1 route in reverse, but I then went up to Padstow and across the ferry to Rock. Last year I rode almost exactly the route linked back from Penzance, through Sourton Cross and then down the old A30 to East Devon (210km).

 

[nickyboy]

OP asked for the flattest route; A roads (other than staying off the dualled A30 like any sane rider) not an issue.
As I said: "does spend a fair time on the A39, which is a perfectly good road to cycle on"
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31686068
163km + 1714m
40km on the A39 and some on the quiet A road into Newquay and then some on the A3075 to Scorrier. Depends on whether you want to 'get it done' or want to wiggle around (and up and down) after 'X' days on the road.
The last 90km is my Day 1 route in reverse, but I then went up to Padstow and across the ferry to Rock. Last year I rode almost exactly the route linked back from Penzance, through Sourton Cross and then down the old A30 to East Devon (210km).

Think you can shave another 200ft of climbing off by staying north to Hayle
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31688027

 

[Ajax Bay]

Think you can shave another 200ft of climbing off by staying north [of] Hayle

I get the same climb both ways (from Camborne station to Penzance station either via Connor Downs/Hayle or via Leedstown): 151m. Latter route also avoids the stretch on the A30 (Hayle to Longrock).
From Scorrier, taking the cyclepath to Portreath and then along the coast offers not the flattest route (+30m), but nicer than fighting through Redruth/Camborne urbania. Thing is, by then, most riders want to 'get JOGLE done' or, going north, are keen to get miles under their belt in the first few hours so principles and route philosophy may get neglected for expediency.

 

[Brian W]

As a benchmark, the A30 all the way is 150km + 1721m.
My first stab at this is the same as @nickyboy: that comes to 162km + 1749m (so 'flatter' than A30 route). And about the same if one heads SW from Camborne via Marazion. In reverse, that's roughly the route I took on Day 1, but stayed 'high' (ENE) after Davidstow and took a straighter line via Holsworthy towards Hatherleigh (first night).
Going south about via North Brentor, Callington, Liskeard, (SW of) Bodmin, old A30 line, Goonhavern, before picking up the Scorrier, Redruth etc roads, comes up as 166km + 1793m.

Hi Ajax

I want to thank you for your LEJOG route posted in Jan 2020 via Arran and Fort William. I finished yesterday doing it over 10 days in mostly great weather. You saved me so much time route finding through the south. I am based in Glasgow and already knew all the Scottish roads. I can recommend it to others. Thanks Brian