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Tours

LEJOG tour group

John O’Groats to Land’s End (15 days) – 2024

£2,375.00

TOUR REF: KJ24
TYPE: Road Cycling
LEVEL: Challenging 
DATES: 
07 Jul – 23 Jul 2024
DURATION: 17 days / 16 nights (15 days cycling)
ACCOMMODATION LEVEL: Standard 

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    Optional extras

    • 745 £
    • 85 £
    • 85 £

John O’Groats to Land’s End – 15 days

  • Our ever popular Land’s End to John O’Groats holiday in reverse
  • Challenge of cycling John O’Groats to Land’s End in 15 days, but we take care of everything so all you have to do is pedal
  • Scenic, quiet road route that takes you through some of the most attractive countryside in the UK
  • Hotels/B&B Accommodation

We have been organising Land’s End to John O’Groats cycling holidays for ten years, and have helped many people realise their dream of cycling the length of the UK. However we have had many people tell us they’d like to do it the other way round so we introduced this trip.

The route is our well established scenic route – but in reverse. Riding the ‘End to End’ in two weeks is always going to be a challenge for most people, however by starting in the north it does mean that you reach the hills of Devon and Cornwall (for most people the hardest part of the trip) at the end when you are feeling fitter, rather than the beginning of the trip.

And for those people who want a real challenge we have timed the holiday so that you could do our August Land’s End to John O’Groats trip and then immediately join this one to head back south.

This is a fabulous ride and our cycling holiday groups are always great fun. We look after you all the way and provide a certificate for those that complete the trip – just to prove you did it!!!

10 day, 2 week, 3 week or 4 week Independent Holiday.

If you would like to read other people’s comments on our holidays then check out the Customer Comments page.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrive at Inverness. Transport to JOG.

Day 2 – John O’Groats to Bettyhill – 55 miles
From the tourist complex at JOG the route takes you through Thurso and along the northern coast to the small settlement of Bettyhill.

Day 3 – Bettyhill to Evanton – 78 miles
A longer day as we turn south through the Scottish Highlands on some wonderful wild and lonely roads, ending the day on the shore of Cromarty Firth.

Day 4 – Evanton to Fort William – 80 miles
A spectacular ride that takes you around Cromarty Firth, then through the hills to Drumnadrochit on the shore of Loch Ness. From here you continue along the Great Glen, along the side of the Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy to the foot of Ben Nevis.

Day 5 – Fort William to Inveraray – 74 miles
An easier day that takes you along the shore of Loch Linnhe and around the head of Loch Awe, then over the hills and along Glen Aray to the historic little town of Inverarary.

Day 6 – Inveraray to Motherwell – 78 miles
The route takes you around the head of Loch Fyne and over the Rest and Be Thankful pass, then around Loch Long and alongside Loch Lomond. From here we use local cycle paths that take you through the centre of Scotland’s largest city and along the River Clyde.

Day 7 – Motherwell to Ecclefechan – 82 miles
A longer day that takes us away from the Clyde Valley and through the Southern Uplands.

Day 8 – Ecclefechan to Kirkby Stephen – 72 miles
We cross the border into England and continue along the scenic Eden Valley to the pretty little town of Kirkby Stephen.

Day 9 – Kirkby Stephen to Clitheroe – 55 miles
A fabulous ride that takes you through the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Forest of Bowland.

Day 10 – Clitheroe to Acton Bridge – 66 miles
We weave our way through the northern industrial heartland of England, before crossing over the Manchester Ship Canal.

Day 11 – Acton Bridge to Wentnor – 68 miles
The route takes you south across the Cheshire plain passing through some pretty villages, and in to Shropshire.

Day 12 – Wentnor to Tintern – 80 miles
Another lovely days ride as we continue through the pretty rolling countryside of Shropshire and Herfordshire and into Wales.

Day 13 – Tintern to Bridgwater – 65 miles
We cross over the Severn Bridge and pass around Bristol, before climbing into the Mendip Hills, descending through Cheddar Gorge and crossing the Somerset Levels to Bridgwater.

Day 14 – Bridgwater to Whiddon Down – 65 miles
We cross over the Quantock Hills and continue following narrow lanes through Devon.

Day 15 – Whiddon Down to Bodmin – 55 miles
A tough day that takes us across the wild moors of Dartmoor National Park and through Tavistock, then around the southern edge of Bodmin Moor and through the highest village in Cornwall.

Day 16 – Bodmin to Land’s End – 65 miles
The final day is a great ride, taking you from Bodmin and along the spectacular coast of Northern Cornwall to the tourist complex at Land’s End.

Day 17 – Transport to Penzance to begin the journey home

Tour Price includes:

Hotel/B&B
Breakfast
Vehicle support
Services of leader/mechanic
BA cycling shirt / JOGLE medal (if full trip completed)
Route information in .gpx / hardcopy formats
Transport from Land’s End to Penzance 
Transport from Inverness to John O’Groats (subject to arrival time)
John O’Groats to Land’s End certificate for those that complete the trip.

Tour Price does not include:

Lunches or evening meals 
Any snacks or drinks required during the day
Transport to Penzance or from Inverness
Cost of any optional excursions, entrance fees etc.

HOLIDAY DETAILS

The End to End: Ever since the invention of the bicycle people have been inspired to ride the ‘End to End’. The first official time recorded over the distance is 65 days, 16 hours and 7 minutes, ridden on a penny farthing in 1880, and since then the route has been covered on everything from a bed to a motorised bar stool!! Today the record is held by Gethin Butler who in September 2001 covered the distance in an incredible 1 day, 20 hours, 4 minutes and 20 seconds. The ladies record of 2 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes and 11 seconds is held by Lynne Taylor.
There is no ‘official’ End to End route and thus no official distance. There are various published guides – they all vary in the route they take, but most make the distance around 1,000 miles. Most trips start from Land’s End, the main reason being that the prevailing winds in the UK are usually from the south-west, and so in theory you could have a tail wind all the way to Scotland. On the other hand the hardest part of the trip is generally agreed to be the hills of Devon and Cornwall. By starting in the north you do this section at the end rather than the beginning of the trip.

The Tour: This is a fully supported holiday with a tour leader (who cycles with the group to ensure nobody is left behind) and vehicle support to carry all the luggage and provide additional assistance if necessary. The trip is designed to enable you to complete the ‘End to End’, while keeping to a route that follows minor roads as much as possible. The total distance is just over 1,000 miles, and to complete this in 15 days is a challenge that you should be prepared for. The daily mileage is between 55 and 80 miles a day, and there are no rest days. Most people do find that they get fitter during the tour (so the final few days through Devon and Cornwall, where there is alot of up and down, are less of a problem than if you are heading the other way), but there are some fairly long days through Scotland to begin with and so you need to be well prepared before you start the trip.

Accommodation & Food: This is a B&B/hotel based holiday and accommodation is generally graded 2-3* or similar. We book en-suite rooms wherever possible but this cannot be guaranteed. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single person of the same sex – unless the single room price for the holiday has been paid. Breakfast will be provided at the accommodation each morning. Evening meals are available at nearby pubs or restaurants.

Start: The trip starts at Inverness from where a coach takes you and your bike to John O’Groats. The coach will pick you up from either the airport or railway station, leaving Inverness at approximately 13.00 for the 3 hour journey to John O’Groats. The ride starts from John O’Groats the following morning at 09.30.

Finish: The cycling ends at Land’s End on Sunday evening. The price of the holiday includes accommodation at Land’s End that night. The following morning transport is provided to the railway station at Penzance (or you may prefer to cycle and we can meet you there with your luggage).

Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service from your home to the start, and from the end back to you home (additional fee is payable).

Documents: Insurance is optional for this holiday for UK residents. Participants from outside the UK must have suitable travel insurance.

Bikes: All types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that your bike functions properly and that you are comfortable riding it. However you should make sure that it has suitable gears as there are some very steep hills on parts of the route, notably in Devon and Yorkshire. Most people will require a cycle with a triple chainset. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow ‘slick’ tyres. You should also make sure that you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike. The route does cross some wild exposed areas with little in the way of shelter and no services, and you can get very cold and wet if the weather is bad.

Get In Touch

If you have any questions about any of our trips, please call us on 0800 002 9559 or send us a message below.