8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Specific board for this popular undertaking.
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craig749
Posts: 12
Joined: 18 Sep 2011, 5:30pm

8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by craig749 »

After months of planning my first lejog trip i have finally mapped out my 8 day route. If anyone has cycled any of the route and has any advice that would be much appreciated. Please find the planned route below.

Land's end-Tiverton - 126.5 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815800 )

Tiverton-Ross On Wye - 114.5 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815809 )

Ross On Wye-Chester - 101.7 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815813 )

Chester-Penrith - 133.6 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815849 )

Penrith-Cumbernauld - 117.6 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815854 )

Cumbernauld-Fort William - 109.8 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815855 )

Fort William-Ardgay - 99.6 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815857 )

Ardgay-John O Groats - 86.3 miles ( http://ridewithgps.com/routes/815871 )

Many thanks

Craig
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Mick F
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Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by Mick F »

Here's my thoughts:
LE to Tiverton is ok, but please be aware that the A30 is a major dual carriageway - no probs, but it's a motorway by another name.
You seem to come off through Temple. Why?
Also, as you're on the A30, why come off at Kennard's House?
Stay on the A30 in both places. Far easier if you actually really want to be on the A30.

When you get to Crediton, stay on the main road into the town, then leave on the A3072 but go through Rob's Passage to Tiverton.
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=29204

Also, why go into Ross?
Go up to Leominster via A417 or up via Yarkhill.
Mick F. Cornwall
craig749
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Joined: 18 Sep 2011, 5:30pm

Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by craig749 »

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the message. To be honest the roads/route that you viewed are the ones that the ride with gps website recommend. As i dont know a lot of the roads that well i thought i would see what advice i get from people who know the roads better than me, and then ammend the route accordingly. From what i have seen on other peoples routes the A30 seems to be a popular choice? would you say this is the best option for speed/distance? is there a way to skip the A30?

Thanks for the link about rob's passage, i will ammend the route to go through there. The main reason for going via Ross is because i want to stop in Chester (home). After looking at other people routes who have gone via Chester a lot of them stopped at Ross. I also stayed there a few years back so i thought it would be good to go back again.

Thanks again for your help/advice

Craig
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Mick F
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Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by Mick F »

Hi again, and good morning!
The A30 is only a "popular route" for anyone wanting to get a move on and do a sub 10 day LEJOG, though most folk don't use much of it as it's noisy and boring.

My advice for speed is to use the A30 all the way to Exeter, then head north through the city and exit on the B3181. This is the Old A38. Take that road to just east of Tiverton, and it turns into the A38. Follow it to Gloucester.

From Gloucester, head NW on the A417, or if you've had enough of main roads, use the B4215 and A4172 to join the A417 further up. Follow A417 to join the A49 for Leominster.

Follow A49 all the way to Preston, turning off for Chester! - then A6 all the way to Carlisle.

If you don't want the main A30, follow these:
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=137516 LE to Okehampton
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course. ... rse=228070 Okehampton to Wellington

Hope that helps.
Mick F. Cornwall
Ron
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Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 9:07pm

Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by Ron »

There are a few alternatives here, going around hills rather than over them http://ridewithgps.com/users/52740/routes
It's all a bit of a balancing act, personal choice, quieter/busier roads, and less/more climbing on longer/shorter distances. :)
Hector's House
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Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 5:03pm
Location: Glasgow/Edinburgh

Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by Hector's House »

The only stretch I've done of that is the A82 between Corran and Spean Bridge, although we were going south. It's all pretty narrow and fast - and the map is deceptive, as it's quite a bit more windy than it shows, between Corran and Fort William. I suppose it could be OK if there was a group of you and you stuck together, as we did (although, for the stretch between Fort William and Corran we had dispersed quite widely. I stuck at the back next to a slightly unconfident chap. I wouldn't do it again. And, if you're going at a good lick, the cars should respect you.

So in sum, if there's two of you or more and you stick together, and/or have a support van, you should be OK.
bogmyrtle
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Joined: 5 Mar 2008, 10:29pm

Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by bogmyrtle »

Your route through Carlisle takes you the wrong way up a one way street (Spencer Street). The main traffic route from south to north is along the A6 until it meets the A7 (Georgian Way), left turn on to Georgian Way, then staight across Hardwicke Circus roundabout to continue on the A7.
This route is busy at peak times and involves being in the right lane at the right time. Hardwick Circus roundabout is traffic light controlled at peak times. When the lights are off traffic can approach the roundabout at daft speeds.

There are various alterative twisty turny ways using other roads and cycle routes but the quickest and easiest way to avoid the busy bits is to go straight through the city centre (it isn't very big). Don't follow the A6 where it goes to the right through the Crescent and Lowther Street, instead, go straight onto English Street which leads to the pedestrianised centre. Go straight through the pedestrianised area (strictly speaking you should push your bike but lots of people don't), this brings you out near Debenhams (traffic one way at this point). You can then either head for the cyclepath on Castle Way or go past the Civic Centre (the ugly tall building) and then use the underpass to take you back onto the A7 (Bitts Park exit). This avoids Hardwicke Circus roundabout and brings you out on a shared footpath/cyclepath. You then join the A7.

When you get to the Kingstown area (Parkhouse Road), there is a new roundabout. Traffic crosses this roundabout at speed at the moment and it's set to get a lot busier in April 2012 when the new northern development road currently under construction will connect with the M6 via this roundabout
A bike does more miles to the banana than a Porsche.
craig749
Posts: 12
Joined: 18 Sep 2011, 5:30pm

Re: 8 day lejog route...any thoughts?

Post by craig749 »

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the advice its much appreciated. I'm going to spend a bit of time looking in to the roads and change the route accordingly having looked at your advice.

Just one last question if you dont mind. When i originally started planning my route i had two options for the first two days. The one you have seen and commented and the other was: LE-Oakhampton, Oakhampton-St.Briavels. I could then go from St.Briavels on day 3 to chester (home). As you know the area very well which of the two route options would be best?

Thanks again

Craig
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