Lands end John o groats (walking) LEJOG

[i4got]

Todays video.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v36AP3AZPZO

I booked what I thought was a pub in Langport and plotted a route accordingly. One mile from Langport thought I’d check and the pub is in Aller. Now if you’re in a car it’s no big deal. But Aller is 2.5 miles further - 50 minutes walk along an A road. After an near 18 mile walk not ideal.

I had a massive stroke of luck. The walk to Langport then onto Aller was a V shape and I found a route that cut straight across. So glad I checked before arriving in Langport.

Oh and I had coffee and cake en route today with an older gent I met. Turns out he was the wrestler in the Tony the Tiger Frosties advert back in the day (for those old enough to remember).

Edited by i4got on Wednesday 13th April 20:23

[i4got]

TazN said:

Good luck OP!

I'm over in East Anglia so can't offer much assistance I'm afraid.

I've seriously considered this myself. Started with a thought in my head while showering - has anybody walked the UK coast (yes they have and are crazy) then onto lejog as a more realistic endeavour. Read afew blogs on it and think if I can ever get some free time I would love to take in the countryside this way. Will be keeping myself up to date with your progress.

Also if you fancy some walking related reading highly recommend The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.

Thank you. I read that and enjoyed it. Also enjoyed the fiction book The unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry. A good read about a man who goes out to post a letter and keeps on walking.

Edited by i4got on Wednesday 13th April 22:02

[i4got]

One other point from today. I’ve walked past many memorials over the last couple of weeks but one today was particularly poignant.

Somewhere between Ruishton and Creech St Michael I crossed under the M5 using an underpass in a bit of a wilderness.

Just before the underpass with thousands of people driving overhead unaware, I came across an arc of seven benches each with a name on and all facing a carved totem.





The memorial for was the seven victims of the 2011 M5 crash - the one caused by fog and smoke from a firework display I seem to remember.

Someone had recently laid flowers on a couple of the benches which shared the same surname.

Strange to think of it sitting underneath the motorway with so many cross over it daily.

[i4got]

croyde said:

Just looked up those Hoka trails. Maybe my next purchase.

I have used Merrell kotaka, I think they are called, also more a trail shoe, but I've used them year round in wet and muddy conditions.

Feet always comfortable and blister free but after two pairs they don't make them anymore.

Hope you are getting the good weather we are currently enjoying in the SE. I'm off to hike around the Welsh border tomorrow but weather not looking so good come the weekend.

ETA Yokota

The hokas i have are challenger ATR but also heard good reviews on hoka speedgoat. No personal experience of those though.

[i4got]

loughran said:

Have just looked up Tony the Tiger Wrestler.

Is this your cake and coffee guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nhF4AeIOEI

Could easily be. He’s now 71 but looks like he was able to handle himself back in the day. Ex pub landlord as well.

[i4got]

Todays video.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v1OwQGgoEEq

Shortish 12 mile walk to Glastonbury where I was met my Mrs I in the motorhome. Walking across the Somerset Levels is a bit dull.

For the next 4 nights we’ll be parked up in Wells and she’ll ferry me to and from the next two stops in Chilcompton and Bath. On Sunday I’ll have a day off before Mrs I heads home and I head up the Cotswold Way.

[i4got]

Bear-n said:

I'm really enjoying this thread.

When do you think you'll reach Leeds area? (I know your planned route is taking you slightly west of there)

I think the nearest i get to Leeds is either Hebdon bridge or Silsden - 5 and 6 of may.

[i4got]

Last couple of videos.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvxnzpP3B6

https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvxnzwBJ96

Yesterdays walk Glastonbury to Chilcompton was great - quiet lanes with views over Wells.

Today I got dropped back at Chilcompton expecting to walk along a quiet B road through picturesque Midsomer Norton. The B road wasn’t quiet and Midsomer Norton certainly wasn’t picturesque so I veered off cross country and found a perfect path towards Bath.

Perfect until about 2 miles from Bath. For those last two miles I wound my way through a massive housing estate. Even with Google maps it was a challenge to find a way through - it kept diverting me down alleys that it thought were shortcuts and I thought were potential mugging opportunities. I’m sure there must be better directions to approach Bath than from the south west.

I continue from Bath on Monday. It feels like I am turning a corner and heading direct north after a couple of weeks of heading north east.

[i4got]

Nice days walk mainly on the Cotswold Way to Tormarton. Paid £10 charity donation to pitch the tent in the grounds of a hotel. Tonight is the first night using my new sleeping bag - I’m hoping for a great improvement.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXvL219rR76

[i4got]

Taita said:

Do you have a very rough route plotted on a map for us to follow / forecast where you will be? Always up to help out with beer and scoff if you are nearby

no map but i have a spreadsheet which is probably less accurate the further out it goes. Its also subject to change based on accommodation. I’ll also probably add in a couple more rest days.

30/03/2022 Lands End to Penzance
31/03/2022 Camborne
01/04/2022 Truro
02/04/2022 Indian Queens
03/04/2022 Bodmin
04/04/2022 Liseard
05/04/2022 Liskeard
06/04/2022 Lydford
07/04/2022 Okehampton
08/04/2022 Crockernwell
09/04/2022 Crediton
10/04/2022 Tiverton
11/04/2022 Taunton
12/04/2022 Rest Day
13/04/2022 Aller
14/04/2022 Glastonbury
15/04/2022 Chilcompton
16/04/2022 Bath
17/04/2022 Rest Day
18/04/2022 Tormarton
19/04/2022 Dursley
20/04/2022 Stonehouse
21/04/2022 Gloucester
22/04/2022 Tewkesbury
23/04/2022 Worcester
24/04/2022 Rest Day
25/04/2022 Stourport
26/04/2022 Swindon
27/04/2022 Calf Heath
28/04/2022 Great Haywood
29/04/2022 Cookshill
30/04/2022 Cheddleton
01/05/2022 Buxton
02/05/2022 Hayfield
03/05/2022 Crowden
04/05/2022 Slaithwaite
05/05/2022 Hebden Bridge
06/05/2022 Silsden(join Dales Way at Addingham)
07/05/2022 Appletreewick / Burnsall
08/05/2022 Buckden
09/05/2022 Ribbleshead
10/05/2022 Sedburgh
11/05/2022 Burneside
12/05/2022 Windermere
13/05/2022 Rest Day
14/05/2022 Langdale
15/05/2022 Borrowdale
16/05/2022 Skiddaw
17/05/2022 Hesket Newmarket
18/05/2022 Carlisle
19/05/2022 Ecclefechin
20/05/2022 Lochmaben
21/05/2022 Moffatt/Dumcrief
22/05/2022 Ettrick
23/05/2022 Whiteknowe Head
24/05/2022 Peebles
25/05/2022 Rest Day
26/05/2022 Carlops
27/05/2022 Edinburgh
28/05/2022 Inverkeithing
29/05/2022 Kinross
30/05/2022 Bridge of Earn
31/05/2022 Perth
01/06/2022 Dunkeld
02/06/2022 Pitlochry
03/06/2022 Blair Athol
04/06/2022 Falls of Tarf
05/06/2022 Courrer
06/06/2022 Aviemore
07/06/2022 Carn Thearlaich
08/06/2022 Moy
09/06/2022 Inverness
10/06/2022 Rest Day
11/06/2022 Alness
12/06/2022 Dornoch
13/06/2022 Brora
14/06/2022 Helmsdale
15/06/2022 Berriedale
16/06/2022 Lybster
17/06/2022 Whaligoe
18/06/2022 Wick
19/06/2022 Keiss
20/06/2022 John O groats

Edited by i4got on Monday 18th April 19:39

[i4got]

Phil. said:

Slaithwaite

Brings back fond memories of living in West Yorkshire for 15 years. But do you know how to pronounce Slaithwaite?

I don’t. But I now know how to pronounce Mousehole in Cornwall.

[i4got]

markcp said:

Gutted! I live near Tormarton so was going to pop down with some supplies but I've missed you

Good luck with the rest of the walk - its a brilliant achievement, especially if you manage to raise some cash for a worthwhile cause.

Nice little place. I’d never heard of it before. But it could do with a shop - unless I missed it.

[i4got]

Phil. said:

i4got said:

22/04/2022 Tewkesbury
23/04/2022 Worcester
24/04/2022 Rest Day
25/04/2022 Stourport
26/04/2022 Swindon
27/04/2022 Calf Heath
28/04/2022 Great Haywood

There’s a bit of an unnecessary diversion in this part of the plan. Quite a few extra miles too

It surprised me too.

[i4got]

Rosscow said:

We've recently bought a new trailer tent and used the long weekend to get it in the garden and try it out.

Couldn't believe how cold it was on Saturday and Sunday night!! And that's with the missus to spoon!

Hope the OP's new sleeping bag was an improvement?

It was great thanks - mind you it’s about 4 times more expensive than the last one I bought.

[i4got]

Got to wootton under edge. Walked the length of the high street and loads of tea rooms but no pubs. Was beginning to panic I’d found the only temperance town in Britain but got to the end and found the Royal Oak.

Edited by i4got on Tuesday 19th April 13:57

[i4got]

Regbuser said:

A nice clear pint of LP

Timmy Taylor Landlord disguised in a Pride glass.

[i4got]

Taita said:

Ah, a fellow Osprey EXOS user!

Good effort getting all the kit into that for such a hike. Which litreage did you go for?

48. Any bigger I’d have been tempted to overpack. I treated myself to a third t shirt in Taunton. Its made life a lot easier. (On those around me as well)

[i4got]

Chuggy said:

I see you're planning on being in Carlops 26/05. If you were intending to stay at the Allan Ramsay, please be aware, it's closed down. Better aim for the Gordon Arms, West Linton

Thanks for the info. To be honest my Scottish geography is lacking. I think I just stuck a pin in a map for somewhere roughly half way between Peebles and Edinburgh. Ideally I’ll be looking for a camp site so I’m open to suggestions or even alternate routes.

[i4got]

LeadFarmer said:

Would love to do the LEJOG when I retire.

I have a million questions, but I'll save them till your walk is completed, but I guess my top four (for now) would be..

1) How are you charging your iPhone?
2) Are you using any map apps to plot your route?
3) How do you keep your feet dry, or isn't it worth trying?
4) Do you set (and reach) your destination each day, such as a camp site, or just see where you end up?

Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 19th April 21:46

1. I carry a battery pack which holds about 3 or 4 charges. Bought a quick charging plug and cable so the phone and battery don't take as long to charge. I use any spare socket I find - pub, cafe etc.

2. I use google maps and OS maps a lot. Downloaded all maps in OS app as I quite often have no service and the app still works. I use sites like Slowways and LDWA to get gpx files and load the gpx files in the OS app. I hardly ever stick to the route I have in mind when I set out though. I get easily distracted if I find a PH symbol on my map.

3. I don’t. Generally my trainers dry quickly. I have 3 pairs of socks and try to keep one pair dry if possible.

4. I have a full list of stops so I know if I’m on track or not. I start beefing each location out with a couple of options for accommodation maybe 10 days in advance. I plan in detail and make bookings about 5 days in advance. So I normally know where I ‘m sleeping for the next 5 days. Sometimes lacks of options mean route changes but so far only 2 or 3 times. Last week I had a cancellable campsite which I cancelled the day before and walked through to next stop to give myself an extra rest day.

[i4got]

LeadFarmer said:

i4got said:

LeadFarmer said:

Would love to do the LEJOG when I retire.

I have a million questions, but I'll save them till your walk is completed, but I guess my top four (for now) would be..

1) How are you charging your iPhone?
2) Are you using any map apps to plot your route?
3) How do you keep your feet dry, or isn't it worth trying?
4) Do you set (and reach) your destination each day, such as a camp site, or just see where you end up?

Edited by LeadFarmer on Tuesday 19th April 21:46

1. I carry a battery pack which holds about 3 or 4 charges. Bought a quick charging plug and cable so the phone and battery don't take as long to charge. I use any spare socket I find - pub, cafe etc.

2. I use google maps and OS maps a lot. Downloaded all maps in OS app as I quite often have no service and the app still works. I use sites like Slowways and LDWA to get gpx files and load the gpx files in the OS app. I hardly ever stick to the route I have in mind when I set out though. I get easily distracted if I find a PH symbol on my map.

3. I don’t. Generally my trainers dry quickly. I have 3 pairs of socks and try to keep one pair dry if possible.

4. I have a full list of stops so I know if I’m on track or not. I start beefing each location out with a couple of options for accommodation maybe 10 days in advance. I plan in detail and make bookings about 5 days in advance. So I normally know where I ‘m sleeping for the next 5 days. Sometimes lacks of options mean route changes but so far only 2 or 3 times. Last week I had a cancellable campsite which I cancelled the day before and walked through to next stop to give myself an extra rest day.

Brill, thanks for answering.
I've read a few books/blogs by people who have done the LEJOG and they each took different things with them, one posted his tent back home after a few days as he struggled carrying it and resorted to booking accommodation, but that's quite a gamble I imagine.

When (if?) I finish, I’ll do a post on what worked and what didn’t.