Lands end John o groats (walking) LEJOG
Discussion
Antony Moxey said:
Ha, yes but that means the OP’s still significantly more than half way, plus he’s got all that wonderful scenery to enjoy and more whisky distilleries than you can shake a stick at. Even though I’m at the opposite end of the country, I’d say he’s got the best yet to come.
Amazing stuff!There’s no getting away from the fact that the first two days in Scotland have been pretty rubbish. Virtually all day walking alongside roads or even when I get off the main roads its more tarmac.
I’m getting the impression that when I’m not on a proper trail there just aren’t enough scenic or off road routes between towns and villages.
I’m concerned that getting from the Southern Upland Way at Peebles through Inverleithing to the Cairngorms is going to involve a lot of time on the road and that's just not an enjoyable walk. I’m doing this to enjoy it not as some kind of endurance test.
So I've decided to change route after tomorrow at Moffat and head up west Scotland rather than east.
I’m going to head for Glasgow and walk up the West Highland Way to Fort William then up the Great Glen Way to Inverness.
Hopefully this will mean that I only have about 3 days of dreary walking to get to Glasgow then its easy street off road mainly all the way to John O Groats.
Tonight I need to do some major replanning but I’m confident it’s the right call. I don’t want to finish this and think I walked some great B roads in Scotland when it has so much more to offer.
Now back to the whisky.
I’m getting the impression that when I’m not on a proper trail there just aren’t enough scenic or off road routes between towns and villages.
I’m concerned that getting from the Southern Upland Way at Peebles through Inverleithing to the Cairngorms is going to involve a lot of time on the road and that's just not an enjoyable walk. I’m doing this to enjoy it not as some kind of endurance test.
So I've decided to change route after tomorrow at Moffat and head up west Scotland rather than east.
I’m going to head for Glasgow and walk up the West Highland Way to Fort William then up the Great Glen Way to Inverness.
Hopefully this will mean that I only have about 3 days of dreary walking to get to Glasgow then its easy street off road mainly all the way to John O Groats.
Tonight I need to do some major replanning but I’m confident it’s the right call. I don’t want to finish this and think I walked some great B roads in Scotland when it has so much more to offer.
Now back to the whisky.
Some of my mates might (hopefully) catch you.
I suspect they die on the first hill.
https://www.cyclistsfc.org.uk/magnificent7.php
I suspect they die on the first hill.
https://www.cyclistsfc.org.uk/magnificent7.php
Mr E said:
Some of my mates might (hopefully) catch you.
I suspect they die on the first hill.
https://www.cyclistsfc.org.uk/magnificent7.php
Fantastic. I’ll watch out for them. I suspect they die on the first hill.
https://www.cyclistsfc.org.uk/magnificent7.php
Hope the Glengoyne hasn't slowed you up too much!
I was surprised to hear your woes regarding lack of off-road routes, but then thinking about it maybe it's because in that part of the world people are more walking east-west rather than north-south, so not many vertical routes? Maybe. Is it just that there are fewer footpaths in Scotland than England overall I wonder, different land accessibility laws or something? I'd always assumed it was easier to go cross country on foot in Scotland, maybe that's just in the Highlands though rather than the farming country south of the central belt. Dunno, I'm just a fat lazy knacker who has only ever driven around Scotland. Hope things improve for you and the new route pans out.
I was surprised to hear your woes regarding lack of off-road routes, but then thinking about it maybe it's because in that part of the world people are more walking east-west rather than north-south, so not many vertical routes? Maybe. Is it just that there are fewer footpaths in Scotland than England overall I wonder, different land accessibility laws or something? I'd always assumed it was easier to go cross country on foot in Scotland, maybe that's just in the Highlands though rather than the farming country south of the central belt. Dunno, I'm just a fat lazy knacker who has only ever driven around Scotland. Hope things improve for you and the new route pans out.
Antony Moxey said:
Boringvolvodriver said:
Good progress being made I see.
How many more miles left - Scotland is a pretty big place - Google says 350 miles from Gretna Green but I suspect your route will be longer to avoid (as much as possible) the hills.
Isn’t it something ridiculous like 40% of the GB land mass? Scotland is HUGE!How many more miles left - Scotland is a pretty big place - Google says 350 miles from Gretna Green but I suspect your route will be longer to avoid (as much as possible) the hills.
Bannock said:
Hope the Glengoyne hasn't slowed you up too much!
I was surprised to hear your woes regarding lack of off-road routes, but then thinking about it maybe it's because in that part of the world people are more walking east-west rather than north-south, so not many vertical routes? Maybe. Is it just that there are fewer footpaths in Scotland than England overall I wonder, different land accessibility laws or something? I'd always assumed it was easier to go cross country on foot in Scotland, maybe that's just in the Highlands though rather than the farming country south of the central belt. Dunno, I'm just a fat lazy knacker who has only ever driven around Scotland. Hope things improve for you and the new route pans out.
Think theres a not of truth in what you say (not the fat lazy knacker bit) - I think it will change as I get further north. It does seem that farms generally have fewer paths crossong them than in England. I think paths over open access land are more common. I was surprised to hear your woes regarding lack of off-road routes, but then thinking about it maybe it's because in that part of the world people are more walking east-west rather than north-south, so not many vertical routes? Maybe. Is it just that there are fewer footpaths in Scotland than England overall I wonder, different land accessibility laws or something? I'd always assumed it was easier to go cross country on foot in Scotland, maybe that's just in the Highlands though rather than the farming country south of the central belt. Dunno, I'm just a fat lazy knacker who has only ever driven around Scotland. Hope things improve for you and the new route pans out.
Today I did my first hop over a fence and head in the right direction. It was not a good experience - boggy, muddy and full of gorse. Although it worked out in the end, I’ll think twice before doing it again.
i4got said:
Mr E said:
Some of my mates might (hopefully) catch you.
I suspect they die on the first hill.
https://www.cyclistsfc.org.uk/magnificent7.php
Fantastic. I’ll watch out for them. I suspect they die on the first hill.
https://www.cyclistsfc.org.uk/magnificent7.php
Just outside Lanark now. For those who don’t know where that is (like me until 2 days ago) it’s about 30 miles south east of Glasgow.
Walking for the last few days has been a mixed bag. Lots of lanes and roads mixed with the odd farm or open access land path. Weather is weird - got a good soaking today
But looking ahead of me blue skies.
Never seen so much rain with so much blue in the sky.
Apart from Moffat not much luck in finding camp sites so having to slum it in b&b’s
Three more days walking to the start of the West Highland Way then a couple of days off in an Airbnb in Glasgow with my wife.
Looking forward to giving my feet a bit of a rest and also looking forward to starting a real Scottish trail.
Having some success in ticking off Scottish delicacies. Black pudding, square sausage, shortbread, tattie scones, irn bru, haggis. Still on the to do list - scotch pies and snowballs.
Tonight I’m having Black Chicken - chicken, Stornaway black pudding in a pepper sauce. Delicious.
Walking for the last few days has been a mixed bag. Lots of lanes and roads mixed with the odd farm or open access land path. Weather is weird - got a good soaking today
But looking ahead of me blue skies.
Never seen so much rain with so much blue in the sky.
Apart from Moffat not much luck in finding camp sites so having to slum it in b&b’s
Three more days walking to the start of the West Highland Way then a couple of days off in an Airbnb in Glasgow with my wife.
Looking forward to giving my feet a bit of a rest and also looking forward to starting a real Scottish trail.
Having some success in ticking off Scottish delicacies. Black pudding, square sausage, shortbread, tattie scones, irn bru, haggis. Still on the to do list - scotch pies and snowballs.
Tonight I’m having Black Chicken - chicken, Stornaway black pudding in a pepper sauce. Delicious.
Edited by i4got on Tuesday 24th May 19:07
Walker to Milngavie the start of the West Highland way this morning. Now got a couple of days off staying in Glasgow with my wife before setting off on the WHW on Tuesday morning.
800 miles done and I reckon 300 to go over 20 walking days.
As luck would have it the place I’m staying is in George Square overlooking a big Wetherspoons called the Counting House so it will be getting my custom.
I’ve been following on FB and frequently in reality, a guy doing LEJOG a few days ahead of me. Yesterday he posted that his feet are shredded and he’s given up the walk 2 days short of Fort William. Must be gutting.
However it made me realise that I had 2 very long days (18/20 miles) on the WHW and it seems progress can be slow and tough so I’ve added in an extra stop to bring my average on the WHW down to 14 miles a day.
I don’t want to get this close and fail by trying to overdo it on one of the hardest sections of the walk.
800 miles done and I reckon 300 to go over 20 walking days.
As luck would have it the place I’m staying is in George Square overlooking a big Wetherspoons called the Counting House so it will be getting my custom.
I’ve been following on FB and frequently in reality, a guy doing LEJOG a few days ahead of me. Yesterday he posted that his feet are shredded and he’s given up the walk 2 days short of Fort William. Must be gutting.
However it made me realise that I had 2 very long days (18/20 miles) on the WHW and it seems progress can be slow and tough so I’ve added in an extra stop to bring my average on the WHW down to 14 miles a day.
I don’t want to get this close and fail by trying to overdo it on one of the hardest sections of the walk.
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