Land's End to John O'Groats

Land's End to John O'Groats

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MikeDrop

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

168 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
duckwhistle said:
Two things to watch, your nightly beers could put you way over the low Scottish DD limit by the next day. Watch your fuel as there are very long stretches with no petrol stations.
Thanks thumbup

That's why there'll be 2 drivers hehe

And we have a good supply of 10l Gery cans to take with us just in casebiggrin

dcb

5,834 posts

264 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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The Crack Fox said:
I don't want to put a dampener on your trip, but 2000+ miles on UK roads isn't my idea of fun. Huge chunks of what you're doing are really dull bits of road and some of the destinations, as pretty as they are, will have crowds, speed cameras and congestion.
+1

To say nothing of crap drivers, Scottish food and did I mention UK Gov sees drivers as a source
of revenue ?

I'd rather watch paint dry.

The Crack Fox said:
If you've not been before, no problem, but you could do the Nurburgring, and back, in half the mileage and cover the Eiffel mountains, Brugges, Reims, etc etc, instead. In fact, you could drive to Monaco (via Col de Turini, Reims, Paris etc) in the same distance as you'll be trundling round the UK.
Both excellent ideas.

The Crack Fox said:
Not knocking your idea, I love roadtrips, but you could have way more fun if you point the cars in a slightly different direction. Fixed cameras on the continent won't bother UK plated cars, better food and drink, some genuinely iconic bits of road (Route Napoleon - Col de la Bonnette etc), cheap accommodation, far less congestion on the roads and, in my humble opinion, a lot more fun.
And you get to spend your money in sensible places, that do sensible things like
build new motorways and allow reasonable progress, not NIMBY Nanny state UK.

Each to their own, but the road that gets me to CT18 8XX and so onto freedom is a good road.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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As a poster above has mentioned, don't bother with the NC500 down the east coast, it's boring. Once you've seen JoG turn back around towards Durness and head down to Altnaharra imo.

Absolutely epic roads though, I did the NC last year in those few nice days in May and was in utter heaven. The only thing I wished is that I had time to turn around and do it in reverse!

FiF

43,964 posts

250 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
MikeDrop said:
Thanks chaps.

I guess for us, the attraction is the Scottish roads. It's not very often we'll have the chance to do a Scottish road trip, so we're trying to make the most of the time for the Scottish roads, hence trying to get to Fort William ASAP (Starting the NC500 from there is quicker than from Inverness). We've got 5 days (lot of us have work/family commitments etc.) to get to JOG and we could easily do that via M6 etc. but want to try and spice it up. Like others have said, have to get through the crap bits to make way to the good bits biggrin

In regards to Hope Valley - we've heard the Snake Pass is a good bit of road, so I literally just found the start and finish and looked for campsites around there on Google Maps. No more scientific than that hehe

Got any road names/places we should be trying to shoehorn in?

ETA: Excellent pic there Riley! thumbup
Ok firstly Snake Pass, hate it, the driving standards on there are atrocious, overtaking on blind bends is just too common. I always tried to avoid.

Appreciate your comments about Scotland being the draw, and equally understand the draw of doing LeJoG, with such short time I'd be tempted to cut out LE part and just get up there.

For the record my suggestion for anyone trying to cross Peaks from North/South or vice versa is


MikeDrop

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

168 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
FiF said:
Ok firstly Snake Pass, hate it, the driving standards on there are atrocious, overtaking on blind bends is just too common. I always tried to avoid.

Appreciate your comments about Scotland being the draw, and equally understand the draw of doing LeJoG, with such short time I'd be tempted to cut out LE part and just get up there.

For the record my suggestion for anyone trying to cross Peaks from North/South or vice versa is

Looks good. I'll see if I can build that in to the plan.

Appreciate the comments about touring Europe. It's most definitely something we want to do. But this year, owing to time and budget, LEJOG it is.

Guaranteed we'll be underrwhelemed with a few parts, but I'd rather give it a go first hand biggrin

JM

3,170 posts

205 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Is there a specific reason for the Stranraer and Ballantrae detour?

From Haydon Bridge I'd consider heading through Kielder forest and across the borders towards Glasgow, to get back on route. (A68~A72~A721 etc)

And as said above also consider getting on the A939~A93 to head south from Inverness. A short detour East is all that's required.



Edited by JM on Monday 19th June 21:13

WJNB

2,637 posts

160 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Nice idea so about looking for an angle that would allow you to raise money for a charity Maybe a charity linked to motoring causes or individuals who no longer can enjoy what you are all about to do. A disabled drivers association for example.
The challenge can still be fun & it would be a two fingered salute to the cynics who dismiss young drivers or those running modest but fast cars as mere selfish hooligans.



Darryl247W

564 posts

122 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Like others say, I don't mean to dampen your enthusiasm, but don't under-estimate the time needed. Average MOVING speed on reasonable, uncongested roads is more like 30mph. Every fuel-stop, coffee break, lunch-stop, scenic stop-off, wee-stop, mechanical fettling of cars costs you to the tune of 0.5 miles every minute.

Factor in Scotland's roads, entertaining but often lacking in overtaking opportunities on a wet October day smile

Best of luck ith the road trip, but give yourselves time to do it smile

geeman237

1,228 posts

184 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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Are you familiar with the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run? Its a bit more of a challenge that your idea in that its 2000 miles in 48 hours in an old Triumph. London to JoG to Lands End to London.

Below is a link that explains the route, so maybe you can take some pointers from it.

http://www.club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/comps/mxcon...

I did the event in 2002 in my Herald 13/60 estate and what a state it was, but 2 friends and I and the car successfully completed the event. Its bloody exhausting though.

Enjoy the trip all the same and good luck.





red_slr

17,123 posts

188 months

Monday 19th June 2017
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I did it with around 20 other folk about 10 years ago. It was reported on here at the time in the news section. It took 3 days, was hard slog. The weather (even in summer) was not great either once north of Glasgow.

It was good fun and I would do it again but I would prefer to take a slightly slower pace and plan more stops. 5 days I think would be better. The real PITA is after you get to JoG you have to do the return trip and that's the hard part.

MikeDrop

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

168 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice regards to adding more time, will fiddle with the plan to see what we can do.

WJNB said:
Nice idea so about looking for an angle that would allow you to raise money for a charity Maybe a charity linked to motoring causes or individuals who no longer can enjoy what you are all about to do. A disabled drivers association for example.
The challenge can still be fun & it would be a two fingered salute to the cynics who dismiss young drivers or those running modest but fast cars as mere selfish hooligans.
This was something I wanted to look into, for sure. Although a boring drive (as others will see it) may not warrant a donation. However, if I commit to the entire journey with the roof down on the MX5, whatever the weather, that might prick some ears? earsscratchchin

lucido grigio

44,044 posts

162 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
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MikeDrop said:
if I commit to the entire journey with the roof down on the MX5, whatever the weather, that might prick some ears? earsscratchchin
If the weather is dry all the way it's what I'd do.

But I'm also in the not keen camp,2000 miles in UK sounds like hell.

I've driven nearly 5000 miles in 15 days to Scandinavia n back,that was sublime,if a little wet at times.

MikeDrop

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

168 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
Deposit has been paid for my LEJOG vessel today. Pick up 20th July - watch this space driving

One of the other boys has more or less decided what he's taking too. He already owns it, but needs some engine work first:




Cosworth V6 cool

Pics of mine when I collect... thumbup

Lotobear

6,232 posts

127 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
I did the NC500 last month and it was epic. Weather was stunning except for the north coast and John O Groats

One suggestion I would make would be to head east on the A6 from Penrith to Brough and take the Middleton In Teasdale road (superb) to Alston. From there you can either head on the Haydon Bridge or else turn left and go over Hartside and back to the M6 via Melmerby and Penrith - either way the road is great.

If you do go to Haydon Bridge then Keilder would be a good move and then back through the Borders via Newcastleton, up and over the top to Langholm (cracking road) and then on up to the NC500

Jon

Darryl247W

564 posts

122 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
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Oh, BTW, while you're in John O'Groats , go the few extra miles to the REAL extreme north, and north-east points of the UK. JOG is neither smile

Superchickenn

687 posts

169 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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Last night involved a little bit of tinkering to the super sport megane (that's what the insurance class it as)

Seeing as though the mx5 and megane have similar power I was still 100kg overweight so last night it went on a diet











Next job is to increase cooling as she seems to run a little warm..

MikeDrop

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

168 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
Good effort!

And you've given away the surprise of what I'm getting wink

Pics can remain a surprise until I pick it up though...

Still playing around with routes - trying to incorporate some of the suggestions here. thumbup

Things on the list to buy for the trip:
  • Walkie Talkies
  • Ratchet straps for the beer
  • ???
  • another pair of pants
  • Extended breakdown cover rofl

The Mad Monk

10,474 posts

116 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
Davie said:
552 miles in 10hrs... with a stop for some whiskey?



Edited by Davie on Monday 19th June 13:51
No. No Whiskey.

Being Scotland they make whisky.

Prof Prolapse

16,160 posts

189 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
MikeDrop said:
Thanks thumbup

That's why there'll be 2 drivers hehe

And we have a good supply of 10l Gery cans to take with us just in casebiggrin
You won't need Jerry cans. I do these roads reasonably regularly on bikes with 100 miles range. Fuel is only an issue if you take the most remote roads, with a small tank (i.e. a motorcycle), on a Sunday. All you will need to do is fill slightly more regularly.

The only section of your route where it gets quiet is in the uppermost North-West coast. You want to fill up in Scourie, this petrol station is 24/7 (allegedly, it seems unlikely in reality, but the owner does come out to fill up).

Things become slightly more scarce if you avoid the coastal route, and drop off through the middle of the highlands towards Lairg. Even that has a filling station, and several more on your way to Inverness.

Also make sure you stop at "Dunnet's Head", contrary to popular belief, "John O'Groats" is not the most Nothern point of the UK mainland, it's just the one with a coffee shop and iconic sign.

Enjoy your trip.





jhonn

1,556 posts

148 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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As you're planning camping make sure that you take midge nets and repellent with you - they'll make your life hell if you're not prepared!

Have a great trip!