There is no official LEJOG route for a Lands end to John O’Groats ride, the aim is to get from one to the other and the rest is up to you. Whether you are going South to North (LeJog) or North to South (JogLe) there are many places in between you may wish to visit along the way.
This page is designed to give you my thoughts and how I planned my end to end cycle route.
While there is no official route, there are a number of documented routes that you can use. While I did my research I came across three routes that formed the basis of my LEJOG route planning. My first task was to list the things that I wanted to achieve along the way, while everyone’s needs are different, a list will help you plan any particular places you want to visit.
While there is no official LEJOG route, there are a number of documented routes that you can use. While I did my research I came across three routes that formed the basis of my Lands End to John O’Groats route planning. My first task was to list the things that I wanted to achieve along the way, while everyone’s needs are different, a list will help you plan any particular places you want to visit.
One general thing to consider is time, often cycle tours are governed by annual leave allowances from work so often LeJog rides are planned for around 2 weeks. Others are flexible and in my case, I based my ride on 21 consecutive days of cycling.
I also had an idea of the places I wanted to visit along the way and a general limit to the number of miles I wanted to ride each day. Two key factors governed my choice of end to end route, ride 50 miles per day and to cycle NCN Route 1 and the Northumberland Coast. As a proud Northumbrian, I had never cycled the Coast and Castles route and this in particular was something I wanted to achieve on my ride.
While researching and planning My LEJOG I came across a route that incorporated many cycle paths and the Northumberland Coast which ongoing became the base of my ride. While longer than the traditional End to End it meant I could enjoy one of the routes that I wanted to do.
The planned LEJOG route was named The Easy East Coaster and followed a traditional cycle route through Devon and Cornwall but then cut across the Midlands, through Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and then on to Yorkshire and on to the North East of England. Named the Easy East Coaster due to the reduced amount of elevation. In the end, this route took me over 1200 miles from South to North with a total elevation of over 69.000 ft over 21 days. I spent a day on either side traveling to the start in Cornwall and from the end in John o Groats.
My Lands End to John O’Groats Route over 21 Days via the East Coast
- Day 0 – Manchester, London, Penzance, Lands End Penzance (26.94 miles, 1660 ft)
- Day 1 – Penzance to Bodmin (57.14 miles, 4599 ft)
- Day 2 – Bodmin to Oakhampton (55.6 miles, 4005 ft)
- Day 3 – Oakhampton to Taunton (62.9 miles 3757 ft)
- Day 4 – Taunton to Webbington (38.01 miles, 1307 ft)
- Day 5 – Webbington to Bath (via Cheddar Gorge) (30.34 miles, 2482 ft)
- Day 6 – Bath to Gloucester (67.2 miles, 2187 ft)
- Day 7 – Gloucester to Stratford upon Avon (55.98 miles, 2535 ft)
- Day 8 – Stratford upon Avon to Loughborourgh (60.34 miles, 3621 ft)
- Day 9 – Loughborourgh to Gainsborough (62.91 miles, 2564 ft)
- Day 10 – Gainsborough to York (61.66 miles, 1333 ft)
- Day 11 – York to Middlesbrough (60.27 miles, 3028 ft)
- Day 12 – Middlesbrough to Newbiggin by the Sea (66.8 miles, 3180 ft)
- Day 13 – Newbiggin by the Sea to Eyemouth (78.71 miles, 4765 ft)
- Day 14 – Eyemouth to Edinburgh (53.9 miles, 3962 ft)
- Day 15 – Edinburgh to Perth (47.21 miles, 3033 ft)
- Day 16 – Perth to Dalwhinnie (63.23 miles, 4276 ft)
- Day 17 – Dalwhinnie to Inverness (68.07 miles, 4082 ft)
- Day 18 – Inverness to Tain (45.96 miles, 2217 ft)
- Day 19 – Tain to The Crask Inn (40.92 miles, 2269 ft)
- Day 20 – The Crask Inn to Melvich (45.47 miles, 3409 ft)
- Day 21 – Melvich to John O’Groats then Kirkwall (60.4 miles, 3502 ft)
- Day 22 – Kirkwall to Aberdeen, Edinburgh then Home (15,8 miles, 423 ft)
Getting to and from Lands End or John O’Groats needs a day on either side of your trip. I have read many accounts of where cyclists have struggled with this part of the journey however I found the process simple, see my page about transport to and from the start and finish line of a Lands End to John O’Groats cycle.