Getting Down To Lands End
Lands End
We considered several options to get ourselves down to Lands End ready to start reasonably early. One option is to go to Penzance on the train, cycle the 12 or so miles down to the start and then - off you go.
Another option we considered was hiring a van on a one way hire, dropping it off in Penzance and then down to the start as above.
In the end Chris's son, Ben, generously volunteered to take us down there in a car with a trailer to take the bikes. So the plan is to meet at Chris's home as early as possible on Monday 25th July. Then all four of us drive down to Lands End Youth Hostel and stay the night, then down to the start next morning.
Another option we considered was hiring a van on a one way hire, dropping it off in Penzance and then down to the start as above.
In the end Chris's son, Ben, generously volunteered to take us down there in a car with a trailer to take the bikes. So the plan is to meet at Chris's home as early as possible on Monday 25th July. Then all four of us drive down to Lands End Youth Hostel and stay the night, then down to the start next morning.
Getting Back From John O Groats
John O Groats
Once we arrive in John O Groats, we will stay overnight in the Youth Hostel and then next morning, cycle to Thurso. There is a bike shop there that will help you pack your bikes up and send them home via a Parcel Delivery service. Having done that we will make our way to Inverness on the train and stay in the Youth Hostel there.
Then it's flights home on Easyjet. Bristol for John and Chris and Luton for Ronnie. We booked them last year and got them for around £22 each. Chris's wife will pick us up from Bristol and Ronnie will be picked up by a friend from Luton.
Then it's flights home on Easyjet. Bristol for John and Chris and Luton for Ronnie. We booked them last year and got them for around £22 each. Chris's wife will pick us up from Bristol and Ronnie will be picked up by a friend from Luton.
Route and Accommodation
YHA and CTC Logos
These two problems were solved by buying a Lands End to John O Groats pack from the CTC for £12. If you are a member of the CTC, this pack is free.
There were three routes in this pack and we are following the Youth Hostels route staying off major roads where possible. There is lots of advice in the pack and if anyone else is thinking of doing this, the pack is a good investment.
Another good source of advice and information is the Lands End to John O Groats forum on the CTC website.
Some of the Youth Hostels had closed when we came to book them but finding alternatives wasn't too difficult. They were two backpacking hostels in Exeter and Chester, a B and B in Yelverton on Dartmoor and a Travelodge. We had originally made a reservation at Carbisdale Castle SYHA but had an email from the manager in March telling us that it had been flood damaged and would be closed until September. Now we are booked in at Kyle House in Bonar Bridge, about five miles away. A shame really as we were quite looking forward to visiting the Castle! The only place that didn't have secure bike storage was the Travelodge in Carlisle. However it seems that this is used a lot by end-to-enders and the manager informed me that "they usually keep the bikes in their room"!
There were three routes in this pack and we are following the Youth Hostels route staying off major roads where possible. There is lots of advice in the pack and if anyone else is thinking of doing this, the pack is a good investment.
Another good source of advice and information is the Lands End to John O Groats forum on the CTC website.
Some of the Youth Hostels had closed when we came to book them but finding alternatives wasn't too difficult. They were two backpacking hostels in Exeter and Chester, a B and B in Yelverton on Dartmoor and a Travelodge. We had originally made a reservation at Carbisdale Castle SYHA but had an email from the manager in March telling us that it had been flood damaged and would be closed until September. Now we are booked in at Kyle House in Bonar Bridge, about five miles away. A shame really as we were quite looking forward to visiting the Castle! The only place that didn't have secure bike storage was the Travelodge in Carlisle. However it seems that this is used a lot by end-to-enders and the manager informed me that "they usually keep the bikes in their room"!