Lands End to John O Groats (also known as end to end) is a long-distance cycle touring (or walking) route, which starts at the extreme southern end of Cornwall, Lands End, and finishes in the North Eastern tip of Scotland, John O Groats.

You can cycle it in a seven days, use main roads, and see very little.

An alternative is to follow a longer route (we did 1280 miles), which uses back-roads and by-ways, leading to a route which is, as much as possible, traffic-free (in the 21st century UK).

I first attempted the end to end in 2015, and was knocked off my bicycle in a remote part of the Highlands of Scotland, and postponed.

In 2017 two of use cycled from Lands End to Crewe, in Cheshire. At the end of April 2018, the bicycles were packed, and we set of from Berkhamstead, destination Crewe.

Unsupported

You take everything you need with you, and are essentially on your own.

Supported

You have a support vehicle, and organised accommodation.

Being unsupported is more challenging. But you have far more flexibility, and can stay in a tent, and greatly reduce your costs. This was the option we chose.

August 2017 was a real learning curve. I had trouble with a bad fitting cleat, and an unreliable stove. But you never stop learning :)

Late April 2018 was interesting in that the weather was colder, and I was very glad of my winter sleeping bag :) You could still see the snow on the mountains in Scotland.

My camping gear has remained almost the same, with the exception of a Trangia spirit stove, Trangia triangle, and MSR Titan Kettle. This combination worked perfectly, and packed down very well.

Hard work, but very very enjoyable :D

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end-to-end isolation Isolation

April 2018 (Crewe to John O Groats)

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end-to-end main image Slaidburn YHA - amazing place

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end-to-end main image Wray Scarecrow Festival

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end-to-end main image Sunset at the Brigsteer Bunkhouse

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end-to-end main image Into Scotland yayyyy :D

end-to-end main image Lockerbie Truck Stop - amazing breakfast

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end-to-end main image Loch Tay

end-to-end main image River Tay

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end-to-end main image Highest point on the National Cycle Network in Scotland

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end-to-end main image Inverness

end-to-end main image Lairg to Tongue - desolate

end-to-end main image Tongue

end-to-end main image 14 miles from Thurso almost there

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end-to-end main image Thurso station

end-to-end main image Done it :)

August 2017 (Lands End to Crewe)

end-to-end main image Cornwall

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end-to-end main image First nights camping

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end-to-end main image Exmoor

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end-to-end main image Gloucester Docks

end-to-end main image Ironbridge

end-to-end main image Cooking

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end-to-end main image Extreme camping :)