2 days! Cap doffed!
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LEJOG (Land's End to John O'Groats Cycle Trip)
- Thread starter TheBigD
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2 days! Cap doffed!
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Quite! There's some very athletic people on this forum, putting me to shame!
I think its probably a walk thats over estimated by those who've only driven it. I checked on Google Maps and via the A87 its 46 miles but according to my log the route I took is 33. The walk itself is easy except I imagine navigating the Bealach in bad weather where theres no defined path. This was the view back from there of Ben Nevis on my trip.
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Ah, ok, I missed that you’d gone through Bealach Càrn na h-Uchaire. Possibly doable in a one-er
TheBigD
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Post deleted.
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TheBigD
Established Member
- Joined
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Sunday 2nd October 2022
Inverness to Peterborough - Part 1 The Bus Bits!
(rail replacement bus Inverness to Perth)
(LNER Diversion via Carlisle)
The long journey home began with a great full Scottish at the B&B.
A 10 minute walk to the railway station for the non stop bus to Perth. There was just a hand written poster board directing us to the side of the station for the buses. 4 buses there and no staff, with the bus drivers telling us to ask the staff which bus is which.
At 0845 one of the bus drivers directed us to the correct bus and then loaded the suitcases and allowed us to board. The bus was operated by R S Coaches of Inverurie.
I grabbed to front pair of seats and had a front row veiw of the journey. The bus had just 25 people (and 3 dogs!) on board. We passed close to the railway line on several occasions including at Slochd and south of Newtonmore where engineering works were taking place.
The journey south was along the A9. Some nice scenery along the way. We encountered a contraflow south of Pitlochry but there was very little traffic meaning no delays. We completed the bus journey in 2hrs15 and arrived Perth 20 minutes early.
We were in the process of alighting the bus when a male ScotRail member of staff rushed out to tell us the LNER service had just been cancelled (level crossing issue apparently, service starting at Stirling) and asked the bus driver if he was willing to take us to through to Edinburgh. The bus driver said he'd need to obtain authorisation and he got that quickly. The luggage hadn't been unloaded yet. Myself and a number of others reboarded quickly.
Shortly afterwards a couple of female Scotrail staff arrived and, to be honest, made the whole situation a lot worse by shouting orders at people who were already on the bus, walking up and down the bus asking if our journey was necessary, and being downright rude to people asking them questions. It was really quite unnecessary. It was readily apparent that they were struggling to control their behavior. Their conduct was in stark contrast to the male member of Scotrail staff and our bus driver who were calm, professional, and approachable throughout. The passengers were pretty sanguine and accepting about the situation with no-one on our bus making a scene, raising their voice, or being in anyway disruptive.
We then left Perth with a full bus at 1155 and headed towards Edinburgh. We passed Inch Park were we'd stopped to have a tea break last Sunday, and retraced our route to the edge of Perth. We continued down the M90 past Kinross and southwards towards the second Forth Road Bridge. We had a clear run down the motorway and passed over the second Forth Bridge just 30 minutes after leaving Perth. After negotiating the Edinburgh roads and traffic we arrived at Waverley just after 1pm with around 35 minutes to catch the original train.
Inverness to Peterborough - Part 1 The Bus Bits!
(rail replacement bus Inverness to Perth)
(LNER Diversion via Carlisle)
The long journey home began with a great full Scottish at the B&B.
A 10 minute walk to the railway station for the non stop bus to Perth. There was just a hand written poster board directing us to the side of the station for the buses. 4 buses there and no staff, with the bus drivers telling us to ask the staff which bus is which.
At 0845 one of the bus drivers directed us to the correct bus and then loaded the suitcases and allowed us to board. The bus was operated by R S Coaches of Inverurie.
I grabbed to front pair of seats and had a front row veiw of the journey. The bus had just 25 people (and 3 dogs!) on board. We passed close to the railway line on several occasions including at Slochd and south of Newtonmore where engineering works were taking place.
The journey south was along the A9. Some nice scenery along the way. We encountered a contraflow south of Pitlochry but there was very little traffic meaning no delays. We completed the bus journey in 2hrs15 and arrived Perth 20 minutes early.
We were in the process of alighting the bus when a male ScotRail member of staff rushed out to tell us the LNER service had just been cancelled (level crossing issue apparently, service starting at Stirling) and asked the bus driver if he was willing to take us to through to Edinburgh. The bus driver said he'd need to obtain authorisation and he got that quickly. The luggage hadn't been unloaded yet. Myself and a number of others reboarded quickly.
Shortly afterwards a couple of female Scotrail staff arrived and, to be honest, made the whole situation a lot worse by shouting orders at people who were already on the bus, walking up and down the bus asking if our journey was necessary, and being downright rude to people asking them questions. It was really quite unnecessary. It was readily apparent that they were struggling to control their behavior. Their conduct was in stark contrast to the male member of Scotrail staff and our bus driver who were calm, professional, and approachable throughout. The passengers were pretty sanguine and accepting about the situation with no-one on our bus making a scene, raising their voice, or being in anyway disruptive.
We then left Perth with a full bus at 1155 and headed towards Edinburgh. We passed Inch Park were we'd stopped to have a tea break last Sunday, and retraced our route to the edge of Perth. We continued down the M90 past Kinross and southwards towards the second Forth Road Bridge. We had a clear run down the motorway and passed over the second Forth Bridge just 30 minutes after leaving Perth. After negotiating the Edinburgh roads and traffic we arrived at Waverley just after 1pm with around 35 minutes to catch the original train.
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On my walk, once Id arrived at JoG I got the pedestrian ferry next morning to Orkney stayed in the pub in St Margarets Hope for 3 nights to celebrate. Did some day trips on the Orkneys (my LEJOG was my retirement trip from the Royal Navy) then flew from Kirkwall down to Southend with Loganair.
What do you intend to do about your unfinished business?
Do you have to start again from LE or are you just going to cycle the missing bit?
I'm of mixed opinion about the arranged trips. There is a company that does an organised walking trip on the End to End trail but in 2019 it was charging nearly £10k and my trip came in at about £5k. I did occasionally stay in accommodation with LEJOG cyclists and it seemed a bit of a sausage factory tbh.
What do you intend to do about your unfinished business?
Do you have to start again from LE or are you just going to cycle the missing bit?
I'm of mixed opinion about the arranged trips. There is a company that does an organised walking trip on the End to End trail but in 2019 it was charging nearly £10k and my trip came in at about £5k. I did occasionally stay in accommodation with LEJOG cyclists and it seemed a bit of a sausage factory tbh.
TheBigD
Established Member
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- 19 Nov 2008
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I would like to do it all again, though at £3755 for this trip it isn't cheap.
I am awaiting a response from Skedaddle (I'm not optimistic it will be favourable) which may influence my decision.
£3755 strewth, I was upset when I had to buy a new tent and walking boots in Linlithgow!
Assuming your trip was 20 days my walk would have been pushing £20k less bike hire.
I might be able to arrange pick up and man support for less than that!
Assuming your trip was 20 days my walk would have been pushing £20k less bike hire.
I might be able to arrange pick up and man support for less than that!
TheBigD
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- Joined
- 19 Nov 2008
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- 2,043
22 days in total, 19 days cycling.£3755 strewth, I was upset when I had to buy a new tent and walking boots in Linlithgow!
Assuming your trip was 20 days my walk would have been pushing £20k less bike hire.
I might be able to arrange pick up and man support for less than that!
LSWR Cavalier
Established Member
@paul1609
I should like to read an account of your LeJoG walk.
I have cycled a thousand miles in a month, but walking end to end is another dimension.
I should like to read an account of your LeJoG walk.
I have cycled a thousand miles in a month, but walking end to end is another dimension.
TheBigD
Established Member
- Joined
- 19 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 2,043
Inverness to Peterborough - Part 2 - The Train Bits!
(rail replacement bus Inverness to Perth)
(LNER Diversion via Carlisle)
The one positive of the bus continuing through to Edinburgh was having the time to get soom food from the M&S at Waverley.
The 9 car azuma arrived in to Waverley spot on time at 1318. I boarded and got my reserved seat (K54) in standard. A quick walk though 1st before I got settled revealed no empty/unreserved 1st seats so no upgrades available. I suppose after 1000 miles in the saddle, the standard azuma seat doesn't feel too bad!
Left Edinburgh on time with the train nearly full but no one standing. An uneventful journey though to Carlisle. The guard started at ticket check leaving Edinburgh starting in A and it he didnt make it back to K before we got to Carlisle. The new guard made his way through to K after we'd passed Brampton.
A slow journey along the Tyne Valley line to Newcastle. I assume we were following something after Haltwhistle.
We approached Newcastle a few minutes early, but with the reduction in available platforms we were held outside for around 30 minutes before arriving 27 late at 1656.
The late running 1300 Kings Cross to Edinburgh (terminating at Newcastle due to no train crew) buggered things up by blocking the available platform. We were booked to stand for 30 minutes and then depart at 1659.
(There are extensive track works going in and around Newcastle, hence the major reductions in services through Newcastle for 9 days. There are normally 3 LNER trains per hour Newcastle to London for most of Sunday afternoon, and a smattering of Lumo services. Today sees just 1 LNER per hour, with the inevitable overcrowding)
At Newcastle the masses arrived! We had people stood all the way down the aisle, and a game of musical chairs for those with reservations. Things settled down after a few minutes though many people were still stood in the vestibules.
We left 1 minute late at 1700 after a 4 minute station stop and headed south to our next stop at Durham.
At Durham there were many passengers waiting to join and after they all managed to cram inside we left 5 late, with people standing in the aisles.
Unless I'm mistaken (I probably am!) our diesel engines were still running at Durham and switched off just before we departed.
Darlington seemed really quiet, I'm guessing passengers were being guided towards the LNER services that started there. Many more people left than boarded and there were now a few empty seats in coach K. We departed Darlington 8 late.
I left the service at York, where we arrived 10 late. I was glad to be able to stretch my legs for a while.
I then caught the 1832 York to Peterborough, another 9 car azuma. The service arrived on time, but departed 2 late waiting for a Northern serrvice to arrive in platform 1. There were just 2 passengers in the standard part of coach K when I boarded, and just 11 when we departed.
At both Doncaster and Newark more passangers boarded with the train departing Newark around ⅔ full.
I will be leaving the service at Peterbrough at 1950, having left Inverness at 0905, nearly 11 hours earlier.
The whole inverness to Peterborough trip was £82 on an LNER std advance ticket. (no 1st advances were released)
I'm certainly looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight!
Once again, thanks for all the messages of support and encouragement.
(rail replacement bus Inverness to Perth)
(LNER Diversion via Carlisle)
The one positive of the bus continuing through to Edinburgh was having the time to get soom food from the M&S at Waverley.
The 9 car azuma arrived in to Waverley spot on time at 1318. I boarded and got my reserved seat (K54) in standard. A quick walk though 1st before I got settled revealed no empty/unreserved 1st seats so no upgrades available. I suppose after 1000 miles in the saddle, the standard azuma seat doesn't feel too bad!
Left Edinburgh on time with the train nearly full but no one standing. An uneventful journey though to Carlisle. The guard started at ticket check leaving Edinburgh starting in A and it he didnt make it back to K before we got to Carlisle. The new guard made his way through to K after we'd passed Brampton.
A slow journey along the Tyne Valley line to Newcastle. I assume we were following something after Haltwhistle.
We approached Newcastle a few minutes early, but with the reduction in available platforms we were held outside for around 30 minutes before arriving 27 late at 1656.
The late running 1300 Kings Cross to Edinburgh (terminating at Newcastle due to no train crew) buggered things up by blocking the available platform. We were booked to stand for 30 minutes and then depart at 1659.
(There are extensive track works going in and around Newcastle, hence the major reductions in services through Newcastle for 9 days. There are normally 3 LNER trains per hour Newcastle to London for most of Sunday afternoon, and a smattering of Lumo services. Today sees just 1 LNER per hour, with the inevitable overcrowding)
At Newcastle the masses arrived! We had people stood all the way down the aisle, and a game of musical chairs for those with reservations. Things settled down after a few minutes though many people were still stood in the vestibules.
We left 1 minute late at 1700 after a 4 minute station stop and headed south to our next stop at Durham.
At Durham there were many passengers waiting to join and after they all managed to cram inside we left 5 late, with people standing in the aisles.
Unless I'm mistaken (I probably am!) our diesel engines were still running at Durham and switched off just before we departed.
Darlington seemed really quiet, I'm guessing passengers were being guided towards the LNER services that started there. Many more people left than boarded and there were now a few empty seats in coach K. We departed Darlington 8 late.
I left the service at York, where we arrived 10 late. I was glad to be able to stretch my legs for a while.
I then caught the 1832 York to Peterborough, another 9 car azuma. The service arrived on time, but departed 2 late waiting for a Northern serrvice to arrive in platform 1. There were just 2 passengers in the standard part of coach K when I boarded, and just 11 when we departed.
At both Doncaster and Newark more passangers boarded with the train departing Newark around ⅔ full.
I will be leaving the service at Peterbrough at 1950, having left Inverness at 0905, nearly 11 hours earlier.
The whole inverness to Peterborough trip was £82 on an LNER std advance ticket. (no 1st advances were released)
I'm certainly looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight!
Once again, thanks for all the messages of support and encouragement.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I would too, it would be an epic read!
@TheBigD Glad to hear you got back to Peterborough without too many incidents, although that ScotRail woman sounded a bit unpleasant. Bit of a farce getting back but I can only imagine the joy your own bed is going to bring!
£3,755 is a mighty large sum of money! For the bits you got done it does kind-of sound worth it for the experience and support along the way, but I can't say I'm rushing to find the money for it.
I'd imagine a few days off the saddle are coming up now, and the Lincolnshire countryside will never feel the same again!
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