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Route - based partly on the CTC YHA route, but note the average speeds are slow, I had calculated my trip based on training rides of 12mph average. The wind and kit load in the first few days brought that down. After day 4 however I shed some kit which made a huge difference.
Travel
I live near Southampton. I took the train to Waterloo then cycled across London (easy) then took the Caledonian Sleeper to Inverness. I had booked this 3 months in advance it was only £68. Bike storage was excellent and a really comfortable sleep. It left at 2115 and arrived in Inverness at 0830. From there I took the train to Thurso, left at 1039 arrived at 1430. The bike storage space is small and although it says two only, there were 3 on my trip. I was the only one that booked the other two were squeezed on. The train was two carriages and stopped at every tiny place but what scenery! Very relaxing. Total train costs £23 + £68 + £14 came to £105
Day 1 - JOG - Thurso
Distance 20 miles
Cycling time 2hrs 10 min
Average speed 9.4mph
Cumu. Total 20
Having arrived at Thurso in the early pm I cycled to JOG from there, along the A836, signed in, then cycled the 20 miles back again for first night stop in Thurso.
Bad headwind coming back towards Thurso.
Accomodation at B and B Thurso see accomodation tips page
Day 2 - Thurso - Altnaharra
Distance 55 miles
Cycling time 5hrs 51min
Average speed 9.6mph
Cumu. Total 76
A836 to Bettyhill 31 miles
Remote in places but beautiful, some steep hills but lovely descents, few cafes en route, but those that I saw were strategically placed.
B 871 south to Altnaharra. 24 miles
A stunning route, very quiet, river valley route. Historical interest points en route Rising at the end but not hard. A pleasure to cycle, like an episode of Monarch of the Glen.
Accomodation at THE B and B in Altnaharra - see accomodation tips page
Day 3 - Altnaharra - Inverness
Distance 72 miles
Average speed 9.8mph
Cycling time 7hrs 14min
Cumu. total 148
Altnaharra A839 to Lairg
Lairg A 839 and A 836 Bonar Bridge
Bonar Bridge A 836 then over Struhie Hill (steep but short climb) then B9176 to Alness
Alness B817 to Evanton then A9 to Cromarty Firth
A9 cross Firth then minor road to Culbokie and Munlochy
B9161 and lft minor road to join cycle path on A9 to Inverness
Accomodation at YHA Inverness
Day 4 - Inverness - Onich
Distance 79 miles
Average speed 10.2 mph
Cycling time 7hrs 43 min
Cumu. total 227
A 82 all the way. The road was not as busy as expected, but it was a Saturday. I wasn't scared by big lorries or coaches.
However the route was too long for me in one day. If it wasn't for a major biking event in Fort William I would have stopped there.
Accomodation- excellent B and B Creag Mohr Lodge near Onich, four mile short of Glencoe. See accomodation tips page
Day 5 - Onich - Loch Lomond YHA
Distance 73 miles
Average speed 11.6 mph
Cycling time 6hrs 13 min
Cumu. total 300
A82 all the way, via Glencoe, steady climb on to Rannock Moor then miles of descent to Bridge of Orchy.
Continue south via Crianlarich, to Loch Lomond, through Tarbet to the YHA at Arden.
There is a cycle path along most of the Loch which is purpose made but as always you have to keep stopping to cross roads. I must say that the road surface along the Loch is the worst I have ever seen and requires careful attention.
Day 6 - Loch Lomond YHA - Crawford
Distance 67 miles
Average speed 11.2 mph
Cycling time 5hrs 57min
Cumu. total 367
South from the YHA followed the A82 to Balloch, then tried and failed to find the start of NCR 7 to take me through Glasgow. The leaflet from Sustrans showed several access points to pick up the NCR7 but there was a complete absence of signs on the ground. I gave up and picked up the B857 to Dumbarton and aimed for the city centre from there followed th A814.
I soon picked up the NCR7 once on the main route into town, and found it to be a fast and safe route, but mind the broken glass and it was a bit bumpy in places along the canal path. It was okay on my 32c touring tyres but no good for racing tyres I would suggest.
From the centre of Glasgow I picked up the NCR towards Edinburgh intending to follow it then go south towards the Hamilton area. I soon realised however that it was too windy and I was doing extra mileage. I abandoned and picked up the A724 through Hamilton.
Then A72 to Larkhall, then B7078 through Stonehouse and Kirkmuirhill to Abingdon then A702 to Crawford to Holmlands Country House B and B.
B7078 great route, very quiet and good surface. Also has dedicated cycle path in places which if it was swept would be excellent. I mainly stuck to the road
Day 7 - Crawford - Carlisle
Distance 65 miles
Average speed 12.8 mph
Cycling time 5hrs 03min
Cumu. total 432
B7076 all the way, it shadows the A74 M and is a fast, mainly downhill route, through Lockerbie to Gretna Green. Here I went via A6071 tyo Longtown and A7 into Carlisle to avoid the A74 which looked like a very fast and busy dual carraigeway
Day 8 Rest Day - Carlisle
I hadn't factored this into the planning, but it was certainly necessary!
Day 9 - Carlisle - Lancaster
Distance 79 miles
Average speed 10.9 mph
Cycling time 7hrs 11min
Cumu. total 511
A6 south out of Carlisle then lanes through Durdar, Low Braithwaite, almost to Plumpton then into Penrith.
A6 south over Shap Fell (not hard) to Kendal and on to Lancaster. I failed to find accomodation so ended up doing an extra 9 miles or so till I found a Band B south east of lancaster off the A6 toward Garstang.
A6 is an excellent route to cycle, good surface and not too busy.
Day 10 - Lancaster - Chester
Distance 73 miles
Average speed 11.6 mph
Cycling time 6hrs 17min
Cumu. total 584
A6 to Preston, then A582 south to Leyland,
B5253 Eccleston, Orrell
B5206 to Billinge then A road to St Helens then main road to Widnes
Cross Runcorn Bridge through Runcorn island to Frodsham and A 56 to Chester
Day 11 - Chester - Clun
Distance 70 miles
Average speed 10.8 mph
Cycling time 6hrs 25min
Cumu. total 654
Leave Chester YHA join on A483 then B5445 to Rossett and Marford then lanes SE to Marchweill picj up A528 to Overton, tehn Ellesmere.
Lanes SW to TetchillBagley, Newtown, cross A 5 at Montford Bridge. To A458 west for on emile then south to Pontesbury.
A488 to Bishops Castle then Clun to the YHA.
This route I would not do again! Extremely tough after Minsterley on A488. I only went this way to fit in with the CTC YHA route to Clun. On reflection, I would have stayed much further east
Day 12- Clun - Coleford (nr Symonds Yat)
Distance 62 miles
Average speed 10.4 mph
Cycling time 5hrs 57min
Cumu. total 716
SE along lanes to Bucknell and cross A4113 via Brampton to Birtley, Lingen and cross B 4362 to Pembridge
Lt on A44 then rt U Hardwick, cross A 4112 to Dilwyn
W Marsh, Ledgemoor, Till Commom to Hereford
A49 south then A4137 to Old Ford, b road up Symonds Yat to Coleford
As per yesterday, unecessarily hilly, would have stayed further east next time!
Day 13-Coleford - Bridgwater
Distance 67 miles
Average speed 11.6 mph
Cycling time 5hrs 45min
Cumu. total 782
B4228 St Briavels Chepstow, cross Severn on M48, A403 south ten B4055 via Pilning, and A4018 through Bristol to Clifton Bridge.
A3700 SW then cross to A38 all teh way to Bridgwater. Great, fast route, initially busy but fine after the airport
Day 14- Bridgwater- Steps Bridge YHA Exeter
Distance 53 miles
Average speed 11.2 mph
Cycling time 4hrs 43min
Cumu. total 835
A38 through Taunton, on to nearly J27 M5 then B3181 to Exeter.
B3212 out of Exeetr to Steps Bridge
Day 15 -Steps Bridge - St Austell
Distance 66 miles
Average speed 9.0 mph
Cycling time 7hrs 17min
Cumu. total 900
B3212 Moretenhamstead to Two Bridges, then B3357 to Tavistock.
A390 to Liskeard, and St Austell
Very hilly route, worst of the whole trip! The CTC YHA route is something I would not use again especially here. I would stay further north and plotted from Bridgwater via Tiverton
Day 16 -St Austell- Lands End
Distance 53 miles
Average speed 11.3 mph
Cycling time 4hrs 41min
END TOTAL 953
A390 to Truro, then on to junc A30 and follow A30 to Hayle and on to Penzance and Lands End
Excellent road, fast, with cycle area at edge of road for most part. No hills until after Penzance for 6 miles. Last 4 miles mostly gentle downhill to the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Travel Home
I cycled back to Penzance the next day and got the train to Bristol. It would only accomodate 2 or 3 bikes so essential to book, although there are several trains a day. The connecting train from Bristol to southampton was worse, only two bikes. ESSENTIAL to book
I made these bookings about 4 days from the end of the trip, when I felt certain of my expected end date.
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