Land's End to John O'Groats Classic Ride

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival Penzance/Land's End

   You will be met on arrival and transferred to the coastal town of Land’s End where you will spend your first evening. For anyone wishing to arrive by car, accommodation details will be provided in advance of the departure date (please note that you will not be transferred back to Land’s End at the end of the tour).
   
   A midday/early afternoon arrival will be necessary in order to allow enough time for the group to transfer to Land’s End and for those bringing their own bikes to rebuild them.  This time will also be used to make sure that anyone renting a bike is fitted to one of appropriate size with any necessary adjustments made.
   
   The rest of the day is yours to relax before the evening when you will eat out as a group in the hotel restaurant, an opportunity to get to know the rest of the party and to discuss the programme with your guides.
   
   

   • Comfortable Lodgings

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     Ready? Set. Go!

     Start the tour in the glorious southwest county of Cornwall.

2. Day 2Land's End to Bodmin

   Riding easterly from Land’s End you'll head to Penzance today.
   
   Moving inland (although it’s impossible to be more than 10 miles from the sea on this first day!) you'll continue along some of Cornwall’s finest country roads via Redruth.

   Later you'll head northwards and skirt Newquay before making your way to Bodmin.
   
   

   • 67.1 miles
   • 5,577.4 ft
     5,577.4 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast and Lunch
3. Day 3Bodmin to Tiverton

   Make sure you have a hearty breakfast today – the route is about the same length as yesterday’s, but it’s a hilly one that sees you riding in an incredibly beautiful part of South West England.
   
   Onwards and upwards (and of course, occasionally downwards!!) you'll wind your way through the high-hedged Cornish country lanes, passing through numerous villages on the way. Crossing the Tamar at Launceston, you'll leave Cornwall behind and enter the county of Devon, and on to the destination of the night at Tiverton.
   
   

   • 79.5 miles
   • 7,381.9 ft
     7,381.9 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast
4. Day 4Tiverton to Cheddar

   Leaving Devon this morning and entering Somerset you'll head firstly through winding country lanes towards Taunton and then from here it’s off across the Somerset Levels. You'll skirt the historic town of Glastonbury and its Tor, which will be spotted a long way off in the distance. The last leg is to the large village of Cheddar situated on the edge of the Mendip Hills.
   
   

   • 62.8 miles
   • 3,444.9 ft
     3,444.9 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast and Lunch

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     West Country Cycling

     Bike through Devon and Somerset on day 4 and revel in the rural scenery

5. Day 5Cheddar to Hereford

   Leaving Cheddar this morning you'll head north and into the famous Cheddar Gorge, the largest and most impressive gorge in the United Kingdom.  Navigating carefully to avoid the major roads connecting the larger towns and cities of the area you'll then wind your way northwards into southern Wales, crossing the River Severn via the cycleway on the famous Severn Bridge.
   
   Once beyond Chepstow you'll rejoin country lanes and minor roads and continue the journey through the delightful countryside of the Wye Valley.
   
   

   • 80.2 miles
   • 6,233.6 ft
     6,233.6 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast

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     Discover Cheddar Gorge

     Explore dramatic Cheddar Gorge as you do some spectacular cycling on day 5

6. Day 6Hereford to Ironbridge

   Back in the saddle once more you'll continue through the small villages of Herefordshire and into Worcestershire. You'll head on up through the market town of Leominster, the site of the Battle of Llanllieni, the first battle between the Normans and the Welsh way back in 1052.
   
   Next stop is Shropshire's historic Ludlow with its wonderful black and white timbered buildings and ancient ruined castle. You'll need to keep the old legs spinning a little more as you head through more picturesque towns and villages such as Much Wenlock and its sister Little Wenlock as you head for the finish in Ironbridge on the outskirts of Telford.
   
   

   • 54.1 miles
   • 3,116.8 ft
     3,116.8 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast and Lunch

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     Ride the Welsh Borders

     Experience the far-reaching views from this lovely part of the UK

7. Day 7Ironbridge to Wrightington

   Today you'll climb out of Ironbridge over the Wrekin before riding along Shropshire’s country lanes. You'll enter Cheshire near Audlem on your way to Nantwich, a medieval market town known for its black and white timbered buildings. From here the route takes you on a combination of minor and B roads (with occasional and brief sections of A road) via Middlewich, Knutsford and Leigh before eventually reaching our destination of Wrightington, north of Wigan – welcome to the North of England, it’s ‘right proper’ up here and you’re going to love the next few days.
   
   

   • 90.1 miles
   • 3,937 ft
     3,937 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast

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     Pedal to the North!

     Today you'll officially move into the north of England, and it's wonderful scenery as the miles clock up

8. Day 8Wrightington to Casterton

   Today you'll ride through 4 counties, starting out from Bolton, over Rivington and leaving Greater Manchester behind as you enter Lancashire.  Bypassing the bigger towns and steering clear of the busiest roads you'll carry on northwards. Things quieten down again as you pass through the villages of Slaidburn and High Bentham and head into North Yorkshire. After 7 days in the saddle and just over 500 miles you'll reach the sleepy Cumbrian town of Kirkby Lonsdale on the outskirts of the Lake District.
   
   

   • 72.7 miles
   • 6,725.7 ft
     6,725.7 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast and Lunch
9. Day 9Casterton to Talkin / Hallbankgate

   With the Cumbrian mountains and the Lake District to the west and the Yorkshire Dales to the east, it’s difficult to think of a better place to start a day’s riding. The route today, which for the main part is in Cumbria, is as dramatic as it is rugged as you press on along deserted roads through villages and towns such as Orton, Langwathby and finally Talkin or Hallbankgate. Feast yourselves this evening on Cumberland sausages and the local sticky toffee pudding, you’ve passed the halfway mark and tomorrow you‘re going to Scotland!
   
   

   • 59.7 miles
   • 5,085.3 ft
     5,085.3 ft
   • Comfortable Lodgings
   • Breakfast

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     Last Full Day of Riding in England!

     Cycle through the beautiful Cumbrian landscape as you push towards Scotland

10. Day 10Talkin / Hallbankgate to Cardrona

    Weaving your way through more remote country lanes you'll make your way to the Scottish/English border. A few miles north of the border you arrive in Langholm where you'll pick up the B709. Navigation today is easier than usual since you'll stay on the B709 for most of the day, all the way to Traquair. Riding past the Tweed Valley mountain biking centres of Innerliethen and Glentress, you'll head into the busy border town of Cardrona, your destination for tonight.
    
    

    • 77.1 miles
    • 5,905.5 ft
      5,905.5 ft
    • Comfortable Lodgings
    • Breakfast and Lunch
11. Day 11Cardrona to Perth

    Moving on from Peebles you'll skirt the Moorfoot hills and head for Edinburgh. It’s impossible to avoid Edinburgh’s traffic completely but the route will mainly steer clear of the city’s busiest roads. Once out of town you'll cycle over the Firth of Forth across the Forth Road Bridge and enter the Kingdom of Fife. It’s not long before you rejoin some quieter roads and pass Kinross as you head for your overnight stay in Perth.
    
    

    • 75.2 miles
    • 4,265.1 ft
      4,265.1 ft
    • Comfortable Lodgings
    • Breakfast
12. Day 12Perth to Ballater

    Today starts off easy, heading north from Perth surrounded by rolling fields famed for their raspberries and overlooked by hills and mountains. The main challenge of the day is the ascent up past the Devil’s Elbow to the Glenshee Ski Centre, so keep your climbing legs at the ready. Take your time over the descent to Braemar to enjoy some of the most wild and majestic scenery of the whole trip. It’s a regal finish today as you ride along the banks of the Dee to Balmoral Castle. Onwards to Ballater at last you reach the real Scottish Highlands.
    
    

    • 68.4 miles
    • 4,921.3 ft
      4,921.3 ft
    • Comfortable Lodgings
    • Breakfast and Lunch
13. Day 13Ballater to Inverness

    Don’t forget to raise your eyes from the tarmac as you move on from Ballater this morning, this is spectacular countryside so make sure you take it all in.  Beyond Grantown-on-Spey and into exposed moorland wilderness you'll press on through the villages Dava and Dulsie and pass by Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle fought on British soil.  A few miles up the road and you'll arrive in Inverness where you end the day.
    
    

    • 75.8 miles
    • 5,577.4 ft
      5,577.4 ft
    • Comfortable Lodgings
    • Breakfast

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      Beautiful Scotland Biking

      Ride through the spectacular scenery of the British Isles

14. Day 14Inverness to Lairg

    Back in the saddle, the challenge for this morning is to cross the Black Isle, the jagged peninsula separating Inverness and Dingwall. Once over the Cromarty Firth it’s one road all the way to Bonar Bridge where you'll meet Dornorch Firth and then it’s northwards past The Fall of Shin and onto Lairg for your penultimate stop.
    
    

    • 69 miles
    • 3,937 ft
      3,937 ft
    • Comfortable Lodgings
    • Breakfast and Lunch
15. Day 15Lairg to John O’Groats

    As your epic adventure draws to a conclusion, a riverside route takes you to the northernmost shoreline of mainland Britain. A sharp change of direction at Bettyhill saves you from riding into the sea. You'll follow the coast road to Thurso, the Scottish mainland’s most northerly town; an early Viking settlement named after Norse ‘god of thunder’ Thor. And now you’re on the home straight, only 20 more miles and you’ve made it. Crack open the bubbly – congratulations are in order!!
    
    At John O‘Groats you'll stop for a picture and celebrations! All that remains now is to settle into your accommodation where you’ll spend the evening celebrating your achievement and resting your legs. Congratulations… you’ve ridden from Land’s End to John O‘Groats!
    
    

    • 82 miles
    • 4,429.1 ft
      4,429.1 ft
    • Comfortable Lodgings
    • Breakfast

    • 

      Scenes at the Top of the UK

      You've almost made it – enjoy the final miles to John O'Groats

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      Hoorah! You Made It!

      Ride the length of the UK on a guided group tour

16. Day 16Departure: Inverness

    You'll depart at approx 09:00 for the 3 hour transfer to Inverness. If travelling by train, please do not arrange your train home any earlier than 13:30. If travelling by plane your flight should not depart before 15:00.
    
    

    
    Please Note – Some destinations and distances may be subject to change.

    Lunches are provided for 50% of the riding days, with these specific days subject to alteration due to weather conditions etc.
    
    

    • Breakfast