Plans for next year - a long distance England, Wales and Scotland challenge

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simon h 06 Sep 22:28  

Joined: 06 Sep 2011

Posts: 2

Bike:

Hi, just wondered if anyone has done a long distance route from England to Wales then up to Scotland. I'm considering doing the pennine cycleway next year @ 355 miles. As an alternative I'd like to come up with a road route similarish in length combining England, Wales and Scotland (not necessarily in that order).

Would love to hear suggestions from any fellow cyclists

Cheers

Simon

happy 07 Sep 17:40  

Joined: 15 Mar 2006

Posts: 302

Bike: Orange P7 with Rock Shox, Michelin Wildgripper Lites, XTR Chainset

My Profile 		That sounds like an epic cycle!!

I think the issue with country to country routes anywhere in the world is enivatably what seems like the shortest route will be the worst and too busy.

You would be best breaking the route up into sections and asking advice about each bit.

Have you managed to get any further with it since this post?

My Latest Route: Oct 2010 Livingston to Ayr Avoiding A71

rustyspoke 07 Sep 19:13  

Joined: 28 Aug 2011

Posts: 121

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My Profile 		I have done a few long distance rides my advice would really spend time planning it.
Also as other reply says consider doing it in blocks.
Route prepartion is the key.
Also get your traing in if you already ride between 30/50 on a traing run then just up that a bit and vary the routes dont work on speed just endurance, as that is what you will need for a ride of this sort.


simon h 09 Sep 10:22  

Joined: 06 Sep 2011

Posts: 2

Bike:

Thanks for the replies. I'm a regular rider and should be ok with 70 mile a day for a week or so. I'd like to start from my home in Derby heading for Wales via NCN routes 54 and 5 and then up to Scotland via Liverpool, Manchester, Lancaster, Penrith, Carlisle and finishing at Gretna. Does this sound achievable?

Simon


dudley 09 Sep 10:58  

Joined: 16 Jan 2009

Posts: 498

Bike:

My Profile 		how about doing 'the west coast'
start in Cornwall or Devon, along, up into Wales, round the coast - nip into Snowdonia, across the top, head north, into Dumfriesshire, Arran, Oban, Mull, SKye. You can finish at Kyle of Lochalsh for the train home, or keep heading North.

bound to be some good bits in that lot, and you can always skip a leg on the train if it gets a bit urban / grimey / Northern.

My Latest Route: Nov 2009 Forth Estuary Circular