E2E2E

E2E2E

ELGIN CYCLING CLUB

Established

1981

Four of our members have successfully completed a run from Land’s End to John O’Groats to Elgin. Al Sutton, Mark Houliston, Gary Reid and Peter McLean cycled and Martin Flynn kindly offered his services and drove the support vehicle.

See below for the day by day ride reports.

bb E2E2E Route plan June 2008 bb
21st June	Saturday	Travel to Cornwall, Redruth, Penzance or St Just.
22nd June	Sunday	Lands End - Tiverton Area	A30 - Three Burrows, A3075 - Newquay, A392 - Trevarren, A39 - Wadebridge, Bude, Bideford, Barnstaple, A361 -Tiverton
23rd June	Monday	Tiverton - Hereford	A361 - Waterloo Cross (M5), A38 -Taunton, Bridgewater, Bristol, A4018 - Camrain (M5), B4055 - Northwick, A403 - Aust, Severn Bridge cycle path, A466 Chepstow, Monmouth, Join A49 - Hereford.
24th June	Tuesday	Hereford - Preston	A49 - Leominster, Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, Tarporley, Warrington, Winwick, A573 - Abram, Wigan, A49 - Standish, Euxton, A6, B5254 - Preston
25th June	Wednesday	Preston - Crawford/Abington	A6 - Lancaster, Kendle, Shap, Penrith, Carlisle, A7 - Longtown, A6071 - Gretna, B7076 - Lockerbie, Beatock, B7078 - Crawford/Abington.
26th June	Thursday	Crawford/Abington - Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy	B7078 - Lesmahagow, Junct 8 (M74), A71 - Wishaw, Newmains, A73 - Airdrie, Join B8039 - Cumbernauld, A8011/A803/A872 - Denny, Join A9 - Stirling, A84 - Doune, Callander, Lochearnhead, A85 - Crainlarich, A82 - Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy
27th June	Friday	Tyndrum/Bridge of Orchy - Carbisdale/Lairg	A82 - Glen Coe, Fort William, Spean Bridge, Invergarry, Invermoriston, Drumnadrochit, A831/A833/A862 -Beauly, Dingwall, B817 Evanton, B9176/A836 Bonar Bridge ( Carbisdale by lanes) or A836 Lairg
28th June	Saturday	Carbisdale/Lairg - Wick/Dunbeath	A836 - Altnaharra, B873 - Syre, B871 - Bettyhill, A836 - Thurso, John O'Groats, A99 - Wick ( Latheron, A9 - Dunbeath)
29th June	Sunday	Wick/Dunbeath - Elgin	A9 - Berridale, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie, Tain, (if Nigg ferry running B9175 - Nigg, ferry - Cromarty, A832 - Fortrose, Munlochy, lanes to North Kessock) Kildary, B817 - Invergordon, Alness, Evanton, A9/lanes - North Kessock, Inverness, B9006 - Culloden, Croy, B9090 Auldearn, lanes - Forres, Burgie, Elgin.
bbb Approx 130 -140 miles per day - Total 1,060 miles bbb

Friday 20 June

The team set off from Elgin at

4:00pm and head to Carlisle for

an overnight stop.

Saturday 21 June

The team leave Carlisle and head

to Penzance.

Sunday 22 June - Day 1

Gale force south west winds made for a golden start to the ride. The first 138 miles to Tiverton in Devon were covered at an average 16.6mph. Mark described it as “champagne cycling”.

Monday 23 June - Day 2

125 miles to Leominster crossing the Clifton suspension bridge and the Severn Bridge. Also, the guys saw a recording of "Holby City" including fake ambulance and TV crew at Bristol. Nice day, very sunny slight wind generally in their favour, many rolling hills visiting 5 countries, 3 of them England, the other 2 Wales!

Tuesday 24 June - Day 3

Another long day in the saddle through four more English counties from rural Shropshire to industrial Lancashire arriving in Preston after 130 miles. Morning coffee in a roadside café with continental sunshine helped raise spirits as did the thought of heading home to Scotland tomorrow. Does this inspired piece of navigation give a unique end-to-end route??

Wednesday 25 June - Day 4

The longest day so far, 156 miles to Abington, including Shap Fell in the first rain of the trip. Entered Scotland over Sark bridge at Gretna with 100 miles covered. Team in good spirits. Tomorrow to Crianlarich!

Thursday 26 June - Day 5

Very dreich 106 miles through the central belt and The Trossachs. First puncture of the trip happened only 1 mile from the hostel at Crianlarich.

Friday 27 June - Day 6

153 miles today. ‘Atmospheric’ (wet!) over Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe then a good run up the Great Glen and a trip over the Struie to the finish at Bonar Bridge.

Saturday 28 June - Day 7

John O'Groats successfully conquered - via Dunnet Head (most northerly point) - another 120 mile day. Very wet from Lairg to Bettyhill and damp for the rest of the day with a ray of sunshine towards the end of the road. Just a wee trip back home tomorrow.

Sunday 29 June - Day 8

The final day covering 160 miles, Head wind all the way to Inverness, then a blow along the Firth. Four tired but happy bodies joined for the last day by clubmate Kenny McIver. Arrived on the Plainstones in Elgin at 20:05 - 8 days after setting off from Lands End, having visited both the most northerly (Dunnet Head) and the most north easterly (J.O'G) points of the British mainland. All survived safe and well, if a bit sore in places.