The ultimate British cycle ride, the End to End is a fascinating cross section of the island’s scenery, history and culture. Known by a range of acronyms – E2E (End to End), LEJOG (Land’s End–John o’Groats), JOGLE (John o’Groats–Land’s End) – it’s a challenging rite of passage that will make you a member of the nation’s cycling elite. Here are some key pointers to bear in mind if you fancy giving it a go.
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View BookThere’s no standard route
The only givens for the End to End are the start and finish points. Some people get it over in a week – pounding main roads at more than 160 km (100 miles) a day – but the more time you take, the more rewarding it’ll be. Our 1,769-km (1,099-mile) route from Land’s End to John o’Groats combines several National Cycle Network paths to showcase a range of cities, towns and villages, as well as a selection of remarkable natural and man-made sights.
It helps to plan ahead
There are plenty of organized tour options to choose from, which come with the benefit of accommodation (and luggage transfers) being provided for you, but if you prefer more freedom you can plan your own journey. Bike space is limited on trains to Penzance (near Land’s End) and back from Thurso (near John o’Groats), so book well in advance if you’re planning to arrive or depart this way.
It’s advisable to do some training
Without a doubt, the End to End is a physical challenge – tough on the lungs and the thighs, and leaving you crawling upstairs on all fours by the time that you finish. The total elevation gain for the ride is a whopping 14,676 m (48,150 ft), so it’s well worth getting in a bit of hill practise before you set off, especially if you’re going to be carrying all your own gear.
Be prepared for all weather
This is the UK, so you can count on the fact that the weather will be hugely variable. One moment you’ll be enjoying a sunny picnic by an ancient packhorse bridge; the next a shivering chocolate-bar refuel as you sit out a downpour in a bus shelter. It’s a good idea to invest in some decent waterproof kit so that you can stay warm and dry whatever the heavens throw at you.
The first part is the hardest
The ride kicks off on the wild, windy cliffs of Land’s End, where a simple white signpost marks the start of your tour. The prevailing tailwind here is hugely welcome: the first two days are the toughest of the trip, with gradients of up to 30 per cent as you travel through Cornwall and Devon. There’s no shame in getting off to push.
It’s worth it for the scenery
Constantly changing views more than make up for any sore limbs as you make your way north. Gentle farmland morphs into austere hills and moors; cottage roofs turn from thatch to slate; and village houses fade from honey-coloured to grey. Narrow lanes pick their way through ever-bigger and ever-barer mountain landscapes, and for hours at a time you’ll have only sheep as your riding companions.
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to food
Throughout Britain, café and restaurant menus are often chic and locally sourced, while fresh picnics can be easily assembled from artisan bakeries and street markets. You might even come across the odd honesty-box farm stall on some of the more rural roads. Each region has its own specialities, from pasties and cream teas in Cornwall and Devon to haggis, neeps and tatties in Scotland, so there’s always a good excuse to pull over for a snack.
You’ll have plenty of choices for drinks, too
Soothe your aching body parts by treating yourself to pint from one of England’s many thriving craft breweries. Somerset, in particular, is famed for its cider; don’t worry if it’s cloudy, that’s entirely normal (much like the weather). And as you hit the Highlands north of the border, settlements almost seem to be outnumbered by whisky distilleries – they’re often convenient places to visit, especially to dodge a rain shower.
There’s more to this ride than just cycling
It can be tempting to put your head down and just focus on getting to your next stopover, but that way you’ll miss a lot of what makes the End to End special – it’s as much about the life-affirming memories as it is the miles. Whether you’re exploring trim villages with tiny churches or restless cities pulsing with culture and commerce, enjoying sociable evenings in traditional market-square pubs or wild-camping solitude by far-flung lochsides, there’s plenty of fun to be had off the bike, too.
If you want an even tougher challenge, try LEJOG off-road
The moment of arrival at John o’Groats, next to the signpost that mirrors the one at Land’s End, is generally filled with euphoria (or sometimes simply relief). But if that’s not enough and you’re hungry for more, you can always come back and have a go at LEJOG off-road. It offers extreme landscapes and rugged hills, well away from urban Britain. Like the on-road version, there’s no standard route; the few hardy bikepackers who have completed it combine off-road bike trails such as the Pennine Bridleway and West Highland Way with bridleways and country lanes.
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