Land's End to John O'Groats cycling holiday

From the very toe to the very tip! The entire length of mainland Britain. The ultimate Great British cycling challenge – that really is the only way to describe our Land’s End to John O’Groats epic ride.

Just about every cyclist should make this journey at least once in their lifetime. Over 1000 miles, through 3 countries in just 16 days. Our carefully chosen route avoids heavy traffic and busy towns as much as possible and takes us well off the beaten track.

Sure enough, our "flagship" British tour is something of a challenge, but for many that's what it's all about and what wonderful rewards you’ll get along the way. There is simply no better way to experience our "green and pleasant land".

This fully supported and guided tour allows you to soak up some of the best countryside that the British Isles have to offer. One guide will accompany the riders whilst the other will drive the support vehicle. What's more, we'll carry your bags and feed you along the way, luxury!

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - Saturday - Arrive Penzance
You will be met on arrival at Newquay Airport or Penzance train station and transferred to the picture postcard seaside resort of St-Just-in-Penwith where we will spend our first evening. For anyone wishing to arrive by road, accommodation details will be provided well in advance of the departure date (please note that we will not be transferring back to St Just at the end of the tour). A midday/early afternoon arrival in Newquay will be necessary in order allow enough time for the transfer to St-Just-in-Penwith and for those bringing their own bikes to rebuild them. We will also use this time to make sure that anyone hiring a Skedaddle bike is fitted to one of appropriate size with any necessary adjustments made. The rest of the day is then yours to relax or enjoy some sightseeing of the town's many attractions. In the evening we will eat out as a group in a local restaurant, an opportunity to get to know the rest of the party and to discuss the programme with your Skedaddle guides.

Day 2 - Sunday - Lands End to Camelford - Distance 85 miles
An early start this morning to allow enough time for us to load the bikes onto the vehicle and transfer to Lands End where our epic adventure begins. Riding easterly from Lands End we head for Penzance. Avoiding pirates and moving “inland” (although it’s impossible to be more than 10 miles from the sea on this first day) we continue along some of Cornwall’s finest country roads via Truro. Later we head northwards and skirt Newquay before making our way to Wadebridge.

Day 3 - Monday - Camelford to South Molton - Distance 55 miles
Make sure that you have a hearty breakfast today – the route is about the same length as yesterdays, but it’s a hilly one, that sees us riding along in an incredibly beautiful part of South West England. Onwards and upwards (and of course occasionally downwards!!) we wind our way through the high hedged Cornish country lanes, passing thorugh numerous villages on the way. Crossing the Tamar a few miles before Holsworthy, we leave Cornwall behind us and enter the county of Devon, and on to our destination of the night at Tiverton.

Day 4 - Tuesday - South Molton to Glastonbury - Distance 65 miles
Leaving Devon this morning and entering Somerset we head firstly through winding country lanes towards Taunton and then on to Bridgewater. From here it's off accross the Somerset Levels to the historic town Glastonbury, and its Tor, which will be spotted a long way off in the distance.  Afetr passing thorugh Glastonbury, the last leg is to the small cathedral city of Wells, our destination for the night.

Day 5 - Wednesday - Glastonbury to Ross on Wye - Distance 78 miles
Leaving Wells this morning we to the village of Cheddar where we will ride through 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 we then wind our way northwards into Southern Wales, crossing the River Severn via the cycleway on the famous Severn Bridge. Once beyond Chepstow we rejoin country lanes and minor roads and continue the journey through the delightful countryside of the Wye Valley heading, passing Ross-on-Wye and on to our target destination and accommodation in Hereford.

Day 6 - Thursday - Ross on Wye to Ironbridge Distance 62 miles
Back in the saddle once more, today we ride through the small villages of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. We 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. We need to keep the old legs spinning a little more as we head through more picturesque towns and villages such as Much Wenlock (our stop on the September trip) and its sister Little Wenlock as we head for our finish in Ironbridge (on the July trip) on the outskirts of Telford.

Day 7 - Friday - Ironbridge to Chorley - Distance 87 miles
Riding along the rural country lanes of Shropshire’s countryside we head this morning for “the home of gingerbread” Market Drayton notable for its ancient market place and half timbered buildings. A few miles further on and we’re entering Cheshire at Wilksley on our way to the Roman town of Nantwich. From here our route takes us 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 Westhoughton - welcome to the North of England, it’s “right proper” up here and you’re going to love the next few days.

Day 8 - Saturday - Chorley to Sedbergh- Distance 70 miles
Today we ride through 3 counties, starting out from Leigh via Westhoughton and leaving Greater Manchester behind us entering Lancashire just a few miles south of Chorley. Bypassing the bigger towns and steering clear of the busiest roads we carry on northwards. Things quieten down again as we enter North Yorkshire, taking in the villages of Newton and High Bentham along the way. After 7 days in the saddle and  just over 500 miles we reach the little village of Dent, the only village in Dentadale, and our stop for tonight.

Day 9 - Sunday - Sedbergh to Brampton - Distance 52 miles
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 days riding. The route today, which for the main part is in Cumbria, is as dramatic as it is rugged as we press on along deserted roads through villages and towns such as Orton, Langwathby and finally Talkin. Feast yourselves this evening on Cumberland Sausages and Sticky Toffee Pudding – we’ve past the halfway mark and tomorrow we’re going to Scotland!

Day 10 - Monday - Brampton to Glentress - Distance 76 miles
Weaving our way through more remote country lanes we make our way to the Scottish/English border. A few miles north of the border we arrive in Langholm where pick up the B709. Navigation today is easier than usual since we stay on the B709 for most of the day, all the way to Traquair.  Riding past the Innerleithen mountain biking centre, famous for its downhill tracks, we head into the small Tweed Valley town of Innerleithen itself, our destination for tonight.

Day 11 - Tuesday - Glentress to Perth - Distance 89 miles
Moving on from Innerleithen we climb over the Moorfoot hills and head for Edinburgh. It’s impossible to avoid Edinburgh’s traffic completely but our route will mainly steer clear of the city's busiest roads. Once out of town we cycle over the Firth of Forth accross the Forth Road Bridge and enter the Kingdom of Fife. It’s not long before we rejoin some quieter roads, pass Kinross and heading for Perth for the night.

Day 12 - Wednesday - Perth to Ballater - Distance 68 miles
Once beyond Blairgowrie, surrounded by rolling fields, famed for their raspberries, and overlooked by hills and mountains, with climbing legs at the ready, we head due north to Braemar for a strenuous journey through some of the most wild and remote territory of our tour. It’s a regal finish today as we ride along the banks of the Dee to Balmoral Castle. Onwards to Ballater at last we reach the real Scottish Highlands.

Day 13 - Thursday - Ballater to Inverness Distance 75 miles
Don’t forget to raise your eyes from the tarmac as we 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 we 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 we arrive in Inverness where we end our day.

Day 14 - Friday - Inverness to Crask Inn (Nr Lairg) Distance 65 miles
Back in the saddle, the challenge for this morning is to cross the Black Isle, the jagged peninsular separating Inverness and Dingwall. Once over the Cromarty Firth it’s one road all the way to Bonar Bridge where we meet Dornorch Firth and then it’s northwards past Inveran and the Falls of Shin to Lairg, our stop for the night.

Day 15 - Saturday - Crask Inn to John O’Groats Distance 65 miles
As our epic adventure draws to a conclusion, the day begins with a ride along the shoreline of Loch Shin before laeving the waterside and heading past the Crask Inn, a remote and beautiful spot in the heart of Sutherland.  A riverside route then takes us to the northernmost shoreline of mainland Britain. A sharp change of direction at Bettyhill saves us from riding into the sea. We 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 we’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 we stop for a picture and celebrations, before heading to our accommodation. All that remains now is to cycle onto to our accommodation in Thurso where we'll spend the evening celebrating our achievement and resting our legs. Congratulations... you've Skedaddled from Land's End to John O'Groats!

Day 16 - Sunday - Transfer to Inverness Train Station - return home
We depart early today for the 3 hour transfer to Inverness, traffic permitting. If travelling by train, please do not arrange for your train home any earlier than 1.30pm.

Equipment
We provide everything except a bike (unless you've opted to hire one), personal equipment and clothing. If you are taking your own bike it should preferably be a road bike or, alternatively, a mountain bike fitted with slick tyres.

We recommend that you use either a compact, triple chainset or a 27 bottom sprocket to ease the climbing. Please contact us if you are unsure whether your bike will be suitable.

It is imperative that your bike is in good mechanical order. If you are not mechanically minded, we advise you to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service. Our guide(s) will of course be taking a full tool kit and a selection of spares, which we will provide should the need arise but please be sure to carry your own basic tool kit, pump, spare tube, and any specific spare parts you may require for your bike - especially unusual spokes.

What the price doesn't include
(A)    Bike & helmet hire (if required, £150).
(B)    Personal clothing and equipment.
(C)    Insurance (if required, £19).
(D)    Evening meals.
(E)    50% of the lunches.
(F)    Single room option (if required, £450).