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17:48:36, 19/01/08
Still no joy in finding a walking group who organise LEJOG trip! Alas, it would seem I'll have to jolly well do it alone although I am a little apprehensive, I'm female and in my mid thirties (not that gender or age should have anything to do with it!) however I do wonder just how safe it is, especially in the remote areas! Anyone been? Any advise/useful hints much appreciated!!!
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00:29:48, 20/01/08
Hi, I admire your guts at wanting to do this!
If I was free of work commitments (& wife!) I'd love to join you....I did it last year on my Lambretta with a group of friends & while researching the trip I came across various websites chronicalling(?) different methods of doing the journey.
The "End to End Club" has it's own website, so maybe start here in your search for information.
http://www.endtoenders.co.uk/Good luck, and keep us informed of your progress.
David
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20:51:14, 20/01/08
however I do wonder just how safe it is, especially in the remote areas!
The northwest of Scotland can be very remote,and even intimidating if you are alone.The dangers aren't from assault but rather having an accident and not being able to contact the authorities to arrange rescue.I can't really see any dangers on the other sections and it might be an idea to head up the Great Glen Way to Inverness and through Caithness,rather than Sutherland to John O'Groats.John Hillaby noted there were two dangerous sections on his walk,Glen Dessary and Assynt.By going up the GGW you can avoid both of them.Hillaby made it through Assynt but had a bit of a rough time.Other than that the dangers and risks are the same as anywhere else and probably far less than someone who lives in London faces on a daily basis.
I honestly don't know if you could do this walk with someone else,its very long,things can go wrong,and people often drop out.Think of how you would feel if a companion dropped out after 500 miles.Would you thne be able to go on alone?Also,if you make use of offical paths such a the Pennine Way you will meet people to walk with but won't have any strong emotional attachments to them.
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21:08:03, 20/01/08
Have a look at alansloman.blogspot.com for a good LEJOG account.
Also - have you seen
www.peewigle.....kpacking.htm.
Peewiglet did the Pennine Way and 2 TGO challenges as a lone female and has things to say about walking in remote places as a lone female. She did have an unnerving experience in Tynedale involving a creepy bloke whilst on the PW, which is worth reading. I suspect the dangers from other people in remote areas would be less of a problem than walking in more populated areas - just by the operation of probabilities. Lone females walking multi day/week walks aren't that unusual, though. There are plenty about. It would be good if one or two replied to your posting!
I think Tonyk is correct about the difficulty in picking a partner, though - you'd have to be really firm friends to last out under the likely difficulties for the length of time it would take to do the walk. Ive seen friendships ended by much shorter walks than this one, even if somebody doesnt drop out.
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18:19:17, 21/01/08
Thanks to those of you who replied to my message. I believe I need in the range of 54 explorer maps for LEJOG, crikey!!! Has anyone got any redundant maps they want to sell?
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20:46:28, 21/01/08
if you're a member of your local library, you can loan them from there.
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22:12:25, 21/01/08
Ah thank you, never thought of that!!!
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00:53:52, 22/01/08
Hi Sacha,
however I do wonder just how safe it is, especially in the remote areas! Anyone been? Any advise/useful hints much appreciated!!!
I've not done this walk, but I do understand your concerns. I spent time in the Pyrenees on my own, and the unconscious can visualise all sorts of weird (Hills have Eyes) sort of things when you're as good as a million miles from civilisation.
Advice - don't do what I did and sleep near running water. You can hear voices in the water when in that half asleep/half awake state.
My real advice - don't do it all on your own if at all possible. Sure it's a grand adventure and I understand why you want to do it, but try to find companions during those remote sections if at all possible. They don't have to do the whole thing, just be with you for the bits you're uncomfortable with.
S.