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Main Boards => Long Distance Walks => Topic started by: isaac.scott on 14:46:25, 16/02/21

Title: LeJog guidance
Post by: isaac.scott on 14:46:25, 16/02/21
Hi all! This is my first post here, so please forgive any faux pas :^)
I'm an 18 year old uni student and I'm planning on walking LeJog this summer, starting in mid-June.
I've bought some books and am in the midst of doing a lot of reading online, and was just looking for some more opinions.
My rough route (thus far) is to follow the SWCP, cross the estuary and walk to Chepstow before following Offa's Dyke until Shrewsbury, where my parents live.
After this I will walk the Pennine way (any good routes between Shrews and the Way?) to Jedburgh, perhaps stay with a family friend in Glasgow for a day or two, and walk the rest of the route along the West Highland Way and probably the unceremonious A9.
I understand June is probably quite late to start such a long walk, but unfortunately my exams end on June 18th!

I'm planning on walking Offa's Dyke this Easter, as a dry run of my equipment and as a stretch of training for the real thing.

I'm not too experienced with hiking - my plan for not getting lost is to plan out a route with waypoints on a .gpx file and upload it to a gps device as well as my mobile, as I understand many people do.
In terms of accommodation I am planning on camping when possible, but not ruling out a B&B every once in a while.
In terms of funds, I would say I have about 2 grand I could spend on everything, including equipment.
I am generally fairly fit - I can walk 25-30 miles in a day fine, so 15-20 a day should be ok, and I've just taken up running (again!).
I've read that walking in North Scotland in the late summer is generally a fool's errand, what with midges and hunting and everything. I'm not completely averse to walking JogLe, but I would prefer LeJog. Would you say this is possible, considering the earliest I can start walking is mid-June?
I've also read that post Fort William, the walk is quite difficult and at times more dangerous than the rest of the route. Do you have any advice for preparation for that, other than general safeguarding and common sense?
If you've read this far, thank you for your time! I would love to read any pointers you have to offer.

That's about all, for now..
Thanks!
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: harland on 15:21:36, 16/02/21
I suggest you read the following, a well-written account of their walk:-
Walking the Length of Britain - A Journal (ukendtoend.com) (http://www.ukendtoend.com/index.html) and then click on Download "Stepping Out of the Railway Tracks" journal (PDF 2.95 MB) (http://www.ukendtoend.com/download/LeJogJournal.pdf)  .


I have walked it, my route was SWCP to Minehead, then onwards to Watchet (which is also part of the new England Coast Path) and then inland via the Providence Way, The Macmillan Way West and the Samaritans Way South West that leads to Cheddar before and taking the Mendip Way, the Limestone Link, the Clapton Circuit, the Gordano Round, the Community Forest Path, the Pilgrims Way and the Severn Way to Chepstow. Then   Offa's Dyke to Bronygarth,   cross country to Edale, Pennine Way to Kirk Yetholm, cross country to Milngavie, WHW and GGW to Inverness, then onwards and upwards to John o'Groats.  
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Patrick1 on 16:32:06, 16/02/21
[/size]I've read that walking in North Scotland in the late summer is generally a fool's errand, what with midges and hunting and everything. I'm not completely averse to walking JogLe, but I would prefer LeJog. Would you say this is possible, considering the earliest I can start walking is mid-June?I've also read that post Fort William, the walk is quite difficult and at times more dangerous than the rest of the route. Do you have any advice for preparation for that, other than general safeguarding and common sense?


Sounds an exciting plan. There's lots that could be discussed here, but I'm going to restrict myself to these last few comments since, while I've never walked a LeJoG I do live near Inverness!


I wouldn't say there's much to choose between walking in Scotland in mid June and mid September, except that you get longer days in June. I'm afraid you'll get midges at both times, but much less so on the east coast. Take a midge head net for camping in the west at either time of year. Hunting - stalking - won't be an issue for you on the sort of well worn trails you sound as if you're planning on following.


Post Fort William being more difficult and dangerous entirely depends on what route you take, but, again, I don't think is true for the sort of route you've outlined. In terms of trails you may be thinking of the Cape Wrath Trail, which heads north from Fort William and does pass through fairly trackless and high country. But that wouldn't be an obvious route for a LeJoG, since it would leave you with the whole of the north coast to traverse and no obvious trail to follow along it. A more likely route would be to take the Great Glen Way up to Inverness, then the John O'Groats Trail up the east coast. Neither of these are difficult or dangerous routes and I wouldn't think you'd have trouble following them at any time of year (though the John O'Groats Trail is technically still "under construction" and as such is a little sketchy in places!).


Many on here might take issue with your navigation being entirely reliant on following a GPX track, but in reality for the sort of low level trail following you're largely planning you're probably not going to get into serious trouble if your electronics fail and you get lost. But that is quite a likely scenario if you're mainly camping - keeping batteries charged will be challenging, and I'd try to get more practice with paper maps before you set out, if I were you.


Have fun, though, and good luck!


PS You might like to read the blog from WildWalkingUK (https://wildwalkinguk.com/category/lands-end-to-john-ogroats/), who posts on here, about his LeJoG, which was done entirely wild camping and so may be relevant to your own attempt.
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Clusterhead on 00:40:34, 24/02/21
Hiya I walked Lejog last year during lockdown swcp to Barnstable then out to exmoor round the quantocks hills to bridgewater then headed to cheddar gorge to Chepstow offas dyke I came off at Welshpool and followed the canal system over towards congleton (use open canal map and get boat services key of eBay for £3 use toilets and showers and water) got on the gritstone way then onto Dane valley way (lovely walking)leads on to limestone way takes you into edale pennine way to Kirk yetholm st cuthberts way to Melrose a path to southern upland way towards pebbles (southern upland way was fantastic) from pebbles I was suppose to follow a disused railway Penicuik but was blocked in places so took to road now and again got on to the union canal to Falkirk wheel onto forth and Clyde canal followed John muir way into milgavie up west highland way then the great glen way into Inverness picked up John o groats trail for a while up just past Helmsdale was great then badly overgrown dangerous took the traditional route up the a99 to the end
Was averaging 17 miles a day on swcp then about 20-30 miles a day for the rest of the time wild camped most of the way stayed in few campsites when needed shower and a early finish if they were cheap enough cost me about £700 mainly food and coffee I don’t booze charged phone in churches left (£1-2 donation)and cafes used ViewRanger and open canal map all the way took me 64 days no rest days just early finish or late start when needed got eaten by midges got fed in Scotland got harassed in England get of me land all in the best walking I’ve ever done highly recommend you do it no matter how hard it gets (wasn’t really that’s from a 52 year old fit 🥴smoker) get a good water filter I use first need bit heavier and pricey now but great and fast my base weight was 12 kg ..15 - 17kg with food and water now and again only need to carry a couple days food with you most the time I did no planning what’s so ever except map a route worked out for me just great I like it like that see wot happens along the way met great people along the way make sure you stay at squirrel campsite at cowling good food great people ... used altberg tethera boots from Chepstow dry feet all the way to the top had crappy boots swcp take a lighter pair of running shoes or something so you don’t wear your boots out on the road sections and canals in Scotland tarmac all the way all in all about 1226 miles 1 blister used sudocreme on my feet every evening and morning I pair of ankle socks for bed only soaked in sudocreme
I go on but it’s your journey have a great time wotever way you go 👍
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Peak on 01:02:23, 24/02/21
Clusterhead,
I'm out of breath just reading that, love your style and well done.
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Clusterhead on 10:50:16, 24/02/21
@peak thanks
Isaac some tips that you may or not know
If using your mobile phone for mapping switch off background app refresh and stop all apps from using mobile data analytics look on utube for your particular phone to switch things off will save battery life,when not using phone switch it off or put in airplane mode
When walking swcp you won’t need to map just keep the sea to the left 👍
Take a vileda kitchen sponge or cloth to wipe inside/outside of tent when wet saves a lot of weight..if you pack your tent away wet set it up again when you stop for lunch if it’s not raining to dry it out you’ll be happy you did that evening
When you wake up in morning and the bottom half of your sleeping bag is damp from moisture sit on it when making morning brew and breakfast your bum will dry it in 10 minutes
Take antibacterial wipes they are good  for cleaning your dishes and having a wash in morning and cleaning feet every evening.
If you have leather boots buy some leder gris wax oil use every Evening ready for next day
Use dry bags for spare clothing
And for sleeping bag dont rely on the stuff sack
I used a walking pole for first time on my walk I wouldn’t do without one now they made me walk faster and are great for stability crossing rivers stream and poking your way through bogs of the pennine way and exmoor
Don’t forget nail clippers keep toe nails trimmed,get some sudocreme best stuff in my opinion cuts blisters bites sunburn
In Scotland try and camp in the wind or eat lunch midges don’t like wind they get blown away 👍
Use churches they sometimes have kitchens and kettles  charge phone and power bank also a good place to stop for lunch in the rain they have porches people are always welcoming (leave a donation)
When u stop for more than five minutes take boots and socks off let all that moisture out of your boots check feet also before u start walking apply plaster tape around your heels and other places you get blisters socks will rub the tape rather than your skin
I didn’t do any walking to train before hand because it’s just walking you’ll get fit along the way but I did do a few hundred squats a day throughout the days months beforehand just for all the steps on the Cornish path 👍😅
I fell over and slipped more in Cornwall than any other place be careful on them Rocky steps take time no rush
Scotland’s whw is not harder than any other part of the walk just take your time make sure you got good footing use the walking pole I actually was more knackered in the Shropshire hills on offas dyke than anywhere else 🤷‍♂️
My packing list was 2 t- shirts 2 boxer shorts wear one wash one 3 pairs socks wear one wash one 1 pair for sleeping bag only berghuas gortex paclite jacket and trousers. Wore one pair of trousers all the way washed now and again🤷‍♂️In rivers 1 warm rab top,sleeping bag,air bed,tent,stove,gas,one pot,spork,head torch,power bank,headphones,gaffer tape pocket knife,1 litre water bottle 3 small army can openers,most of it is over 10 years old.
Take plenty of photos
Every time you have a tough climb stop and look back on the way up and at the top.
Use your pole to keep young bullish cows at bay.. also run like hell at times most cows were ok but some are mad
😅
watch your nuts on them electric fences
Proper Eccles cakes 👍
Camp near rivers if you can stick feet in cold water takes all your pains away
Don’t have targets for the day just walk and take in the the great scenery
Don’t think of the miles you’ll be sad when you reach the top.
Have change in your pocket for honesty boxes
Don’t fall asleep in a church and get locked in 🙃 ( got out side door) in morning
Don’t sleep in a graveyard were the bell rings on the hour every hour thru the night
If you camp on sand have a spare toothbrush to clean the zips on tent
Don’t camp next too hundreds of cockerels if you want a lay in


Cornish steps
Pen y Ghent
Rocks along river tees and up to reservoir
Loch Lomond are most dangerous places fo slipping on rocks just go easy no rush
It’s all I can think of sure there’s loads more but hope it helps
I do have loads of photos on Facebook
Dunno about link but maybe if you search
... paul paul
I have a blue Honda motorbike as cover photo
Enjoy
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Peak on 11:38:00, 24/02/21
Thanks for another enjoyable post.
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Jac on 13:00:21, 24/02/21
What a wonderful mix of excellent advice and humorous observations


and I always though correct punctuation was essential to accurate communication :knuppel2:    how wrong I was :2funny:
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Clusterhead on 13:27:06, 24/02/21
 ;D ;D Education is important but riding motorbikes is importanter  ;D
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Peak on 14:41:01, 24/02/21
Jac,
 I always though correct punctuation was essential to accurate communication      how wrong I was.

 

 
And spelling
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: Jac on 07:58:47, 25/02/21
Jac,
 I always though correct punctuation was essential to accurate communication     how wrong I was.

And spelling


Oh bumm
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: richardh1905 on 17:33:16, 27/02/21
I'm not a long distance walker, but my advice would be finish at magnificent Duncansby Head a few miles away rather than the miserable tarmaced tourist trap that is John O' Groats.


PS - the Seaview in JOG is a good place to stay, and has a lively bar frequented by locals.  :)
Title: Re: LeJog guidance
Post by: richardh1905 on 17:35:56, 27/02/21
Some really sound advice there Clusterhead . I am taking note...