Land's End to John o'Groats
Discussion
There's something appealing about the idea of the longest possible journey on the Mainland, but before taking it on I'm interested in hearing about the experiences of others who've made the trip - either up or down.
Did you do it in one hit sticking to Motorways all the way, or meander along using exclusively B-roads?
How long did it take? Several days, or less than 12 hours like this guy on a turbocharged Kawasaki?
Finally, how much better economy would I get driving downhill from Scotland rather than uphill from Cornwall?
Did you do it in one hit sticking to Motorways all the way, or meander along using exclusively B-roads?
How long did it take? Several days, or less than 12 hours like this guy on a turbocharged Kawasaki?
Finally, how much better economy would I get driving downhill from Scotland rather than uphill from Cornwall?
On a nice sunny day with no wind, the force of gravity-pull towards the equator obviously allows greater economy if you start from John o Groats. Especially if you load your pockets up with magnets. And it's all downhill too from the top of Scotland to Cornwall.
But check forecasted wind direction first before you leave. Strong northerly winds would contribute to economy if you start instead from Cornwall and choose a tall square vehicle such as an artic lorry.
But check forecasted wind direction first before you leave. Strong northerly winds would contribute to economy if you start instead from Cornwall and choose a tall square vehicle such as an artic lorry.
Edited by quiraing on Wednesday 9th January 07:27
Yup, but took me a week. That said, I used A and B roads wherever possible and was more of an around Britain starting at Land's End, across Wales, up the west coast and across the top to John O'Groats - most enjoyable!
ETA: There's a few threads on this topic, one of such is Here.
ETA: There's a few threads on this topic, one of such is Here.
Edited by Laurel Green on Wednesday 9th January 09:54
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
Thanks for the replies - good tip about the magnets too.
I hadn't spotted the BB thread on my Google searches so will give it a read - I'm afraid I gave up on the PH search function a while ago.
As have I; type into Google 'Pitonheads + search requirements' without the plus sign I hadn't spotted the BB thread on my Google searches so will give it a read - I'm afraid I gave up on the PH search function a while ago.
and there's a fair chance that all will be revealed. 
Laurel Green said:
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
Thanks for the replies - good tip about the magnets too.
I hadn't spotted the BB thread on my Google searches so will give it a read - I'm afraid I gave up on the PH search function a while ago.
As have I; type into Google 'Pitonheads + search requirements' without the plus sign I hadn't spotted the BB thread on my Google searches so will give it a read - I'm afraid I gave up on the PH search function a while ago.
and there's a fair chance that all will be revealed. Edited by madbadger on Wednesday 9th January 15:31
LOL at all of this thread
Google maps tells me 14 hours and 20 minutes.
That's without breaking any speed limits.
I'm sure there's a few recognised good driving routes that have nice A roads and good viewpoints.
Bearing in mind you have to get ghere first, then get back, it might be better to do a big curcuit from home all the way round.
That's without breaking any speed limits.
I'm sure there's a few recognised good driving routes that have nice A roads and good viewpoints.
Bearing in mind you have to get ghere first, then get back, it might be better to do a big curcuit from home all the way round.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
Did you do it in one hit sticking to Motorways all the way, or meander along using exclusively B-roads?
It's be impossible to do it going by either exclusively Motorways or exclusively B roads. I've never really thought about doing it, mostly because the thought of driving the length of England twice on busy roads and in traffic jams doesn't appeal to me.
JM said:
I've never really thought about doing it, mostly because the thought of driving the length of England twice on busy roads and in traffic jams doesn't appeal to me.
I did it in the last week of April, never see a jam at all. Mind, as said, I took a week so there was never going to be any time constraints re traffic.Your 306 D-turbo has a 60 litre fuel tank, equating to 13.2 gallons. Taking the fastest route avoiding motorways (you may as well stick to the fun stuff) between LE and JoG is 906 miles. So if you manage 68.6 mpg, you can do it on one tank. Reckon you could that while beating the google maps estimated driving time (not necessarily in one slog though!)?
How about doing the Top Gear Clarkson one with the Jag, West to East, not necessarily over night to beat the sun.but daylight blast.
Not so far to the start, unless you live at one of the extreme North or Southerly places, and you can easily avoid Motorways, going cross country.
Im thinking along these lines myself.
Not so far to the start, unless you live at one of the extreme North or Southerly places, and you can easily avoid Motorways, going cross country.
Im thinking along these lines myself.
JM said:
I've never really thought about doing it, mostly because the thought of driving the length of England twice on busy roads and in traffic jams doesn't appeal to me.
LE to JoG is much more than the length of England: there'sScotland to consider too as well as getting from home
to the starting point and from the end point back to home.
I'm an keen driver, but a 1,700 mile round trip in the UK doesn't appeal at all.
I think I'd rather watch paint dry than spend that amount of time on UK roads.
This from someone who will happily do 2,000 miles in a week going from the UK to the Alps and back.
I did it in 2011, in one day. Took about 13.5 hours, just set the sat nav for shortest route and away I went 
Motorway in the UK, then it al gets good when you're past Glasgow. Amazing trip, genuinely loved every second of it and it's a good story to tell. Not many people do LEJOG in the one day.
Motorway in the UK, then it al gets good when you're past Glasgow. Amazing trip, genuinely loved every second of it and it's a good story to tell. Not many people do LEJOG in the one day.
S2Mike said:
How about doing the Top Gear Clarkson one with the Jag, West to East, not necessarily over night to beat the sun.but daylight blast.
Not so far to the start, unless you live at one of the extreme North or Southerly places, and you can easily avoid Motorways, going cross country.
Im thinking along these lines myself.
Actual did something very similar last year. A friend and I went from the most Westerly point in Wales to the most Easterly point in England, overnight on the shortest night of the year.Not so far to the start, unless you live at one of the extreme North or Southerly places, and you can easily avoid Motorways, going cross country.
Im thinking along these lines myself.
The Clarkson option of Land's End to Lowestoft seemed a bit lacking in challenge, being largely motorway or DC. Instead we did our cross-country run on A and B-roads only, managed an average of sixty-something and actually got there half an hour ahead of schedule.
Synchromesh said:
Your 306 D-turbo has a 60 litre fuel tank, equating to 13.2 gallons. Taking the fastest route avoiding motorways (you may as well stick to the fun stuff) between LE and JoG is 906 miles. So if you manage 68.6 mpg, you can do it on one tank. Reckon you could that while beating the google maps estimated driving time (not necessarily in one slog though!)?
Unfortunately 'fun stuff' and 68.6 mpg are mutually exclusive, even if I did once get 67mpg out of the Peugeot.I'm wondering about how much it'll cost in the BMW - by the time I've come back the pretty way through Scotland it'll be over 2000 miles in total, and at 25mpg that could be quite a commitment.
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