Where are we going?
There’s no set route for a Land’s End - John O’Groats walk. Which would have helped, to be honest. Instead we had to knit together a lot of different trails, treks and paths to get us from one end to the other. Some trails - like the West Highland Way - are very commonly used by LEJOG walkers, one of them - the Alternate Pennine Way - is so out of use that the most recent guidebook is 30 years old, while for other sections there was no real path and we had to use local footpaths.
We tried to draw the route for you, but it’s a small map and we used a big pen and, really, geography is hard (if there is anyone who could produce an actual route map, that would be awesome!)
We’re planning the walk in sections, rather than all in one. Roo needs to keep seeing their friends and their tutor (Roo disagrees), I need to see the rest of the family and we have several Jewish festivals to fit in (Roo wants a wolf costume for Purim). We won’t be hiking on Shabbat (Friday - Saturday night).
March 2 - 15: Land’s End - Plymouth
This section follows the South West Coast Path It’s our first go, and I want the navigation to be as easy as possible so that we can focus on gear and food and sleeping outside and…
Shabbat breaks: March 4/5 Porthleven, March 11/12 Par.
March 27 - April 6: Youlgreave - Kirby Stephen
This is a section I missed out. Oops. Following the Alternative Pennine Way through some lovely countryside. With cheese.
Shabbat breaks: April 1/2 - Ilkley (really hoping we’ll be at home)
April 26 - May 27: Plymouth to Youlgreave
This seems a lot, now I’m typing it! This section follows the Two Moors Way onto Dartmoor, then meanders along a section of the Mary Michael Pilgrims Way to Glastonbury. Over the Mendip hills to Bath, then up the Cotswolds Way to Chipping Campden. Pop in to Stratford upon Avon, then join the Heart of England Way at Chadwick End (I love these names!) up to Rugeley. A short stroll on The Staffordshire Link (not actually an official trail, but a route worked out by a previous LEJOG blog) to Thorpe (which always amuses Roo as it’s their dad’s surname) and finally along the Limestone Way to Matlock. Phew!
Shabbat breaks: April 29/30 Chagford, May 6/7 Glastonbury, May 13/14 TBC, May 20/21 Chadwick End.