JOGLE

That’s John O’ Groats to Lands End for those not in the know.

For some very cool visual representations of our trip, definitely check these sites out:

Polarsteps app with map of the whole trip

YouTube videos of Mark’s GoPro footage of every day

  • Day 18 – one third of the distance complete and a rest day tomorrow ðŸ™‚

    Today was relatively light on our feet, only a half marathon distance and all downhill. Rather than the mochy weather of yesterday, today was sunny with a breeze – utterly perfect. I like the Scottish word mochy, for muggy, it is reminiscent of constantly fighting your way though a Japanese starchy dessert to reach your…

  • Day 17 – To B (road) or not to B (road), that is the question…..

    A question we have asked ourselves many times today, starting at breakfast, while staring at the eclectic decor in our hotel. We were trying to shorten our route today to recover from yesterday’s technical climbing. A couple of guys at our hotel this morning, doing the West Highland Way south to north raved about Conic…

  • Day 16 – 7km shorter than a marathon, took longer. Today was hard…..

    It was lovely when we started this morning, but got quite hard when we hit Loch Lomond. When I hit the ground on the very steep shore of Loch Lomond, that felt harder still. The route around Inversnaid is 100% not flat and there are definitely some bits that should come with a nearby first…

  • Day 15 – (should have been) half the distance, but was harder than the marathon yesterday

    We lulled ourselves into a false sense of security today by believing that a half marathon would be “a walk in the (National) park” and so we didn’t leave Bridge of Orchy until nearly 10am and then made the first proper wrong turn of the trip. Bridge of Orchy only has 152 residents so dinner…

  • Day 14 – a 9 hour marathon!

    We left Ballachulish at 6:16 this morning and to be honest, were not sad to see it go. For the princely sum of £186 we were provided with a Mira Vigour shower that did not live up to its name and no breakfast from our BnB. So we bought the world’s driest pain au chocolat…

  • Day 13 – could not get more Scotland

    Our BnB owner concurred with us today when he said that if the weather was any good here, it would be paradise. Well, today got close. Despite the forecast promising rain we left Fort William with a hint of sunshine peeping out from behind the clouds. Unfortunately, because whatever is in this shower gel dispenser…

  • Day 12 – a smirry windy day with a hint of yillen to mark the end of the Great Glen Way

    We have dodged predicted heavy rain all the way to Fort William and the end of the Great Glen Way, but that does not mean it has been easy underfoot and our waterproof trainers are soaked through again. After the most divine (but not cheap) venison meal last night and a fabulous night’s sleep we…

  • Day 11 – filler episode

    I don’t know about you, but if you have ever binged watch a TV show with Mark, there is always an episode in every series where he just frustratingly “Mmmms” at the end of it and says “filler episode”. That is the end of his disapproving commentary. This is the episode that has not really…

  • Day 10 – pretty perfect

    Mark mentioned this description today and it has been, both pretty and perfect. Sure, yesterday had the usual fun way markers (see day 7 if you need an explanation). But it also had so much rain we saw one puddle with a frog living in it. Even with the heater and hairdryer on full to…

  • Day 9 – a splash with Nessie

    Today, at last, we joined the Great Glen Way, a Highland walk that follows the geological fault line through Scotland from Inverness to Fort William, alongside Loch Ness and Lochy. We’ve been looking forward to this since we started planning this trip. First though, we had a last view of a surprisingly pretty part of…