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 21 – today, we have mostly been walking

    This sign also shows that we have found the most fantastic cycle path that will take us all the way to the Scottish border town of Gretna, about 100km away. We tried to avoid lorry dodging this morning by choosing a B road until it turned into this: So we ended up dodging cars, as always…

  • Day 20 – supremely dull, but we have found the holy trinity

    We have reached Larkhall. Notable only because, when we told the hotel barman in Glasgow yesterday that we were walking to Larkhall today, he nearly dropped my Highland Rebel cocktail. That would have been a great shame as the miso washed whisky based drink was divine. However, the barman came from Larkhall and advised that…

  • Day 19 – Reflections……

    A rest day has inevitably meant three things: Glasgow is like a change management project all of its own. You can read the online detail about it: how it was a thriving ship building city to the point of severe overcrowding and poverty, particularly when ship building wasn’t needed so much. So at about the…

  • Day 18 – one third of the distance complete and a rest day tomorrow 🙂

    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…