A quiet stream in Scotland

Driving up from Edinburgh in the Mini Coach gave us a taste of the scenery that was ahead of us, but cycling through the Highlands is just an experience in itself. You feel at one with nature. There are the sounds of the wild life, the smell of heather and sound of the ewes calling their lambs. There are very few cars which makes cycling a pleasure and the people are so hospitable: we were stopped by a warden at Loch Naver who offered to fill our water bottles for us, another occasion Grace and I were putting on our macs when suddenly a lady appeared from her small crofter's bungalow asking if we would like a cup of tea to warm ourselves. John O Groat's reminded me of Lands End many years ago, a hotel with a shop and the signpost! However it does have a harbour and ferrys run from here across to the Orkneys.

The canal at Hereford

What surprised me most that everything was closed because it was Sunday, I could not buy a postcard! Our route went across the top of Scotland to Bettyhill, then down the middle to Allness and eventually ending up in Edinburgh. From Edinburgh onto Carlisle, down the West Coast of England skirting the big cities onto Hereford and Chepstow. We then went around Bristol, over the Mendips and down through Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Most of the roads we used were either quiet A roads or B roads and as much as possible we were taken on the cycle routes. There was plenty of time to stop for photos, coffee, lunch and tea stops. The journey was pleasant all the way down, we cycled through forests, valleys, mountains, climbed over hills (we never seemed to go around them!), we saw the corn being harvested, potatoes being lifted, cows being milked, sheep being moved and barges quietly going down stream by the Anderson Boat Lift. Crossed 5 bridges, :- Bonnar Bridge, Forth Bridge, Chepstow Old Bridge, Severn Bridge and Clifton Suspension Bridge. Cycled on main roads, back lanes , cycles tracks and gravel tracks!

Wendy, Husband and Mum at Lands End

We cycled 989 miles, averaged 9.53 m.p.h. with a top speed 32.2 m.p.h. There were 15 in our group, plus Colin our Leader and Jimmy driving our backup vehicle. Colin cycled at the back of the group and would usually appear around 5.00 p.m. and join us for the last part of the ride. We stayed in Bed and Breakfast/Hotels all of which were first class. Good route sheets were provided and we transferred these onto maps. Occasionally our map reading skills let us down but Colin was always on the other end of the phone if we had any problems. Our luggage was transferred every day leaving us to carry just our bare essentials, route sheet, maps, compass, mac, spare tube, water, couple of energy bars.

Grace and Wendy

Grace Dovell and I kept together all the way and worked well as a team, this was put to the test near Hayle when Grace had a puncture and we had to change the tube and get back on the road again. I think our husbands would have been proud to see how we coped. Cycling into Lands End brought back wonderful memories. Lands End has always been very special to me because I was born near Lands End, had my 21st and Wedding at the Hotel and to have my family and friends there to welcome me back made it a journey to remember.

Happy End to Enders in traditional pose

Future tours: Next year the CTC are planning a 1, 2 and 3 week tour doing the E2E. The one week tour is 125mpd, the 2 week 70 mpd, and the three week 50 mdp. For further details see: www.ctc.co.uk and www.candflangdon.co.uk or E-mail: tours@candflangdon.co.uk

Wendy Wallis

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