Land's End to John o' Groats

Signpost at Land's End
Signpost at John o' Groats

Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities; in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is 847 miles (1,363 km) and takes most cyclists ten to fourteen days; the record for running the route is nine days. Off-road walkers typically walk about 1,200 miles (1,900 km) and take two or three months for the expedition. Two much-photographed signposts indicate the traditional distance at each end.

The straight-line distance from Land's End to John o' Groats is 603 miles (970 km) as determined from O.S. Grid References, but such a route passes over a series of stretches of water in the Irish Sea.

According to a 1964 road atlas, the shortest route using classified roads was 847 miles (1,363 km) but in a 2008 road atlas, the shortest route using classified roads was 838 miles (1,349 km). An online route planner in 2011 also calculated the quickest route by road as 838 miles (1,349 km), estimating a time of 15 hours 48 minutes for the journey (this uses the A30, M5, M6, A74(M), M74, M73, M80, M9, A9 & A99) but the overall shortest route by road, using minor roads in numerous places and utilising modern bridges, is only about 814 miles (1,310 km). This route is roughly as follows: Land's End, Bodmin, Okehampton, Tiverton, Taunton, Bridgwater, the M5 Avon Bridge, the M48 Severn Bridge, Monmouth, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Tarporley, St Helens, Preston, Carlisle, Beattock, Carstairs, Whitburn, Falkirk, Stirling, Crieff, Kenmore, Dalchalloch, A9, Inverness, Kessock Bridge, Cromarty Bridge, Dornoch Firth Bridge, Latheron, Wick, John o' Groats.

Methods

There are many ways to go from Land's End to John o' Groats. Traditionally considered to be a walk, the route is now traversed in a number of ways, with cycling and multi-modal expeditions being particularly popular in recent years.

Most trips are done by individuals or small groups for personal fulfilment. Some expeditions are organised as charity fundraisers, sometimes involving celebrities: examples include cricketer Ian Botham's 1985 walk and athlete Jane Tomlinson in 2003. In recent history the route has been used as a rite of passage by cyclists taking on the most iconic and toughest cycling challenge in Britain.

Walking

The first recorded end-to-end walk (actually from John o' Groats to Land's End) was undertaken by the brothers John and Robert Naylor in 1871.[1] Since then the walk has been undertaken many times, more particularly since 1960, after a well-publicised road walk by Dr Barbara Moore. In 1960 the entrepreneur Billy Butlin organised a road walking race, which gave further impetus to the idea.

Since the 1960s, walkers have mostly chosen off-road routes, using the growing network of long-distance footpaths. A classic account is from 1966 by the travel writer John Hillaby.[2] Off-road walkers usually complete the journey in two to three months. There is a considerable choice of off-road routes, but all are much longer than the shortest road distance, usually 1,200 miles (1,900 km) or more. The walk is still undertaken by road walkers, often doing the walk, like Sir Ian Botham, for charity, or as a "challenge walk". They typically take a month or even less.

Some walkers aim to complete the route piecemeal, perhaps over several years, to achieve the walk within the time constraints of a working life and before the possible health problems of retirement.[3]

Routes

There is no continuous long-distance path from Land's End to John o' Groats. There are long-distance paths for substantial sections of the route, and where they do not exist walkers connect them by rights of way and minor roads. Most walkers broadly follow these routes:[4]

Cycling

There are several annual mass participation cycle rides that go from Land's End to John O'Groats, the biggest of which is the Deloitte Ride Across Britain,[5] run by Threshold Sports. The Ride Across Britain takes over 800 riders the full length of Britain, taking 9 days and covering 969 miles (1,559 km), with each rider covering an average of 107 miles (172 km) per day. Overnight accommodation is provided in large, tented base camps, and all aspects of the ride are fully supported. Previous celebrity participants include GB rower and Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell and former England Rugby captain Lewis Moody.

The official Road Records Association record for rider on a conventional bicycle is 44 hours, 4 minutes and 20 seconds, set by Gethin Butler in 2001.[6] The record for cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats is held by Andy Wilkinson, who completed the journey in 41 hours, 4 minutes and 22 seconds on a Windcheetah recumbent tricycle.[7] A typical cycling time when not attempting shortest time is ten to fourteen days. Ben Rockett, a postgraduate student from the University of Bath became on 27 August 2010 the record holder for cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats and back again in 5 days, 21 hours and 8 minutes.[8] From 1 to 4 March 2010, David Walliams, Jimmy Carr, Fearne Cotton, Miranda Hart, Patrick Kielty, Davina McCall and Russell Howard cycled in a team relay from John o' Groats to Land's End to raise money for Sport Relief.[9]

Men's Tandem Bicycle. 5–7 May 2015 Riders: Dominic Irvine and Charlie Mitchell. Time: 1 day 21 hours 11 minutes.[10] The previous record held for 49 years.

Men's Quadricycle. In the summer of 2012. Riders: Hugo Catchpole, George Unwin, Tom Bethell and Richard Nicholls. Time 10 days 15 hours. On a four-man recumbent bike weighing 114 kg.

There have been several unicycle completions of the journey. The Guinness World Record for the fastest completion by unicycle is held by Roger Davies and Sam Wakeling, who rode 862 miles (1,387 km) (Land’s End to John o' Groats) from 12 September to 18 September 2009 in 6 days, 8 hours and 43 minutes.[11] They rode large 36-inch-wheeled (910 mm) unicycles equipped with two-speed Schlumpf geared hubs.[12]

The oldest person to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats is Tony Rathbone (UK, b. 10 December 1932) who was aged 81 years and 162 days when he completed the journey on 21 May 2014. Roger Anthony "Tony" Rathbone started his journey from Land's End to John O'Groats on 7 May 2014 with his friend, William "Billy" Skipper. They cycled a total of 1,526.46 km (948.5 miles) and were riding for a total of 79 hours 34 minutes. Guinness World Record[13]

Running

The record time for a runner to complete the route, as reported by the Land's End John o' Groats Club, is 9 days and 2 hours, by Andi Rivett.[14] In July 2008, Dan Driver became the first to run the route solo, meaning he carried all his equipment with him whilst he ran it. He completed the run in just over seventeen days.[15]

On 12 July 2009 British ultramarathon runner Kevin Carr successfully completed the first ever attempt to run the route off-road, becoming the first athlete to run the length of the UK as a Fell/Trail run. Like Driver, Carr ran unsupported and solo—a format commonly known amongst fell runners as a "Mountain Marathon". Carr ran the challenge as part of an event organised by Benumber1, an event that saw several top-level British athletes (mainly Olympians) completing the challenge. The event was designed to encourage school students to participate in sport and to realise the positive benefits of a healthy lifestyle, whilst raising significant funds for the British Heart Foundation. The run covered 1,254 miles (2,018 km) over footpaths, bridleways, canal paths, river banks, National trails, fields, moorland and mountains. Over 80% of the route was off-road, the route resorting to tarmac only when necessary to link two trails, or where a trail passed through a village/town. The run took 6 weeks 3 days and 17 hours to complete (including three rest days). Factoring in the rest days, this run called for an average effort of just under 30 miles (50 km) a day, every day, for more than six weeks.

In July 2011, a team of runners from Calday Grange Grammar School, Wirral completed a relay from Lands' End to John o'Groats, becoming the first school to do so.[16] In the process, they raised £200,000[17] for Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool.

In mid summer of 2011 Anthony Band from Surrey ran 1000 miles barefoot, all in aid for Help for heroes. It took Anthony 29 days to complete the incredible task, running on average 36 miles per day.

On 3 August 2014, Marie-Claire Oziem became the first female runner to complete the distance unsupported and solo.[18] She pushed all her provisions in a pram and camped along the way. Her route consisted of both on and off-road sections. Oziem ran the challenge for the charity 'Mind', based in Taunton for their project 'Go Wild, Stay Well', which aims to support those with mental illness through the use of various 'green therapy' schemes. She started her run on 23 June and finished on 3 August 2014, regularly running distances of over 32 miles daily.

By horse

Evelyn Burnaby was the younger brother of the famous English Long Rider Colonel Frederick Burnaby. Whereas the elder brother was famous for having ridden across Central Asia and the Ottoman Empire, Evelyn decided to keep his equestrian adventures closer to home. He set off in 1892 to ride from Land’s End, Cornwall to John O’Groats, Scotland. Evelyn’s journey was soon serialised in a popular publication, "The Country Gentleman" and was published in book form the following year.

Arthur Elliott, a veteran of the Great War, rode his horse, Goldflake, from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 1955.

In 2006 the mother and daughter team of Vyv and Elsie Wood-Gee rode from John O'Groats to Lands End. Elsie was 13 at the time.

Former Army officer Grant Nicolle continued the tradition by travelling from John O'Groats to Land's End in 2007 with Marv (solo and unsupported), taking eleven and a half weeks. Grant has published a book called 'Long Trot' through Amazon, documenting the trip. It is generally completed north to south, starting in April to avoid the midges in the Highlands but also to benefit from warmer weather.

Swimming

Sean Conway swam the complete route from 30 June 2013 to 11 November 2013. He is the first and only person to swim from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Wheelchair

The fastest time in a wheelchair was achieved in August 2009 by US Navy Pilot Rick Ryan: 8 days, 10 hours and 9 minutes.[19]

Skateboard

The record time to complete the 980-mile (1,580 km) journey on a skateboard is 21 days, achieved by Matt Elver, Charlie Mason and Lee Renshaw, who travelled around 50 miles (80 km) per day to raise money for charity.[20]

Motoring

Tony Wilding at Land's End off to John o' Groats

Motoring events between the two extremities have been held since the first decade of the 20th century, when the Auto-Cycle Union organised a series of runs for motorcycles. In 1911, Ivan B. Hart-Davies became the holder of the final Land's End to John o' Groats record for solo motorcycles. Riding his 3.5 hp single-speed Triumph, he covered the 886 miles (1,426 km) in 29 hours, 12 minutes. As his average speed exceeded the then-maximum of 20 mph, further official record attempts were banned by the A. C. U.

The Motor Cycling Club (which had been running the London to Land's End Trial since 1908, still held today, at least in name) put on an annual Land's End to John o' Groats Run from 1923 to 1928 which included cars as well as motorcycles. These events were also known as the End to End. In 2006, BBC Television ran a series of three programmes called The Lost World of Friese-Greene covering Claude Friese-Greene's 1920s-era road trip from Land's End to John o' Groats. The trip had originally been filmed using the Biocolour process, developed by Claude's father William Friese-Greene and the film had degraded. The original print of Claude's film was subjected to computer enhancement by the British Film Institute to remove the flickering problem inherent in the Biocolour process.

In 1984, Neal Champion covered 884 miles (1,423 km) from John o' Groats to Land's End in 11 hours, 14 minutes, on a Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo.[21]

On 17 September 1988, Andrew Frankel and Mark Connaughton drove from Land's End to John o'Groats in a standard production Alfa Romeo 164 in 12 hours 30 minutes, including stops for refuelling.

In 1993, John Brown initiated the Land's End to John o' Groats Historic Reliability Trial, a race for vintage road vehicles.[22] The race is held each December and is a tough, three-day rally for old and classic cars, built between the 1920s and 1970s. The route takes a long 1,400-mile (2,300 km) route, using remote upland roads of the west of England, Wales (during the night), the Pennines and Scotland. Medals are awarded in gold, silver and bronze categories.[23]

On 15–16 April 1997, Hugh Edeleanu drove the route in a JCB excavator in a time of 22 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds.[24]

In June 2001, Wayne Booth became the first person to do the journey by motorcycle without stopping; the 37-year-old completed the historic trip in 14 hours and 52 minutes, averaging 57 mph, on a modified 1,000cc Honda Varedero, complete with additional 74-litre petrol tank. The meticulously researched route of 854 miles (1,374 km) passed through just two sets of traffic lights and was completed within all highway regulations, law and speed limits.[25][26] Booth and the dozen strong support team raised over £1,000 for The National Childbirth Trust and MacMillan Cancer Relief.

On 22 May 2011, Kevin Sharpe and David Peilow completed the first end-to-end run from John o' Groats to Land's End in an electric car over two days, using only charging stations available to the general public, in a Tesla Roadster Sport.[27]

Nissan Leaf at lands End
Jonathan porterfield & Chris Ramsey at lands End in a Nissan leaf

In September 2015, Jonathan Porterfield and Chris Ramsey beat the record in a Nissan Leaf, using the existing public rapid charger infrastructure to travel there and back. The route south took 28 hours and 38 minutes, and the return trip 27 hours and 46 minutes. They have submitted an application to Guinness World Records to have the quicker time recognized as a record.[28]

On 7 August 2011, Darren Whitehead & Tony Dwight travelled 1,071 miles (1,724 km) from John o' Groats to Lands' End (including crossing the Welsh border) in 5 days using two ride-on Wheel Horse Lawn Mowers.[29] They also raised money for charity during the trip which was named The Lawn Way Down.

On 30 November 2013, Lucy Grogan (travelling on a BMW GS R1200 motorbike) and her father Martin Grogan (travelling in a Mini Cooper Works) travelled from Land's End to John o' Groat's in 19 hours, leaving Land's End at 4:30am and arriving at John o' Groat's at 11:30pm same day. This was in aid of Safe Haven Children's Trust and raised £3,000 for the non-governmental organisation.[30]

Public transport

The current fastest journey by bus was set by Clive Burgess in September 2016, who travelled from Lands End to John O'Groats using 31 buses, in 3 days, 8 hours and 55 minutes.

In June 2014, to celebrate completing his GCSE exams, sixteen-year-old Adam Mugliston travelled from Lands End to John o'Groats on 36 buses in 4 days, 10 hours and 44 minutes.[31]

In August 2011, James Aukett travelled from Land's End to John O'Groats on 31 buses in 5 days, 7 hours and 25 minutes. James undertook the trip to raise money for children's charity, The Children's Society.[32]

Richard Elloway, having completed the return trip using a senior bus-pass "without paying a penny".

In 2008, Richard Elloway of Somerset claims to be the first person to complete the journey from Land's End to John o' Groats and back free of charge by local buses, using the English National Concessionary Pass (a free bus pass for people over 60, allowing free off-peak travel on local bus services throughout England) introduced on 1 April 2008, and the pre-existing equivalent concession for pensioners in Scotland. He completed the first leg of the trip in one week and six hours.[33] The entire journey was completed in two weeks, eight hours and thirty minutes.[34]

In 1954, Gertrude Leather travelled by seventeen local buses from Land's End to London, at a cost of £1 19s 6d (£1.97½), and the following year travelled from London to John o' Groats by 25 local buses at a cost of £4 5s 9½d (£4.29).[35]

The current fastest route on land public transport takes a timetabled 22 hours 45 minutes, departing Land's End car park at 14:35 on day 1 and arriving at John o' Groats ferry terminal car park at 13:20 on day 2. This involves a bus to Penzance, trains to Crewe to meet the London–Inverness sleeper train, then the following morning buses via Wick to John o' Groats. As of January 2011, an ordinary one-way railway fare for the rail section of the journey cost £216.[36]

Hitchhiking

M. Clark and G. Beynon are the last hitchhikers recorded in the Guinness Book of Records for the Land's End to John o' Groats trip (17 hours 8 minutes).

Paramotor (motorised paraglider)

The first recorded journey by paramotor was by Andy Phillips, supported by a team of British Royal Marines in September 2000. The trip took a little over 6 days and was completed from South to North.[37]

The first recorded trip from North to South was by John Caston, Brian Pushman, Alex Heron and Henry Glasse in September 2009 and took 5 days.

Golf

In 2005 Surrey-based golfer and member of the Kent Golf Society David Sullivan walked from John o' Groats to Lands End hitting golf balls all the way. He travelled the 1,100 miles (1,800 km) in seven weeks to be eligible for the Guinness Book of Records as the longest golf hole. He raised money for the Variety Club, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami Appeal, and the Orpheus Centre, a residential arts and learning facility for the young and disabled in Surrey.

Aeroplane

The fastest passage between the two points was made in 1988 by a McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom in a time of 46 minutes 44 seconds [38]

In a straight line

On 17 May 2014 a team of four set off to complete Beeline Britain - a journey from Lands End to John O'Groats in a straight line. This never before attempted route was completed in 28 days and required the 2 biggest sea kayak crossings ever completed in UK waters.

The team then kayaked, biked and hiked the remainder of the route which went via: Isle of Man - Dalmellington - Glasgow - Creiff - traversing Ben Macdui the second highest mountain in the UK - Lossiemouth - across the Moray Firth - Lybster - John O'Groats.

The project was devised and managed by Ian O'Grady. He recruited the Team GB Paralympian Nick Beighton, Adam Harmer, a professional kayak coach and University Lecturer, Tori James who was the first Welsh woman to stand on the summit of Mount Everest. Beeline Britain's aim was to raise funds and awareness for BLESMA, the limbless veterans charity. The project gained full Royal endorsement from the The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and has to date raised over £20,000 for BLESMA.

The whole journey was captured by filmmaker Ian Burton for the feature documentary As The Crow Flies [39]

Shinty

Whilst not a distance challenge, shinty clubs from Caithness and Cornwall established a fixture to be played between the counties in 2014. The first running of the competition, held on neutral ground in St Andrews, was won by Cornwall Shinty Club, defeating Caithness Shinty Club 3-1.[40]

Youngest and oldest

The Land's End–John o' Groats Association presents the Jack Adams/Richard Elloway Trophy annually to the youngest person to have completed the journey other than as a passenger in a motor vehicle. Henry Cole completed the journey in June 2006, he was aged 4. He cycled over 31 days. He started school in the following September, and was presented with the Jack Adams/Richard Elloway Trophy in January 2007.[41] Imogen Bower completed the journey at the age of 2, by train, in five days and was presented the Jack Adams / Richard Elloway Trophy in 2012.

Reg Savill is oldest person to complete the journey on foot (although in the reverse direction from John o' Groats to Land's End), at the age of 74.[42]

Organisations

There are two organisations supporting people undertaking the journey.

Scottish equivalent

Until Union with England in 1707, Scotland's equivalent of the phrase was often "John o' Groats to Maidenkirk", as Maidenkirk (Kirkmaiden) was traditionally considered Scotland's southernmost point, a 388-mile (624 km) trip. This can be found in Robert Burns' poem On Captain Grose's Peregrinations thro' Scotland[45] and the song, The Lady of Kenmure:

From John o' Groats to Maidenkirk
You'll never find a truer
For loyal faith and dauntless deeds,
Than the Lady of Kenmure.

The southernmost village in Scotland is actually nearby Drummore, which has grown to a latitude several metres south of Kirkmaiden.

English equivalent

The length of the English mainland is delineated by the distance between Land's End and Marshall Meadows Bay in Northumberland. The distance is 556 miles (895 km) by road or 426 miles (686 km) as the crow flies. The traversal of the length of England is sometimes used to define charity events such as walks and cycle-rides.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Naylor, J. and R. (1916) ''From John o' Groats to Land's End'' on Project Gutenberg". Gutenberg.org. 2004-12-22. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  2. ↑ Hillaby, J. (1966) Journey Through Britain Republished by Constable in 1995 ISBN 978-0-09-474990-0
  3. ↑ Drake, John (2011). End to end in bits : a story of a walk from Lands End to John O'Groats. Leeds: Alewords. ISBN 0951904760.
  4. ↑ "Annotated list of walkers routes, with links to websites". Hockeylejog.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
  5. ↑ "Land's End to John O'Groats - Deloitte Ride Across Britain". Deloitte Ride Across Britain.
  6. ↑ "Land's End to John o' Groats". Road Records Association. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  7. ↑ "Windcheetah recumbent tricycle scrapbook". windcheetah.co.uk.
  8. ↑ "Rockett speed for a cyclist!". Bath University. 2010-08-27. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  9. ↑ "Sport Relief celebrities reach Land's End". BBC News. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  10. ↑ "Records Place to Place". Road Records Association. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Guinness World Records entry for Fastest journey from Land's End to John o' Groats by unicycle (male)
  12. ↑ Event blog with details of the trip and certificates from LEJOG Association, Redwelly.co.uk
  13. ↑ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-person-to-cycle-from-lands-end-to-john-o-groats
  14. ↑ Land's End and John o' Groats Club. "Methods of Transport". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  15. ↑ http://www.therunner.org
  16. ↑ "Wirral". liverpoolecho.
  17. ↑ "Calday Grange Grammar School". caldaygrangegrammarschool.co.uk.
  18. ↑ "About Me". triblogs.com.
  19. ↑ "Photos and Blogs". Ride for Remembrance. 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2009-09-21. 15 Aug. 2009; We did it! ... A new world record: Land's End to John o' Groats by hand-crank wheelchair in 8 days: 10 hours: 9 minutes: 10 seconds
  20. ↑ "BBC - Skateboarding the UK". BBC Online. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  21. ↑ http://www.tubbylardo.co.uk/2011%282a%29.html
  22. ↑ "Who's Who at HERO: John Brown". HERO: Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation. 2006-12-27. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  23. ↑ "Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation Regulations & Eligibility". HERO: Historic Endurance Rallying Organisation. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  24. ↑ "yesterday was a ...". The Independent. 1997-05-17.
  25. ↑ "End to Enders - The End To End Challenge". endtoenders.co.uk.
  26. ↑ "UK top to bottom non-stop.". thefreelibrary.com.
  27. ↑ "TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk". thegreencarwebsite.co.uk.
  28. ↑ "Electric car trip from Land's End to John O'Groats 'a record'". BBC News.
  29. ↑ "North West Lawn Mower Racing Association - 404 - Oops! Sorry, page not found". nwlmra.org.
  30. ↑ "Facebook". facebook.com.
  31. ↑ "It's a record: four days by bus from Land's End to John O'Groats". Telegraph.co.uk. 4 July 2014.
  32. ↑ "Lejog Bus Country - Home". lejogbuscountry.org.uk.
  33. ↑ BBC News (2008-10-04). "'Ultimate holiday' on a bus pass". Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  34. ↑ Rebecca Hehir (Somerset County Gazette) (2008-04-16). "A pensioner's two-week bus journey". Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  35. ↑ Leather, G. and Parke, J (1986) Home with the Heather Ian Allan ISBN 0-7110-1550-3
  36. ↑ Transport Direct website Sample journeys checked 2011-01-04
  37. ↑ http://www.flight.firstnet.co.uk/
  38. ↑ "The Route Designer's Tale - Books by John and Nancy Eckersley". Books by John and Nancy Eckersley.
  39. ↑ "As The Crow Flies". reelhouse.org.
  40. ↑ "St. Andrews Sixes « Shinty". shinty.com.
  41. ↑ "The Jack Adams - Richard Elloway Trophy".
  42. ↑ "On the Buses". BBC. 2008-04-11.
  43. ↑ "The Land's End – John o' Groats Association". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  44. ↑ "The Land's End John o' Groats Club". Retrieved 2008-03-25.
  45. ↑ Robert Burns: Complete Works,

Further reading

Road walking

Offroad walking

Cycling

External links

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