Simon’s Blog (the official one)

This article was written for ‘The Ranger’, the Sustrans Volunteer Rangers Newsletter, and an edited version was published in the Autumn 2007 edition.

I first cycled from Land’s End to John o’ Groats in May/June 2006. I was pleased I’d done it but left the saddle vowing never to do it again. But then all sorts of forces began to work on me:

I met and was inspired by John Grimshaw when he gave the keynote speech at the ruralnet|uk conference. We talked about many things including the signage on the NCN.

This got me thinking. In 2006, I’d taken a GPS unit with me: it recorded the route and gave me lots of data to play with when I got back. All this data was published for other would-be end-to-enders on the trip’s blog: ruralnet.typepad.com/endtoend  I was also aware that this gadget could be used to plan routes in advance.

Soon after, on signing up as a Sustrans supporter I heard about  Sustrans’ 30th anniversary

From 27 August to 7 September I was blogging by way from Land’s End to John o’ Groats on a bicycle. The blog is over here.

The 12-day, 1250-mile challenge started from Land’s End on 27 August and finished at midday on 7 September 2007.

We wre raising money for ruralnet|uk’s Participation Fund
and other charities. We attempted to use the National Cycle Network
exclusively but met various challenges trying to do this and these are
documented on the blog.

The day-by-day route plan can be read here and complete maps, Google Earth files and GPS routes have been placed here: www.gpscycle.com.