Land's End To John O'Groats

Lands End to John O’Groats is a walk stretching the length of the UK, linking the two extremities of Lands End in the southwest and John O’Groats in the northeast. As there is no actual continuous trail, the only criterion for an end to ender is that you get from one point to the other in one continuous journey. Most hikers walk from south to north and use the network of long-distance footpaths, linking bits of them together, although it is possible to do a road route. Sometimes a handy back road section may be more appealing than yet more traipsing through wet and soggy fields in the rain and having the correct maps is a necessity so you can tailor the route along the way to what is needed.The distance of the walk, therefore, depends on which route is taken, but in 2017 Google Maps calculated the fastest walking route, which involved road use, to be 811 miles, (1305 km) although off-road walkers can expect to walk many more, around 1200 miles (1,900 km) in total. This would take around two to three months to complete. The road route is 874 miles (1407 km) and the record for running this route is nine days. The challenge is also popular with cyclists, motorists, even swimmers and there has been a steady increase in people attempting it since the 1960s when it became much better known due to a widely publicised road walk by Dr. Barbara Moore, the interesting although tragic, Russian born British engineer, who advocated breatharianism. Accommodation on the route can be camping, B&Bs, hostels or hotels, depending on your budget and the level of luxury required. With many campsites dotted along the various routes, camping will obviously be the cheapest and most flexible option, but the payback is the extra weight due to the tent and sleeping gear you will have to carry. If wild camping, you need to ask the landowner’s permission beforehand and adhere to any local regulations and also, no open fires. Designated as a hard trail due to its significant climbs; the total elevation gain over its course is 118,313 ft, you need to be physically fit before attempting it. The weather is the warmest and driest in June, July, and August, and also the days are long although midges in the north may be an irritant. Winter can be cold and wet with short days, especially in the Scottish section.