Dover to Cape Wrath
Whilst most people have heard of the Lands End to John o’Groats route not many have heard of the Dover to Cape Wrath route. The LEJOG as it is often called starts at the most south westerly point of mainland UK finishes at the most north easterly point, but what about the opposite two corners? Welcome to the Dover to Cape Wrath tour
The Dover to Cape Wrath cycle tour starts in in the south east of England and takes in the eastern side of England keeping to quiet country lanes wherever possible. Crossing from east to west at Cumbria the tour then takes in the west coast of Scotland and also the islands of Arran, Mull and Skye before we reach the most north westerly point of mainland UK at Cape Wrath.
Covering a total of 937 miles this exciting tour provides another rewarding challenge in a similar vein as the Lands End to John o’Groats tour. You will see a totally different side of the country than the LEJOG and what better way to travel than by bike?
You are provided with detailed route notes and maps. A tour leader cycles at the back of the group & there is a support vehicle on hand should you require assistance. We also carry a few spare bikes just in case you have a major mechanical problems. Lunches are provided at a pub or a café each day and all your luggage is moved for you.
Whilst emphasis is always on safety we aim to provide a relaxed approach to cycle touring and wish to facilitate a fun and enjoyable tour with many laughs and memorable moments along the way. Our training days in the Peak District are designed to build confidence and discuss some of the logistics of completing a successful Dover to Cape Wrath tour.
The distance we will travel is approximately 937 miles, with an average mileage of 72 miles per day. It should be borne in mind that a reasonably fit cyclist will average around 10-12 miles per hour (including hills) and therefore we will be in the saddle each day for around 6-8 hours.
We will meet at Dover at the start of the tour and at the end we take you from Durness to Inverness with a drop off at the airport & also the station. If you are worried about getting your bike home at the end of the trip we can arrange for it to be packed, boxed and sent to your address for you so you can relax when you have completed the challenge.
Tour Dates:
Fri 12th - Fri 26th July 2013 - Only 6 Places left No single room option left
Fri 16th - Fri 30th August 2013 - Places available
What's Included?
The tour price includes 14 nights accommodation, 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, snacks, Tea, coffee, & hot chocolate, full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group, back up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, certificate, luggage transfer each day, transfer from Dover Station to your hotel and transfer from Durness to Inverness at the end of the tour.
What's Not Included?
Evening meals, cycle hire (available for a fee), transport to Dover, transport from Inverness.
Group Size
The group will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 25 people. We feel that this size of group works best as there will always be enough in the group for some good company but there won’t be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.
Accommodation
We stay in a mixture of B&B's and hotels. The price quoted assumes that you will be sharing a twin or double room. If you are travelling alone you will share a twin room rotated with others that have chose the same accommodation option. If you chose the single room option (additional £350) then you will have your own room throughout.
Route
Although the most direct route is much shorter, our route of 900 miles avoids main roads and takes in some of the UK’s most beautiful scenery. Wherever possible we cycle along quiet country lanes and cycleways and only join main roads when we absolutely have to. The terrain is varied but generally flat for the first few days with more hills further north.
Food
All of your breakfasts and lunches are included in the price of the trip. You will have a choice of full English, toast, cereals, fruit juices, tea, coffee etc. Lunches will be provided each day and will generally be a buffet at a cafe or a country pub. Evening meals can be bought at your accommodation or in a nearby pub.
Back Up
An experienced tour leader will cycle with you each day and be on hand to help with any bike problems that may occur. You will have detailed route notes so that you can go slower or faster than the leader if you prefer or you can cycle behind the tour leader so that you don’t have to navigate at all.
A back up van will leap frog the group a number of times each day so that help is never far away. We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have a spare bike available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown.
Bikes
We highly recommend that you use a bike that you are used to and feel comfortable riding. Your bike should be fully serviced and in good condition before you start, this will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and unnecessary stoppages along the way. Either a road bike or a hybrid bike is preferable however the ride can be done on a mountain bike if you prefer. We have a range of hybrid bikes available for hire (£100 per person) if you don’t have your own bike. At the end of your trip we can arrange for your bike to be sent to your address (£55) if you don't want the hassle of transporting it yourself.
Fitness
This tour is suitable for someone with a good level of fitness and who wants a challenge. If you do plenty of training beforehand you should have no problem completing the ride. We will have a training day in the Peak District available if you would like to join the group before the main event.
It must be stressed that a good amount of training before the ride will make your tour much more enjoyable and ensure that you finish your ride. We are always happy to advise you about training plans in preparation for the ride.
Clothing and Equipment
Clothing for all weathers is recommended so waterproofs are essential. A full recommended kit list is provided & we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.
You can do washing at many of the B&B's so that you don't have to bring a mountain of clothes.
