London - Land's End Guidebook

If you are up for a real journey why not go for the other end to end in England’s mild south with our London - Land’s End Guide Book? This book is all about sightseeing from the bike, guiding you via as many famous English landmarks as possible. What makes the guidebook unique is that it offers a full pack of route descriptions, high profile mapping, insider visitor information and accommodation suggestions. The route is via well paved paths or quiet roads only and is completely continuous (unlike Sustrans’ National Cycle Network). Updates of the 1000 km long route will be available via a designated website where you can also order a pack of GPS-tracks, to download to your Outdoor GPS device. The book is currently only available in Dutch, but the English version is due to be published spring 2013.

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Route Summary:

The guidebook contains links from Harwich and Dover ferry ports and takes you to the heart of London. You’ll cycle traffic free in Hyde Park and Richmond Park, on towpaths along the Thames and the Avon & Kennet Canal, the Bristol & Bath Railway path and the Strawberry Line. In between these routes quiet country lanes provide happy cycling via great attractions like Windsor Castle, ancient Avebury and Stonehenge, Bath, Bristol, Avon Gorge and Cheddar.

From Taunton in Somerset the route continues into England’s rugged West Country, crossing Exmoor National Park into Devon with its splendid Tarka Trail. You can then choose to cycle Devon Coast to Coast to Plymouth (from where you could cross the English Channel to France) or to continue west into Cornwall. Highlights of this route are Tintagel Castle, the beautiful Camel Trail, the famous surf beaches of Newquay and beautiful Penzance with its striking St Michaels Mount.

Check your Cycling Profile:

Harwich/Dover - London -Taunton:
You have to be fit to embark on this journey as on most stages you will be required to cycle 4 to 7 hours a day. Although we have tried to find a route as flat as possible, you will have to deal with various short steep climbs and some gradual longer climbs as well, especially in Wiltshire. Most of the route is generally flat though, but don't underestimate the distances to be covered per day! Also, you should be able to keep cycling in all regular English weather conditions. Remember there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment on the way to break up the total cycling distance into smaller chunks! Also, with our guidebook you can start and end this route where ever you like; an overview of connecting railway stations is included in the guide.

Taunton - Plymouth/Land’s End:
This second half of the route from Taunton has various strenuous sections, especially in Exmoor National Park and in Cornwall. There are 7 long climbs, all of a mile or so, where you’ll have to walk your bike up continuous steep gradients of 25-30%. Also beyond these 7 “killer” climbs, most of the route is serious climbing, going up and down all the way. The only relieve from climbing are longer flat stretches on special dismantled railway paths as the Tarka and Camel Trails. Most of the Devon Coast to Coast route is on paths like these, so a finish in Plymouth might be your preferred final destination, rather than cycling all the way to Land’s End. Many long distance cyclists have classed cycling in Cornwall as being tougher than crossing the Alps by bicycle!

Children:
The route is open to children providing they have the physical and mental strength to deal with the mileage and conditions as described. Of course they must be very keen to cycle and they should be supervised by an adult at all times. We also expect them to be able to cycle according the Bikeability Level 2 of the National Standard. If you are unsure, please contact us us.

Bicycles:
It is important to know that 90% of this route is on tarmac. There remaining 10% consists of gravel and grass paths, slightly rough at times. Racing bicycles with very slick tyres are not recommended, but any other road bicycle with more semi slick tyres should do the job. There are some barriers on the way which might be difficult to pass with trailers or tandems. These bikes might cause problems when taking these on trains, experiences with this are mixed. Please note all bikes should have at least 18 gears.

Travel Information:

By ferry: The route is designed to be accessible for cyclists from the continent, so international cyclists can start in either Harwich (ferries from Hook of Holland) or Dover (ferries from Dunkirk/Dunkerque and Calais). For the return journey cyclists can either take their bikes on trains back to Harwich/Dover or they can finish the route in Plymouth, from where they can take a ferry to France (Roscoff). Some advice on how to cycle from Roscoff back to Calais, Dunkerque or Hook of Holland is included in the guide. A full loop like this would be 2200 to 2500 km!

By train: There are over 20 railway stations on the route where you can start or end your cycling journey. If you wish to start the route from London we recommend starting from London Bridge station, which is directly on the route. As taking bicycles on trains in Greater London is limited to certain routes, the guide contains advice on which rail routes to use to get to London Bridge. From England’s most western station, Penzance, the guide contains a circular route to Land’s End, returning to Penzance station.

By car: Travelling by car is not recommended. As this is a one way route you’ll have to take bikes on trains anyway! If you need to travel by car and you wish to start the route in London it is best to take the M4 motorway into London and to park in the Paddington area. Then take your bicycle and luggage on the tube from Paddington station to London S. Pancras International and change onto the train to Brighton . Get off at London Bridge to start the ride. At the end of your cycle tour, take the train to Paddington station and return to your parked vehicle from there.

By plane: If you fly from further afield and you wish to bring your own bike, starting the route in London, it is best to fly to London Gatwick Airport. At this airport, don't take the Gatwick Express train into London, but a “Southern” or “Capital Connect” service directly to London Bridge station, on which bikes are carried for free. If you want to fly with your own bike you could also fly to London Luton Airport, where you'll have to cycle 2 miles from the airport terminal to Luton Parkway station (reasonably good cycle route available; stick to footpath on right hand side of the road when leaving the terminal). From Luton Parkway take a First Capital Connect train to Brighton and get off at London Bridge. London Bridge station is directly on the route in the guidebook. Note taking bicycles on trains from other London airports like Heathrow or Stansted is impossible!