40TUDE LANDS END TO JOHN O,GROATS CHALLENGE - 17 June - 27 June 2022

40tude land's end to john o'groats challenge

It's time to show strength against colon cancer and cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats!

In nine epic days, our team of challengers will ride approx. 950 miles/1,528km from the foot of the UK to its head. Kicking off at the extreme southern point of Cornwall, we'll tackle a route that has awed cyclists for decades.

Prepare for epic ascents, winding roads and spectacular panoramas across miles of sparkling sea and countryside. We'll ride along rugged coastline, through rolling fields and forests, biscuit-tin towns and bustling cities. We'll experience panoramic views across both England and Wales, the majestic beauty of the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands and finally reach the extreme Northern Point at John O’Groats.

You'll have full challenge support all the way with our outdoor remote first aid trained cycling guides, mechanical support, luggage transportation and more.

The best part of this once-in-a-lifetime bike ride is that it’s all in aid of 40tude. Every penny you raise and every pedal you push will go a long way to help cure colon cancer.

about 40tude

If you're a non-smoker in the UK, male or female, colon cancer is the most likely cancer to #CENSOR# you. 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women are at risk of developing this type of cancer. This needn’t be the case, however: colon cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat if it is detected early. The really good news is that this cancer is also preventable in nearly all patients, through regular screening.

40tude curing colon cancer is a registered charity, which raises funds and promotes awareness of colon cancer. To date, 40tude has raised more than £1.5 million for St Mark’s Hospital in Harrow, the UK’s national bowel hospital. The funds we raise support ground-breaking research targeted at improving the early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer.

Our purpose is to transform the detection and treatment of colon cancer. We do this in two ways:

We promote awareness of the need for people over 45 to be screened regularly for colon cancer

We raise funds to support leading-edge research programmes that will help transform the treatment of colon cancer

We achieve results through innovative partnerships with a remarkable group of participants, sponsors, donors and medical specialists.

40tude raises funds via a series of events and physical challenges. 40tude’s LEJOG Challenge will also help to raise vital awareness of colon cancer and the importance of actively getting screened regularly for this preventable type of cancer. Together, we can make a difference to the number of people affected by colon cancer, saving lives.

your itinerary

Previous

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

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day 1

land's end

Our adventure begins when we first meet as a group at our comfortable accommodation near Land’s End. We’ll make sure our accommodation is well connected to public transport and send you details once you register for the cycle.

We will be arranging secure bike transportation from London to our starting point (included in the challenge costs) so that you don't need to worry about travelling with your bike, but you will need to drop your bike off in advance at the arranged drop-off location in London. We'll send all participants details of this as the challenge draws closer.

You’ll have all day to make your own way to our accommodation near Land's End and in the evening, we unite for our Welcome Dinner and a briefing from our Challenge Leader. Then, we retire for a good night’s rest before we commence our cycle tomorrow.

day 2

land’s end – okehampton | approx. 100 miles/160.9km (5,255ft gain)

It’s an early start for us today, as will become routine throughout the challenge. We tuck into breakfast at our accommodation and transfer to our starting point at Land’s End.

Surrounded by sparkling sea, we mount our bikes and kick off along the rugged coastline through the iconic parish of Penzance, past the biscuit-tin town of St Ives and up through lush farmland and the beautiful Bodmin Moor to our lunch stop near Bodmin.

Reenergised, it’s back on our bikes to cross the border to Devon and wind through the countryside along the western edge of the Dartmoor National Park to our accommodation in Okehampton. We finish our first epic day with a group dinner.

day 3

okehampton – bath | approx. 114 miles/183.5km (3,551ft gain)

Waking to an early breakfast, we hop on our bikes and continue our journey Northeast through the rolling, patchwork fields of Devon. Passing by Exeter and skirting the Blackdown Hills, we ride into Somerset and stop for lunch near the thousand-year-old town of Taunton.

Back on our bikes, we head up through the historic streets of Bridgewater and undulate through the limestone hills of the Mendips. Prepare for lots of climbs and spectacular views of the gorges and Chew Valley lakes.

At last, we reach our accommodation in the beautiful Roman spa town of Bath on the River Avon, ready for a hearty group dinner and a great night’s rest.

day 4

bath – ludlow | approx. 91 miles/146.5km (1,974ft gain)

Breakfast at our accommodation sets us up for a shorter and slightly less hilly route as we cycle out of Bath and past the fast-expanding city of Bristol. We continue north alongside the River Severn, with beautiful views of the river as we pass through Frampton on Severn, and find our lunch stop near the cathedral city of Gloucester.

From here, our route veers Northwest as we cross the river and follow the England-Wales border past Hereford. With expansive views across both England and Wales, we reach our accommodation near Ludlow, just south of the Shropshire Hills.

Another 91 miles dusted off, we settle down for dinner and rest for the night.

day 5

ludlow – haydock | approx. 95 miles/152.9km (2,251ft gain)

Our End-to-End adventure treats us to outstanding natural beauty this morning, as we cycle up through the rolling farmland and forests of the Shropshire Hills to Shrewsbury and on through Whitchurch. We stop for a much-needed break at Whitchurch and refuel with lunch, before tackling the afternoon’s ride.

We zig-zag northeast through small towns and suburbs, avoiding the main roads as much as possible and eventually crossing the River Mersey to Warrington. From here, it’s a final push to our night’s accommodation in Haydock, where we enjoy our group dinner.

day 6

haydock – carlisle | approx. 120 miles/193km (3,913ft gain)

Heading through the north of England today, you may need to layer up before breakfast. Then we set off on a tough, approx. 120-mile cycle to Carlisle, with lots of hills sprinkled along the way. We cycle through Wigan and the scenic Haigh Woodland Park, undulate past Adlington and Chorley and across the River Ribble to Preston.

The traffic builds as we ride through the bustling cities of Preston and Lancaster. Then we’re in for a treat as we skirt the Forest of Bowland and enter the Lake District, England’s largest National Park. Our route takes us right through the heart of the Park, through Arnside and Silverdale and past the Whitbarrow National Nature Reserve to Kendal.

Here, we tuck into lunch, before mounting our bikes to tackle more climbs. Cycling through the rest of the Lake District, we enjoy incredible vistas of ancient forest, glacial lakes and some of England’s highest mountains. We leave the Park via Haltcliff Bridge and conquer the final stretch, just under 25 miles, to our accommodation near Carlisle. Tonight, we dine and rest with the satisfaction that we’ve passed the halfway point.

day 7

carlisle – edinburgh | approx. 100 miles/160.9km (5,713ft gain)

This morning, we cross the border to the bonny – and very hilly – Scotland! Leaving Carlisle after breakfast, we follow the Rivers Eden and Esk into the Land of the Brave to Langholm.

Here, we turn northwest on the A7 and follow Allan Water and the River Teviot through traditional Scottish towns and villages, including Teviothead, Branxholm, Winton Dean and Burnfoot.

Crossing numerous bridges, including an awesome suspension bridge, our views extend over winding rivers, rolling farmland and estates.

We pass through Selkirk and reach Lindean, where we leave the main road to veer east along the River Tweed. At the stunning parish of Innerleithen, we turn north and wind through the hills, encountering yet more river crossings, before re-joining the A7 for the last stretch, just under 20 miles or so.

day 8

edinburgh – strathdon | approx. 113 miles/181.9km (6,345ft gain)

After breakfast, we embark on the hilliest day of the challenge, up through central Scotland. We head north out of Edinburgh over the Forth Bridge to Dunfermline, with incredible views of the North Sea. We’re now on to smaller roads, snaking up through historic towns, miles of lush fields and skirting Loch Leven on our way to Perth.

We cross the River Tay just beyond Moncreiffe Island and follow it through Scone to the River Isla, where it separates. Continuing northeast, we pass the Meikelour Estate and follow scenic country roads into the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, refuelling with a pack