Cycling to John O’Groats: John O’Groats to Edinburgh by Train

Cycling UK, heading for John O’Groats, my latest bicycle touring update from Scotland, on Tuesday, the 16th September 2014. John O’Groats to Edinburgh by train. Short ride this morning from John O’Groats to Thurso to try and get a train home. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a train from there as there was no room for my bike (you also have to book the bike on in advance). The kind lady in the ticket office suggested I get a train to Inverness as there would be a better choice of routes to London.

The journey from Thurso to Inverness passed quickly. I was sitting on the train with a man called Ian, who I’d briefly spoken to last night at the hotel. He’d cycled the Lands End to John O’Groats route. As had most of the other people in the hotel. It was funny seeing all the different people in various states of exhaustion or not, but all very pleased and proud that they’d made it, and so they should be!

I arrived in Inverness after a 4-hour train ride and said goodbye to Ian. He was going to Preston and had pre-booked his journey home before he’d even started. In fact, he’d booked everywhere that he’d stopped at on route, which he did say he regretted and probably wouldn’t do it that way again!

More Prolems

I went into the ticket office in Inverness to enquire about getting to London. After several attempts, they found a route for me. The problem is the bike once again! I had another 4-hour journey to Edinburgh, then an hour and a half wait before I could board the night sleeper to Euston London. Hopefully, I’ll arrive at about 6.45 am.

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route to John O’Groats
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Cycling to John O’Groats: Brora to John O’Groats

Cycling UK, heading for John O’Groats, my latest bicycle touring update from Scotland, on Monday, the 15th September 2014. Brora to John O’Groats. 63 miles. It’s been a tough 63 miles and not an enjoyable day by any means! In fact, the only part of today that I enjoyed was finishing! It’s been hilly, and I’ve had a strong headwind! So much so that I was even having to pedal going downhill! It’s not been particularly warm, and to top it all, it rained for the last 18 miles!

I struggled to find anywhere to stop for a break today (which probably accounts for my bad mood!) And the one place where I did manage to stop and get a cup of coffee, I got accosted by some old lady who proceeded to tell me her life story!

John O’Groats was a bit of a letdown! I’m not sure what I thought it would be, but whatever it was, it isn’t! Now I’ve made it to John O’Groats. I need to work out how I’m going to get home, as, unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to cycle back home.

Random thought of the day! If Scotland does go independent, there’ll be no more Lands End to John O’Groats! So I wonder where the most northern point in the UK will be then?

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route to John O’Groats
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.

Cycling to John O’Groats: Deviot East to Brora

Cycling UK, heading for John O’Groats, my latest bicycle touring update from Scotland, on Sunday, the 14th September 2014. Deviot East to Brora. 67 miles. When I got up this morning, there was no mist it was clear for a change. The first time since I’ve been in Scotland. Even the tent wasn’t as wet as it normally is!

Once I’d packed up and loaded the bike, I set off on my way. It was a nice start to the day as I had a nice hill to go down. The only trouble was I soon hit the mist, and this time it was really thick. I could only see about twenty metres ahead! Luckily, this only lasted for half an hour, and then the sun came out once again.

It’s not been a particularly hard ride today, although just after lunch, I did pick up a fairly strong headwind, which was pretty chilly, too. It was coming straight off the North Sea. By about 4 o’clock, I’d had enough and stopped for the day. I was hoping to get a little bit further today so I could have an easy day tomorrow. I think I’ve got about 65 miles to go before I get to John O’Groats, don’t know what I’m doing then I’ll look at my options at the time!

Tour Information

It’s been years since I took this ride, but the memories (and the data) are all archived:

• Photos: See my photos on Flickr
• The route: View my route to John O’Groats
• Tour page: Ride overview

Follow My Bicycle Touring Adventures

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I continue to travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always buy me a beer. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. And for an insight into the gear and logistics that keep me on the road, see my Life at 10mph Guide.