The Duff's End to End Cycle

And so home …

Andrew Duff — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:44:42 +0000

So far we have raised almost £900 for the Alzhiemer’s Society, our goal is £1 for every mile cycled. So if you have not already… please sponsor us.

No way were we getting 4 bikes on any train from Wick, or Thurso, or even Inverness, so Liz gave us a lift back to Aberdeen to get the train back to Longniddry the next day. Total distance LE-JOG was 992 miles in 18 cycling days, adding on the 12 miles Haddington to and from Longniddry railway station made the whole trip 1004 miles.

18 days cycling, 1004 miles.

Helmsdale to John O’Groats

Andrew Duff — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:38:26 +0000

Well aided by our support team of Liz , Agnes and Daphnie – an excellent last day’s cycling. Great roads up the A9 and A99.
52 miles (992 miles)

Fortrose to Helmsdale

Andrew Duff — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:34:21 +0000

Had planned to get the ferry to Nigg off the top end of the Black Isle – but found it no longer running! So that’s an extra 16 miles. Still excellent cycling up over the Black Isle, Bonnar Bridge, Tain, Golspie and on to Helmsdale. Excellent cycling on an ever quietening A9.
66 miles (840 miles)

Invergarry to Fortrose

Andrew Duff — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:31:18 +0000

Monsooned all day. Up the Great Glen, through Inverness, then picked up some of Route 1 to get onto the Black Isle. Met up with Liz , Agnes and Daphnie at our B&B at Fortrose.
54 miles (874 miles)

Bridge of Orchy to Invergarry

Andrew Duff — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:27:06 +0000

After hoping for a dry day to see Glencoe at it’s best … it rained. Cleared up in Ballachulish and had great cycle through to Fort William. Then followed the Great Glen cycle path up to Invergarry Hostel. Good up the canal towpath … not so good (lots of ups and downs) on the north side of the loch. Met a group of 3 from London doing the route on 125′s.
66 miles (820 miles)

Balloch to Bridge of Orchy

Andrew Duff — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:24:27 +0000

Wet wet wet. Roads up Lomond-side very busy .. great cycle path as far as Ardlui. Cleared up after lunch and arrived fairly early to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel.
49 miles (754 miles)

New Cummnock to Balloch

Andrew Duff — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:20:54 +0000

Through central Scotland and up Lomond side. Excellent cycling on the Glasgow to Balloch cycle path after the dual-carriageways and roundabouts of Paisley.
64 miles (704 miles)

Annan to New Cummnock

Andrew Duff — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:16:22 +0000

Bit of a headwind but great cycling up through Dumfries, Sanquar and on to New Cummnock on the A75. Should be busier than it was, maybe Sunday made it quiet.
64 miles (705 miles)

Tebay to Annan

Andrew Duff — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:12:06 +0000

Left a windy Tebay and climbed up over Shap – luckily mostly with a tailwind. From there fast roads down to Penrith, where Callum left us by train. Then on through Carlisle and Gretna (Scotland!) and on into a headwind west to Annan. Two milestones today … over 1/2 way and into Scotland! We had a nan in Annan!
57 miles (585 miles)

Slaidburn to Tebay

Andrew Duff — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:07:21 +0000

The wind and rain meant we parted company with the route in the book and instead ploughed our path up the M6 corridor … which actually turned out to be pretty hilly. Lots of ups and down the sides of the valley. Our destination had been to make it past Penrith and stay at Callum’s Uncle – in the end we bailed out and checked into the Westmoreland motel at Tebay services. Really windy.
43 miles (528 miles)