Cycle Holiday

Yesterdays visitor was Dicky Doran, our first cyclist visitor of the year,  who works for the YHA in Keswick. Dicky has been enjoying a few days camping and cycling holiday in Castle Douglas and used Gretna Green as a stop off point on the way back. He thought he would treat himself to the luxury of a bed and breakfast after spending most of the week in a tent.  Todays weather is very good so Dicky will be exploring some of the Solway coast before heading home.

Chilly start

Jamie Milne is running the length of Scotland unnassited carrying a backpack.

Jamie arrived in Britain last night from Kuwait and began his run early this morning in frosty conditions.

Jamie is running on behalf of Many Miles for Mary  which is a charity established by New Zealander Jamie in 2009, and takes on challenges to support various charities around the world.

The run will see him take on the equivalent of 2 marathons every day and will be his fifth feat of endurance.

Daily updates can be found on his facebook page.

Sailing Off

Last nights visitor was Michael Lowe who is cycling just for fun from Edinburgh to Wolverhampton, where he will meet up with friends for a boating holiday.

Todays journey will take him down to Garstang near Preston.

The highlight of his trek so far has been seeing the "Devils Beeftub" near Moffat. This is a dramatic 500ft deep hollow formed by four hills. It was used in the past by the Border Reivers to hide stolen cattle.

Happy boating Michael.

South East to North West

Last nights visitors Steve Kinsella and Derek Gould are cycling from Dover to Cape Wrath. They left Dover on August 28th and should be arriving in Cape Wrath on September 16th.

They have already taken in the sights of Cambridge, Lincoln and York, but the highlight of their journey so far has been to have a meal at Britains highest inn, the Tan Hill Inn, where the wind was howling outside.

They also plan to have rest days on the Isles of Arran and Skye.

Hard days slog.

Michael Crane and Ian Condron spent almost all day cycling from Blackpool to Gretna Green. They arrived at 8 oclock in the evening but admitted spending the last hour in the pub. The pair decided they would like to cycle over a hundred miles in a day and Gretna Green seemed the right target distance.


The highlight of their journey was the ride downhill from Shap after an exhausing ride to the summit.

The ride back should prove less of an ordeal as they plan to break the journey in Kendal.

On a bicycle made for two.

Dave and Ann McDonald are cycling from Lands End to John O Groats and are the first tandem cyclists we have had staying here.

Yesterday they cycled from Kendal to Gretna Green and they reported that the conditions were very favourable.

Their favourite part of the journey so far has been their home territory of the Forest of Dean. and their only gripe is that some of the cycle paths have obsticles to deter motor cyclists and are not designed with tandem in mind.
Good luck Dave and Ann.

Finding heaven on route 7.

Ian and Liz Hoyle are taking a few days holiday, travelling from Glasgow to Carlisle on sustrans route 7. Yesterdays journey took them from Haugh of Urr near Castle Douglas to Gretna Green.

The couple are enjoying the vast variety of landscapes along the way from the city streets of Glasgow, along the Ayrshire coasts and the inland hills and glens. The weather has been fine for the journey which the pair say has been very well marked.

Today is their final day which will take them back to their home city of Carlisle.

Callander Girls

Gayle from Callander and Louise from Stirling are our first Lejog cyclists of the year. Yesterday they travelled up from Carnforth to Gretna Green. They enjoyed their stay in Carnforth because they met up with their husbands for a meal, but they will be avoiding their home towns because they may be tempted to stay. Next stop Carnwath near Biggar. Good luck girls. Hope the weather stays fine.