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.

Johns Walk

John Harrington of Southend is walking from John O Groats to Lands End in 60 days to raise money for Help the Heros.


Todays journey is just a short stroll to Carlisle where he hopes to find a physiotherapist as he pulled a muscle a couple of days back.

The highlights for the journey so far have been the towns of Helmsdale and Aberfeldy and his favourite pub has been the Tappit Hen in Dunblane which had a good variety of real ales.

Updates of his journey can be found on his facebook page.

What a walk

Alec Hawkes and Lizzie Whicker are walking from John O Groats to Lands End to raise money for several charities. Altogether the walk will take a couple of months travelling an average of fifteen miles a day.


The weather has been glorious so far and it looks as though they can expect the same for the next few days. The charities being collected for are Sense (for deafblind people), Whizz-Kidz (improving the lives of disabled children), The A21 Campaign (protecting people from abusive injustice), and The Royal Voluntary Service (supporting older people).

Todays journey will take them to the Blacksmiths Arms at Talkin where we have just dropped of their luggage. Alecs charity page can be found here and his blog here. Good luck. I hope the weather stays fine for you.

In the footsteps of St Columba

Our first cycle visitors of the year. Michel and Vera from Belgium are on a cycle holiday following the St Columba's cycle route. 
St Columba was an Irish monk who built a monastry in the 5th century on the Isle of Iona and brought Christianity to Scotland. The route follows the advancement of Christianity in Roman Britain.
Yesterdays journey took them from Hexham to Gretna Green and today they will be travelling on to Castle Douglas.


The pair will be cycling for almost one month, taking in the sights of Arran, Kintyre , Mull, the Trossachs and Edinburgh. Michel and Veras blog can be found here.

Clair and Drew

Claire Welch and her friend Drew who hail from Bristol were our visitors last night. The pair are cycling from Lands End to John O Groats on behalf of Business Action on Homelessness, a programme which helps homeless people to seek and find employment.
The highlights of their journey so far have been the views of Dartmoor and Monmouthshire where they managed to find a rare day of sunshine.
Yesterdays journey took them from Kendal to Gretna Green in wet cloudy conditions. Today they will be travelling to New Lanark. Good luck and keep smiling.