After a couple of recent cycling route issues (see previous blogs to find out more) I decided to ensure I was far better planned for the next three big cycles I was planning. First stop to review and improve the Lands End to Christchurch plans for the end of March.

A quick break down of the original route, around 250 miles in total from Lands End up through Cornwall, Devon and onto Dorset allowed me to think about how many days I should consider to complete the route. Following the Liverpool ride back in September 2022 where I averaged around 90 miles per day, I reflected that whilst I was physically capable of getting fit enough to do this sort of mileage, I was keen to live a little more in the moment by reducing the daily target and enjoying the ride a little more.

So the plan evolved to complete the ride over four days in the saddle plus one day to get the various trains to get to Penzance, the railway station closest to Lands End. 250 divided by 4 gave me a rough distance to plan and then book some accommodation , in a similar style to the Liverpool adventure predominantly bed & breakfast accommodation.

Basic structure in place (accommodation and trains booked) I then started to get into far more detail to plan the exact preferred routes to take. First stop was the initial ride from Penzance station to Lands End and then back to the first B & B. After my earlier west Dorset satnav disaster the thought of accidentally having to ride up a ridiculously steep hill, so using google maps / google earth / street view to look in far more detail at the routes has been a really important piece of work to undertake.

Avoiding main roads is a must for me, and google maps does usually take into account the National Cycle Routes as created / supported by Sustrans, and combining this with a little less mileage each day in theory should allow me to take in really interesting routes. From Penzance to Lands End could be a direct route using the A30 of just under 10 miles (and I'm sure this route in March might not be too busy), but a slight detour to the south allows me to visit Mousehole and hopefully take in the English channel / Atlantic views.

Day two will then allow me to head from Penzance to Truro and onwards to Bodmin Moor for the second night of accommodation, this time a wooden camping pod! Making this journey it looks to be possible avoiding main roads and hopefully allowing me to enjoy the sites of Cornwall at the right pace. Day three and I'm looking to get to Exeter, and with a little less mileage pressure I've planned to visit Saltash (just over the river Tamar from Plymouth) which is where I lived when I was very young, between the ages of 3 and 7.

I'm really looking forward to a little journey back in time to see the family homes I grew up in, then take in the Tamar bridge cycle route to ride around the southern edge of Dartmoor to end up in another B & B in Exeter. Day three will then take me from Devon into west Dorset allowing me to meet up with my brother, young nephew and all being well a good nights rest with my mum and dad. Rested and recharged day four then becomes the homeward leg from Bridport to Christchurch, and home to Jan.

Routes identified, accommodation booked, train tickets printed off (including one for Red, how sweet!) .....all I need to do next is ensure I have a kit list written, not forget anything and plan on nutrition / water etc as needed.

The planning is improving*, lets see how this adventure pans out.

(*hopefully)