John O'Groats to Land's End!

The planned route...

MID-MAY TO MID-JUNE
JOHN O’GROATS TO BLAIR ATHOLL
Week One

From John O’Groats follow minor lanes to Castletown and on to Thurso. Then lanes to Westfield and back to the A836 at Isauld. Then joining the A897 south through Kinbrace. Leaving the A897 for a minor lane that passes Kildonan Station and finishes at Lothbeg.

Week Two
Following the A9, and maybe some beach walking, through Brora, over Golspie Links and back up to the A9 and around Loch Fleet. From there taking minor lanes through Dornoch back to the A9 to cross Dornoch Firth. Briefly on the A836, then go south through Morangie Forest heading for Alness.

Week Three
From Alness take the B817 to Dingwall. Leave Dingwall by the A862, then at the next roundabout the A835, and leaving that by a minor lane on the right, which crosses over the A832, and leads to Milton. From there take a minor road back to the A9 that bridges the Beauley Firth and enters Inverness. From Inverness take minor roads that lead between Lochs Ashie and Bunachton and joins the B851. Leave the B851 heading for Loch Farr and through Glen Kyllachy Forest and up to Findhornbridge. From there head over Carn a’ Gharbh-choire to the ski centre at Slochd, then take General Wades Military road that leads to Kinveachy. Then through a wooded area to Boat of Garten.

Week Four
Go over Garten Bridge, take the B970 south past Auchgourish Garden (Arboretum). Just after Auchgourish head through the Queens Forest heading for Loch Morlich. From there enter the wooded area of Rothiemurchus and on to Loch an Eileen and Loch Gamhna and through more woods leading to Feshiebridge. From there follow the River Feshie through Glenfeshie Forest. Then follow the Geldie Burn east and after a while south to Loch Tilt and then join the River Tilt which leads to Blair Atholl.

MID-JUNE TO MID-JULY
BLAIR ATHOLL TO KIRK YETHOLM
Week Five
From Blair Atholl head for the River Garry and cross, likewise cross the A9 and continue to follow the River Garry to Killiecrankie. Cross over the A9 and go south following the Pass of Killiecrankie through Tay Forest Park. Join the A924 at Pitlochry and then take the Rob Roy Way through Strathtay and on to Aberfeldy. Continue the Rob Roy Way past Loch Freuchie towards Amulree. Then take the A822 briefly, leaving it to head SE to Little Glenshee. Pass through Hill of Kinglands to again join the A9. Pass over to join the B9099 to Luncarty and then follow the River Tay to Perth.

Week Six
Leave Perth by the B9122 which crosses the River Earn. Then head SE following paths and minor roads that cross the M90 and leads to Kinross. Take minor roads through Keltybridge, past Cowdenbeath and onto Aberdour. Then follow the Fife coastal Path to North Quensferrry. Cross the Forth Road Bridge into Edinburgh.

Week Seven
Leave Edinburgh by the Pentland Hills, heading for West Calder to visit the Dogs Trust Centre there. Back on the Pentland Hills heading for Dolphinton and then a minor lane to Blythe Bridge. Moving east over Crailzie Hill towards Peebles.

Week Eight
Leave Peebles by the B7062 through Cardrona and then to Traquair. From here take the Southern Upland Way east. At Hare Law take the Minchmoor Road to Yarrowford. Then take the A708 to Selkirk. From Selkirk join the Borders Abbeys Way heading for Melrose. Then take St Cuthberts Way through Bowden, Newtown St Boswells and then follow the River Tweed to Maxton. At Maxton either continue on St Cuthberts Way and then Borders Abbeys Way to Kelso or take minor roads to Kelso. From Kelso take minor roads to Hoselaw Loch and then following a path south over Wideopen Moor to Kirk Yetholm.

MID-JULY TO MID-AUGUST
KIRK YETHOLM TO CHEDDLETON
Week Nine
At Kirk Yetholm I join the Pennine Way the first part of which passes through Northumberland National Park. Crossing the A68 into Redesdale Forest heading towards Bellingham. From Bellingham the P.W goes south past Broomlee Lough and then joins the walk east along Hadrians Wall as far as Greenhead.

Week Ten
The P.W continues south from Greenhead over Blenkinsopp Common, Lambley Common, through Slaggyford, crossing the A689 and then walking down the South Tynedale Railway to Alston. From Alston the P.W follows the River South Tyne as far as Garrigill. From there the P.W goes through Milburn Forest ( over Cross Fell and great Dun Fell) towards Dufton. Now the P.W heads east past Cow Green Reservoir towards Forest-in-Teesdale. From here it follows the River Tees as far as Middleton-in-Teesdale. From there it heads toward Grassholme Reservoir, then Blackton reservoir, over Cotherstone Moor, crossing the A66 into Stainmore Forest. Then over Sleightholme Moor, Stonesdale Moor towards Keld.

Week Eleven
From Keld head south to Thwaite, then west over Thwaite Common, past Great Shunner Fell towards Hawes where the P.W enters the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The P.W goes past Dodd Fell, Cam Fell heading for Horton-in-Ribblesdale. From there the P.W heads east over Pen-Y-Ghent, around Fountain Fell making for Malham Tarn and then south to Malham. Continuing south, sometimes following the River Aire, towards Gargrave. The P.W then heads toward East Marton (west of Skipton), Thornton-in-Craven, SE to cross the A6068 at Ickornshaw. Carry on over Oakworth Moor to Ponden Reservoir (west of Haworth).

Week Twelve
Then head for Walshaw Dean Reservoirs and Gorple Lower Reservoir after that. Then south to cross the A646 at Eastwood, passing Withins Clough Reservoir, Warland Reservoir and Blackstone Edge Reservoir. Then cross the A58 (Blackstone Edge Moor) and the M62 and A672. Over White Hill, then crossing the A640. Over Close Moss to cross the A62. The Pennine Way now enters the Peak District National Park. The P.W continues around Wessenden reservoirs to cross the A635. Now heading south for Rhodeswood Reservoirs. This is where I leave the P.W . Instead I make for Hadfield via the Etherow-Goyt Valley Way. This path goes through Broadbottom, Compstall, heading towards Marple. From Marple I shall follow the Macclesfield canal as far as Higher Pointon. From here go east to join the Gritstone Trail at Lyme Park, that goes south through Pott Shrigley, passes Bollington, crosses the A537, passes Langley, crosses the A54 and heads for Rushton Spencer. At Rudyard Reservoir after that I join the Staffordshire Way which goes through Ladderedge Country Park then crosses the A53 and the A520 at Cheddleton and follows the Caldon Canal to Hazlecross.

MID-AUGUST TO MID-SEPTEMBER
CHEDDLETON TO BRIDGEWATER
Week Thirteeen
The Staffordshire Way goes through Kingsley, Kingsley Holt, then through Hawksmoor Wood towards Alton. Continue to Rocester, then south to Uttoxeter. The S.W then heads south through Bagots Park, Abbotts Bromley making for Blithfield Reservoir. At Rugeley join the Trent and Mersey Canal and head NW to Great Haywood. Then head south through Cannock Chase and join the Heart of England Way making for Cannock Wood and Gentleshaw. The H of E.W goes through Lichfield and then south crossing the A5 and A453 heading for Drewton Bassett.

Week Fourteen
The H of E.W then follows the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal south making for Shustoke Reservoirs, then Green End. Cross over the M6, A45 and A452 at Balsall Common. Just after Balsall Common I leave the H of E.W and via lanes I make for the Dogs Trust Centre at Honiley (Kennelworth). I rejoin the H of E.W by going through Wroxall and Hay Wood (Midland Link path). Again head south on the H of E.W through Rowington, crossing the M40 and through Henley-in-Arden. The H of E.W then passes Morton Bagot, south through Alne Wood to Alne End, making for Alcester. Continue south to Bidford-on-Avon. Again I leave the H of E.W and head over Cleeve Hill to South Littleton and then lanes and paths to Wickhamford where there is another Dogs trust Centre I shall visit.

Week Fifteen
From there take lanes and paths to Broadway, joining the Cotswold Way north to Chipping Campden. Here I join the Monarch Way south through Broad Campden, Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh, Longborough, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter, Bourton-on-the-Water, Clapton-on-the-Hill, Farmington, Northleach, Hampnett, through Chedworth Woods, Rendcombe, North Cerney, Baunton heading for Cirencester. From here the M.W heads west to Tarlton and then Rodmarton. Then take a lane to the A433, cross over into Stonehill lane which joins the Fosseway, an old Roman Road. Take this south till it meets a lane that takes you to Brokenborough. From here take lanes to Malmesbury. Leave Malmesbury by the A429. At Burton Hill take paths on your left that lead to the lane that goes through Startley. Then take paths through Seagry Wood and under the M4 for more paths to Sutton Benger, and then more paths to Kellaways.

Week Sixteen
From Kellaways follow the River Avon into Chippenham. Leave by lanes and go through Biddestone and join the Macmillan Way and go as far as Box. Head west via lanes and paths to join the Limestone Link path. Follow that through Batheaston, Monkton Combe, Coombe Hay and Radford. Leave the L.L to take a lane to Paulton. More lanes passing Midsomer Norton to Clapton, Old Down, Emborough, towards Binegar. Then more lanes and paths through Gurney Slade, Thrupe, Croscombe, North Wooten, towards Glastonbury. Joining the Samaritans Way South West through Street, then west through Pedwell towards Bridgewater.

MID-SEPTEMBER TO MID-OCTOBER
BRIDGEWATER TO LANDS END
Week Seventeen
Continuing with the Samaritans Way South West through Goathurst, by Cothelstone Hill, making my way through the Quantock Hills, heading for Bicknoller. Again joining the Macmillan way that goes through Williton and Lower Roadwater to enter Exmoor National Park. Leaving the M.W take lanes and paths through Langridge Wood and rejoin the Samaritans Way South West. The S.W.S.W goes through Kingsbridge, crosses the B3224, continues through Winsford. At Winsford leave the S.W.S.W and make for Tarr Steps which is on the Two Moors Way. Head south on the T.M.W through Hawkridge, Easter New Moor, Knowstone, over the A361 making for Witheridge.

Week Eighteen
Continuing with the T.M.W I go through Washford Pyne, Morchard Bishop, cross the A377 and A3072 and make for Hittisleigh. Afterwards cross the A30 and go through Drewsteignton to enter Dartmoor National Park. Cross the A832, pass by Chagford making for Fenworthy Reservoir. Cross the B3212 to walk over Hookney Tor, Hameldown Tor, passing near Widecombe-in-the-Moor to head for Ponsworthy. Then the T.M.W goes through Dartmeet and Hexworthy. I then leave the T.M.W and head for Burrator Reservoir. Then via lanes and paths I go through Meavy and Hoo Meavy to join the West Devon Way. The W.D.W goes through Hicksleigh and Longbridge (Plymouth).

Week Nineteen
Continue with the W.D.W by the River Plym. Cross over the River Plym and join the South West Coastal Path. Head towards Stonehouse and take the ferry. Continue with the S.W.C.P towards Seaton. It continues through Looe, Polperro and Polruan where I take another ferry to Fowey. The S.W.C.P progresses through Polkerris to Higher Porthpean. I leave the S.W.C.P here and take lanes inland through London Apprentice, Sticker, making for Ladock.

Week Twenty
Continuing west via lanes to Trispen, then south through St Clements Wood towards Truro. From here take lanes through Helston Water, Frog Pool, crossing the top of Strithians Reservoir, then Porkellis, Nancegollan, Godolphin Cross, Townsend, Relubbus. From here take paths to St Erth, Nancledra and Trythogga. More lanes to Tremethick Cross, Sancreed. Paths again over Carn Brea heading for Whitesand Bay where I again join the South West Coastal Path. I now head south to Lands End.

Look forward to meeting you and your dogs along the way ?

Trish