FAQ’s about LEJOG

Now I’ve completed the End to End and we’re on the way South, it’s time I answered some of those FAQ’s you all have about LEJOG. Here they are!
1. Is it a long way?
Yes.

2. What’s best, Land’s End to John O’Groats or John O’Groats to Land’s End?
Personal preferences vary but with the dominant weather pattern in the UK being SW to NE starting at Land’s End makes sense. You mostly have the wind behind you (obviously there have been some exceptions to that this summer!).

3. Which place is nicer, Land’s End or John O’Groats?
Again personal preferences will play a part.
I love Cornwall and it holds many family memories but the Land’s End theme park is a tacky place. Try to start before it opens at 10am: not so busy then.
John O’Groats has really improved in the last decade. Better accommodation and a neat harbour with great views of Orkney in the right weather.

4. What is the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats?
That depends on the route you take. There’s no set route so you have to decide how long you want your journey to be.
One correspondent noted a difference of 2 miles on one of the signposts. LEJOG is like that: places are always moving.
My overall total was 1110 miles.

5. Bike, cycle, run, or walk?
Again it’s a personal thing. In our family LEJOG is something you walk. The pace means you get to savour so much. Otherwise it all pass in a blur. Think of LEJOG as a slow project. You won’t regret it.

6. What’s the best food for those walking LEJOG
Fish and chips and ice cream. These quintessential British foods are available almost anywhere and can fortify you on any day.

7. What should a LEJOG walker carry?
As little as possible. Try to find someone else to do that. Just have a bottle of water in your pocket and a snack like chocolate or nuts (warning, may contain nuts: other snacks are available).

8. What time should you stop for 11s?
Any time between 10am and midday depending on conditions.

9. What time should you stop for lunch?
Any time between 11am and 4pm depending on conditions.

10. How often should you eat ice cream on LEJOG.
As often as possible up to 4 or 5 times a day. It is important to support local businesses especially in remote areas.

11. What should a walker do while walking LEJOG?
Firstly carry a paper map in a plastic map case and use it. This is better than an electronic map because you can use it as a hat in sunny weather, and it to disperse flies (and midges in Scotland).
Second, have a ticking sheet of natural phenomena seen en route, particularly flora and fauna. Add anything else unusual to this list as you go along, invaluable for aiding recall later.
Thirdly, sing! These can be real songs from your memory or ones you make up as you go like ‘Is there a toilet in the town, in the town; one where I can soon sit down, soon sit down…’ etc
Fourthly, prepare to go forth and prepare your stand up show which you are going to tour Britain with after LEJOG.

12. What were the low points of the journey?
The worst combination is rain and wind leading to walking in wet knickers. This means that the day from Clunes along Loch Lochy was not a great day although I wasn’t actually going Commando (see comment about knickers) but following in their footsteps, so to speak.
However, the day from Shebster to Thurso was grim requiring three attempts due to poor weather and I couldn’t actually stand up at one point near Achscrabster road.
Basically any day where your knickers get wet is a poor outcome.

13. What were the high points?
So many it’s difficult to order them. Unusual flora and fauna feature heavily: seals on the beach, deer in a barley field, many different kinds of orchids many I was seeing for the first time. But best of all clouds of painted ladies on the Black Isle: so many I could hardly count them.

15. What is it like to be a Lay Benedictine doing LEJOG?
I was greatful for the time in Christ’s company. It helped me to put down a lot of things I’d been carrying for too long.
I love remembering the psalms, although some of my remembered versions may not be the ones others remember.

16. What is your favourite prayer?
Another one where it’s difficult to choose but probably St Patrick’s Breastplate :

Christ beside me,
Christ behind me,
Christ before me,
Christ above me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger,
Christ in hearts of all who love me,
Christ to comfort and restore me

14. What 1 piece of advice would you give any prospective LEJOG walker?
Just go for it. Hannah said we three all did it differently and we did. You do it your way. Just do it, however long it takes.

And now, God grant a quiet night and a peaceful end.

JAL 13.08.2019
LEJOG plus 1 day.