# LEJOG (2024) In early April 2024, I set out on an adventure to tackle the Lands End to John o' Groats walk, in actuality I was planning to walk from Lizard Point to Dunnet Head; the southernmost, and northernmost points of the UK. My plan was to tackle the 1,300 mile challenge over a three-month period. I carefully researched the main stage of the route; the list of planned trails included the South West Coast Path, Offa's Dyke, The Pennine Way, The West Highland Way, The Great Glen Way, and finally, The John o' Groats Trail. ## The Failure As we all know, weather and circumstances can be unpredictable. Storm Cathleen arrived in April 2024, forcing me to divert inland due to the treacherous conditions on the Coast Path. To make matters worse, the tent I'd ordered months before hadn't arrived, leaving me to scramble for an alternative solution the weekend before my departure. | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0787.jpg]] | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0789.jpg]] | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0790.jpg]] | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0798.jpg]] | | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | I stopped walking after a week, having fallen - extremely - short of my original three-month timeline. But instead of letting that disappointment get the best of me, I took a break, taking a week to drive around the NC500. It was during that time that I reflected upon the failure; I'd been impatient, set off too early and hadn't handled the unexpected setbacks well. ## A Redemption? Shortly after returning from Scotland, I returned to the trail, with a renewed sense of determination, having finally received my tent. This time around, my bag was lighter, the paths were drier, and the temperature was more reasonable, allowing my to walk along the Coast Path as initially planned. | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0815.jpg]] | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0818.jpg]] | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0839.jpg]] | ![[Thru-Hikes/LEJOG (2024)/IMG_0902.jpg]] | | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | After the Coast Path, I walked sections that included The Tarka Trail, Exmoor, The Quantock Hills, The Mendip Hills, ending up in Bristol. I subsequently crossed the Severn Bridge to Chepstow and Offa's Dyke, for a while, it was business as usual – or so I thought. After a month of walking, I picked up an injury (shin splints) in Hay on Wye where I was running to avoid the weather (after having diverted around Hay Bluff). After being hit with the disappointing realisation of my own limits, I reluctantly left the trail and headed back home. While I failed to complete the walk as planned, I'm not one to dwell on disappointment. Instead, I take comfort in knowing that the attempt brings me closer to achieving the goal in the future. ## Reflections The lessons learned from this experience will undoubtedly shape my next adventure. I'll prioritise preparation, flexibility, and a healthy dose of humility. Though it may take time, I'm confident that with patience and persistence, I'll one day complete the walk. Until then, I'll continue to cherish the small moments of triumph that I did experience and the quiet reflections alone in nature's presence. The attempt may have been a failure, but I'm not ashamed of that, far from it; I'm proud that I tried. ## Itinerary ```mermaid timeline Title Timeline Day 1 : Lizard Point : Kyance Cliff Day 2 : Kyance Cliff : Marazion Day 3 : Marazion : Porthcurno Day 4 : Porthcurno : St Ives Day 5 : St Ives : Gwithian Day 7 : Gwithian : Perranporth Day 8 : Perranporth : Mawgan Porth Day 9 : Mawgan Porth : Wadebridge Day 10 : Wadebridge : Boscastle Day 11 : Boscastle : Bude Day 12 : Bude : Elmscott Day 13 : Elmscott : Westacott Farm Day 14 : Westacott Farm : Brightlycott Farm Day 15 : Brightlycott Farm : Westermill Farm Day 16 : Westermill Farm : Roadwater Day 17 : Roadwater : Bridgewater Day 18 : Bridgewater : Cheddar Day 19 : Cheddar : Bristol Day 20 : Bristol : Severn Bridge Day 21 : Severn Bridge : Monmouth Day 22 : Monmouth : Pandy Day 23 : Pandy : Hay-on-Wye Day 24 : Hay-on-Wye : Kington Day 25 : Kington : Knighton : Early Exit ``` # References - [Land's End to John o' Groats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land%27s_End_to_John_o%27_Groats)