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Our route

There are various ready-route-finders if you want to walk or cycle from John O'Groats to Lands End, but not so for horse-riders.  Planning our route has therefore taken far longer than it will to actually ride it.  The parts of Britain through which we have previously ridden are relatively straightforward, but some sections, such as the far north of Scotland, are relatively uncharted territory on horseback.

Scotland

 John O'Groats-Westerdale - Forsinard-Kinbrace-Loch Choire

 Ben Armine – Rogart  - Bonar Bridge - Ardgay – Glen Calvie-Strath Rusdale - Invergordon

Evanton - Dingwall - Muir of Ord

 Marybank - Strathglass - Cannich - Tomich - Dundreggan - Fort Augustus

 Corrieyairack Pass to Kinloch Laggan

 Loch Laggan – Loch Ossian – Rannoch Station

 Bridge of Gaur – Rannoch School – Bridge of Balgie

 Killin - Balquhidder –Callander - Loch Venachar – Aberfoyle - Drymen

 Killearn – Strathblane – Kirkintilloch – Cumbernauld

Airdrie - Shotts - Forth – Carnwath

Biggar - Broughton - Drumelzier - st. Mary's Loch

Ettrick - Moffat – Wamphray - Lockerbie – Hoddom - Gretna

England

Cumbria Longtown – Brampton – Melmerby – Appleby

Crosby Garrett/Kirkby Stephen – Sedbergh

Yorkshire Dales Horton in Ribblesdale - Settle – Long Preston – Earby – Trawden

Lancashire Todmorden – Littleborough – Delph

Saddleworth – Mossley – Hadfield

Derbyshire Hadfield - Glossop – Hayfield – Chapel-en-le-Frith

Peak Forest – Wormhill – Chelmorton - Hartington - Alstonefield – Ilam

Staffordshire Waterhouses – Oakmoor – Fole - Uttoxeter – Kingstone –

Newton – Little Haywood - Cannock Chase - Penkridge

Marston – Weston under Lizard

Shropshire Shifnal – Morville (Bridgnorth) – Chelmarsh - Bewdley – Wyre Forest

Worcestershire Stockton on Teme – Whitbourne - Malvern Hills – Tewkesbury – Bishop’s Cleeve

Gloucestershire Brockhampton – Notgrove – North Leach – Cirencester

Malmesbury – Chippenham

Somerset Bath – Radstock – Shepton Mallet – Street – Othery

Bridgwater

Quantock Hills – Brendon Hills

Devon Exmoor (Wheddon Cross – Exford)

South Molton – Chulmleigh – North Tawton – Whiddon Down

North Dartmoor – Sourton – Bridestowe – Lewdown

Cornwall Launceston – Lewannick – Altarnun – St. Tudy

Bodmin – St. Columb Road – Carland Cross – Redruth – Gwinear – St. Erth – Nancledra – Madron – Sancreed – Sennen

LANDS END

Identifying a route on a map is one thing. Determining whether it is actually rideable on the ground is quite another. The legislation may have changed in Scotland affording a right of responsible access on foot, cycle or horseback to most land, but that doesn’t mean you can actually get through. Finding out where the gates are padlocked, where we might meet a stile after 30 miles in the saddle with the light fast fading, and even more importantly where there are bogs which might prove lethal on horseback, is essential to the success of our trip. Thanks to all those who have enthusiastically helped and advised.