The maps have been studied and the route marked onto a 3 miles to the inch (1:200,000) road atlas. This scale shows all minor roads and Youth Hostels and the pages can be cut from the book so we only take the parts we need, and these will fit into the map pocket on the bar bags. Wherever possible we’ll be using minor roads to avoid the worst of the traffic.

We will be starting at Lands End and heading east keeping to the south of Cornwall and Devon before crossing Dartmoor and heading up to Bristol via Cheddar Gorge. From Bristol we cross the Severn on the old suspension bridge (there is a cycle path!) and then work our way north along the England-Wales border up to Chester. With gritted teeth we will work our way through the industrial conurbation between Manchester and Liverpool up towards the Lake District. The long climb up to Shap summit will be rewarded by the 9 mile freewheel into Penrith. From here we head due north across the border and into Scotland and on to Edinburgh. The Forth Road Bridge will take us across the Firth of Forth and then we make for Perth. From here we go northwest skirting the worst of the Grampians and then to Loch Lochy and Loch Ness. From here it is due north all the way to the north coast and then hang a right for the final push to John O’Groats after around 1000 miles. Easy peasy.

Getting to the start and from the finish will be by rail, unless anyone has a cheaper and better suggestion.