Experience the far-reaching views from this lovely part of the UK
Today you'll officially move into the north of England, and it's wonderful scenery as the miles clock up
Start the tour in the glorious southwest county of Cornwall.
Explore dramatic Cheddar Gorge as you do some spectacular cycling on tour
Bike through Devon and Somerset and revel in the rural scenery
Take on an epic challenge and bike tour the UK from bottom to top
Cycle through the beautiful Cumbrian landscape as you push towards Scotland
Ride through the spectacular scenery of the British Isles
You've almost made it – enjoy the final miles to John O'Groats
Ride the length of the UK on a guided group tour

Land's End to John O'Groats Explorer

Duration
22 days
Site savings
$123
From
$6,026 USD

A 22-day version of the Land's End to John O'Groats ride, perfect for enthusiastic, regular cyclists looking to be inspired by this iconic end to end journey. Starting in Land’s End and making the most of the prevailing wind, you'll ride off on a 1,000-mile-plus adventure through 3 countries in just 19 days of riding.

  • Category
    Adventurous
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    22 days
  • Culture Level
    Familiar
  • Skill Level
    3 - Intermediate
  • Activity Level
    3 - Active
  • Elevation
    3 - Intermediate
  • Terrain
    Mixed
  • Distance
    1,006.6 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    52.8 miles
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  • Where does the tour start and end?

    The tour starts in Penzance, Cornwall (England).  Group train station transfers from Penzance to the first hotel are included in the holiday cost. If traveling by train we ask that you arrive into Penzance train station by 16:15 in time for the group transfer departing at 16:30. London is the closest international travel hub and is around 6 hours by train from Penzance.

    The tour ends in Scotland at Inverness.  At the end of the tour you will depart John O‘Groats at 09:00 so will not arrive into Inverness before 13:00. Please bear this in mind when booking train/flight tickets home. Inverness has limited international flight options but is connected to larger airports by flight or train.


  • How long is the tour? How many days cycling?

    The tour is 22 days long with 19 days of cycling.

  • What's the tour like?

    Quiet country roads have been picked wherever possible. The whole route is on good tarmac, and suited to lightweight road bikes. There are of course lots of climbs, and descents, with some sections through urban areas, but the majority of the route takes you through open countryside.

    Some of this will be lowland, agricultural areas, and some will be over high and exposed hill country – especially in the North of England and Scotland.

    It is possible to use an E-Bike on this holiday.

    Is this suitable for you?
    You’re an enthusiast. Road cycling is probably your main hobby and you ride regularly at weekends, staying on the bike for much of the day. You’re in pretty good shape, and you might also participate in cyclo-sportive events. You also love a challenge and are looking for a tour with some good climbing, preferably with an opportunity to tick off some famous Tour de France cols, or the like. You’re a competent descender, and you’re not afraid of speed, but you ride safely and within your limits at all times. You understand road etiquette and you’re comfortable riding in a bunch. You might even take a stint at the front of the pack if the need arises.

  • Is bike hire included?

    If you would like to rent a bike they are available at an extra cost.  Bikes are typically full carbon Giant Revolt / Liv Devote, great bikes with good quality components. Bikes are set up tubeless on 700×28c or 700×32c tyres. They provide a comfortable riding position and wide range of gears, running a 2×11 drivetrain with 32/48 chainrings and 11×34 cassette. They are fitted with hydraulic disc brakes.

    E-bikes are also available on this tour.

  • Please read here for a message from the tour operator concerning Covid-19:

    Book with confidence

    With travel restrictions and changing government guidance still present in our lives, the Tour Operator is are committed to doing everything they can to help more of you to enjoy fun on two wheels in the most enjoyable and responsible way possible.

    To help you better plan ahead with peace of mind, they want to reassure you that your holiday is financially protected and that you will be well looked after by them, no matter what happens. 

    Our promise to you…
    - If the Tour Operator has to cancel a tour because of COVID-19, you will have the option of a full refund. They will only run tours in destinations that are safe and will always follow the most up-to-date government guidance. They will cancel any tours where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel.
    - Your money is protected by ABTOT, whether as a payment for a specific holiday or as a credit note. This means if you are entitled to a refund this is guaranteed, no matter the circumstances.

    In addition, it’s essential that you…
    - Have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your tour (whether in the UK or overseas), you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip or any extra costs you might incur. Please contact our team if you need some advice. In doing so, the Tour Operator can ensure the local communities are impacted as little as possible and can continue to deliver the excellent holidays we know you love. This extended team are predominantly small businesses and the aim is to honour our commitments to them, so we can all rebuild after COVID-19.
    - Keep up to date with local requirements in your chosen destination. This might relate to testing or vaccination requirements for entering your destination or using facilities such as hotels and restaurants while you are there. These requirements can change often and the Tour Operator will do their best to keep you up to date, you need to ensure you are aware of, and can comply with, any requirements which might be in place at the time you travel. Depending on the circumstances the Tour Operator may not be able to offer a refund if you can’t comply with these kinds of requirements. For UK based travelers, the best source of information is the Government’s foreign travel advice.

    Social distancing, enhanced hygiene and face coverings
    For the safety of everyone, the Tour Operator will be ensuring the cycle tours comply with local guidelines. In reality, you’ll be out on your bikes most of the day enjoying the great outdoors, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax and unwind.
    - The group tours are limited to small groups – on average 10 people (maximum 16 people) as we believe this is the most responsible – and enjoyable – way to travel.
    - Face coverings should be worn in compliance with local guidelines, which in many destinations includes when using public transport, in shops and certain attractions, and whenever social distancing cannot be observed. Please be aware of face covering requirements for travel to your destination and contact us if you have any questions. In the absence of any legal requirements, we ask you to respect the wishes of any private businesses you might visit such as cafes or hotels. Please let us know at the point of booking if you are unable to wear a face covering.
    - Our team continues to observe good hygiene practice, including regular handwashing and sanitising, and request that customers do the same. Depending on where you travel, you may not be able to purchase supplies locally, so best to come with adequate supplies of hand sanitiser for use throughout your holiday.

    If you display symptoms or test positive
    For the benefit of yourself, the people you are traveling with and our team, please let us know as soon as possible if you test positive for COVID-19 or display any symptoms.
    - We recommend testing before joining any of our trips.
    - It is essential that you are in good health when embarking on your holiday. Under certain circumstances, we may ask you to take a test or provide proof of having had the vaccines. In the rare event you fall ill before or during your tour, it is essential you follow the guidelines provided by us in your pre-departure information.
    - If you are symptomatic or if you test positive this is likely to mean you are unable to join your trip.
    - If you test positive whilst on the holiday then we will assist you in reporting the illness and making appropriate arrangements, whether that be to quarantine or return home. In most circumstances, this will mean your participation in the tour will have to come to an end.

    Vaccination status
    In many destinations, you may need to be fully vaccinated to be able to join our trips.
    - If you are traveling to another country you may need to be fully vaccinated to enter, or to use facilities such as cafes or hotels. Some destinations may allow testing in place of vaccination, but the nature of our trips means this often isn’t a practical option.
    - There may be some situations where social distancing isn’t possible or where you will come in contact with people who aren’t part of our group or team, such as hotel and restaurant staff. Because of this, we recommend being fully vaccinated to make sure you are as safe as possible.
    - Some destinations we visit have less developed public health facilities which can impact local residents’ ability to access the same protections we might enjoy. In such cases, we strive to weigh up entry requirements and recommendations from our local partners to establish a responsible company policy on vaccinations that protects our customers, local teams and the communities we visit as much as possible.
    - Please let us know as early as possible if you aren’t fully vaccinated so we can discuss any implications, including if you are able to join the trip.

    Bikes, vehicles and equipment
    We know you love the extra support we offer on tour and so we’ve made sure you continue to have access to all these essential holiday components.
    - Our team will guide you through any relevant protocols when using bikes, equipment and vehicles on your trip.
    - All transfer staff will be adhering to recognized local hygiene guidelines and these vehicles will be regularly deep cleaned, with extra attention paid to regular touchpoints.

    Food and accommodation
    Amazing food and lovely places to stay are a big part of the tour experience. All accommodation providers are following relevant local guidelines relating to COVID-19. The impact of new measures should be minimal and may vary from place to place, however, these will always be clearly communicated to you by our team on the ground.
    - You may notice increased and enhanced cleaning and hygiene practices, in guest rooms and communal areas.
    - In some places, temperature checks will be conducted upon entering.
    - Measures promoting social distancing may be in place and you may be asked to avoid communal areas and touchpoints.
    - We will offer our usual high-quality lunches and snacks but you may notice a few changes to how these are delivered to allow for any local guidance.

    Updated: 27 Jan 2023

Overall Rating:
5.0/5
"Words can not explain how amazing this trip was!"
Julie, South Yorkshire
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

    The achievement of cycling from one end of the country to the other is one thing, but to do it with such a fabulous bunch of people was something else. The quirky places that we’ve seen and stayed at meant that I’ve got enough stories and memories to last a lifetime. The whole trip seemed far less effort and so much more fun because it was done the skedaddle way – Pete and Rob were amazing, nothing was too much trouble and we all had an amazing time because of it.

    I’ve been on many [tour operator] trips and I keep coming back because the service provided is always spot on. It is so easy to book and any information you need is always readily available either on the website or over the phone. As a single traveler I was never left by myself and nothing was ever too much trouble. My bike broke and it got fixed, when there was limited vegetarian food it was sorted, Pete’s magical mystery tours were brilliant – I can not fault anything, it was brilliant.

    There were many highlights. Cycling up Cheddar Gorge was beautiful, rolling down into Tintern, the mamouth day to Peebles especially the end climbs and mega descents, and beautiful views out of Inverness. I could name many more.

    Excellent doesn’t really do Pete (guide) justice. What he didn’t know about this trip wasn’t worth knowing – the obscure things we saw and did were because he knew every corner of the route. His personalty made everything seem so easy, effortless, and weirdly fun! It was all of the little things that really made a difference. As a single traveler he made sure that I always had somewhere to go and somebody to talk to – this made a big difference to my enjoyment of the trip. He was so professional that if everything was going wrong we wouldn’t have known, and his stories were brilliant!

    I had an absolute amazing time – so many memories that I’ll take with me. Not everything went to plan, but that’s all part of the adventure and means that we all have a bucket load of stories to tell our friends and family. Many thanks for an amazing holiday.


"I have achieved something that I never thought I could do. Thank you!"
Geoff, UK
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

    Some folks say this is the ride of a lifetime. I certainly thought it was. I’m glad I chose the three-week tour. It didn’t feel rushed and I had plenty of chances to stop and take photos, and also make short visits to places of interest. Somehow the overall experience was greater than the sum of the individual parts. I have achieved something that I never thought I could do. Thank you.

    There were so many good days, but crossing the Severn and Forth Bridges were particular favorites. Peter was excellent. Knowledgable, experienced and extremely patient, he was easy company to be with. He also gave us a little of the history of the places we saw on the way, which added to the enjoyment of the trip.


"10/10"
Michael, UK
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

    Your advert said pack lunch provided, I was expecting a sandwich, crisps & a Mars bar, instead we were provided with an excellent feast for a King! Prepared & presented to a superb standard, nutritional & something for everyone, we were very pleasantly surprised.

    Our guide Tom is an extremely experienced team leader, no matter what problems occurred, he dealt with not only professionally but with it with a smile on his face. I couldn’t of asked for a better team leader, he is an absolute asset to [the tour operator]. Tom made a great experience even better, 10 out of 10.