BIG 35th Anniversary Event
Event jersey customized by TD Sportswear for each rider’s country.
(Example above is for US rider.)
Ride from Lands End, England, to John O’Groats, Scotland -- from the Southernmost tip of Great Britain to its Northernmost point. Our route is a variation of the traditional 1407 km/874 mile LEJOG. Why vary from tradition? Because this tour originated as a BIG.EU 35th anniversary bike ride. BIG is all about climbing by bike (the About page of BIG’s website begins with the sentence “Do you enjoy climbing with the bike?”) so it is understandable that for its 35th anniversary it would not only undertake one of the most heralded bike rides in the world, but also throw in 35 hill climbs along the way!
First stage Saturday 29th August 2020.
Last stage Friday 18th September 2020.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 2990 km / 1858 miles.
Average: 142 km / 88 miles each day.
The official record for the 874 mile LEJOG is 43:25, set by Michael Broadwith 17 June, 2018. We are not going to set any records, but we are going to have one heck of a jolly good time. 🙂👍🚲🏔👍
This trip is also a great bargain at £800 for lodging, and and roughly €20 per day for SAG (for all days: €420 and includes transporting luggage from point to point). This price also includes a personal webpage, use of PJAMM’s navigation app, and photos and video by PJAMM’s John Johnson. The very cool event jersey designed by TD Sportswear is also available for €50.
In 2017 PJAMM cycled Simon Warren’s 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, Britain, and many of the photographs below are from that trip. Also contributing several photographs to our event summary are BIG members Heiko Linnert (DE), and Ard Oostra (CH).
Where it all begins, 🚲 👍 🚲
29 August, 2020:
Arrival Day. Land’s End/Cornwall - Lamorna/Penzance.
Distance: 27km / 17 miles.
The first stage of our amazing journey takes us through Land’s End, which is traditionally acknowledged as the southernmost point of mainland England.
St. Michael’s Mount.
30 August, 2020:
Lamorna/Land’s End, Penzance, Helston, Burnthouse, Truro, Mevagissy, St Austell, Fowey to Polruan (ferry £1 one way, takes only a few minutes), Looe, Plymouth, Yelverton.
Distance: 157 km / 97 miles.
Bush Down.
31 August, 2020:
Yelverton, Two Bridges, Bush Down, Moretonhampstead, Dunsford, Exeter, Ottery St Mary, Chineway Hill, Tiverton, Sustrans route 3 and route 277 Simonsbath to Watersmeet, Exe Plain, Exford.
Distance: 166km / 103 miles.
Cheddar Gorge.
1 September, 2020:
Exford, Dunkery Hill, Dunster, Bridgewater, Wedmore, Cheddar Gorge, continue on Sustrans route 3, Chew Stoke, Bedminster Down, Bristol.
Distance: 128 km / 80 miles.
Gospel Pass.
2 September, 2020:
Bristol, Avonmouth, Caldicot, Sutrans route 32 to Usk, Sustrans route 42 Abergavenny, Gospel Pass, Hay on Wye, Talgarth, Sustrans route 8 to Builth Wells.
Distance: 137 km / 85 miles.
Bwlch-Y-Groes.
3 September, 2020:
Builth Wells, Beulah, Abergwesyn, Devils Staircase, Tregaron, Ponterwyth, Llanidloes, Llanbrynmair Mawddwy, Bwlch-Y-Groes, Sustrans route 12 to Bala.
Distance: 169 km / 105 miles.
Horseshoe Pass.
4 September, 2020.
Bala, Llyn Celyn, Ffestiniog, Penrhyndeudraeth, Beddgelert, Llanberis Pass, Capel Curig, Betws-Y-Coed, Corwen, Llangollen, Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen.
Distance: 144 km / 89 miles.
Millers Dale.
5 September, 2020:
Llangollen, Ruabon, Overton Bridge, Cross Lanes, Holt, Middlewich, Sustrans route 71 Holmes Chapel, Siddington, Macclesfield, Buxton, Ravenstor/Millers Dale.
Distance: 127 km / 79 miles.
Holme Moss.
6 September, 2020.
Ravenstor/Millers Dale, Hope, Castleton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Mam Tor, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Glossop, Snake Pass, Glossop, Sustrans route 62, Woodhead, Holme Moss, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Halifax, Oxenhope Moor, Haworth.
Distance: 112 km / 70 miles.
Cow and Calf.
7 September, 2020.
Haworth, Keighley, Ilkley, Cow and Calf, Otley, Harrogate, Ripon, Northallerton.
Distance: 89 km / 55 miles.
Rosedale Head
Photo: Wikipedia.
8 September, 2020:
Northallerton, Ellerbeck, Hawnby, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Rosedale Head, Westerdale, Great Broughton, Ellerbeck, Northallerton.
Distance: 107 km / 66 miles
Fleet Moss.
9 September, 2020:
Northallerton, Bedale, Leyburn, West Burton, Oughtershaw, Fleet Moss, Hawes, Sustrans route 10 Dent, Sustrans route 68 Sedburgh, Kendal, Sustrans route 6, Windermere, Ambleside.
Distance: 135 km / 84 miles
Photos clockwise from upper left:
Honnister Pass, Wrynose Pass, Hardknott Pass, Wynrose, Honister (center).
10 September, 2020:
Ambleside, Wrynose Pass East, Hard Knott Pass, Wrynose Pass West, Ambleside, Dunmail Raise (Natacha), Keswick, Honister Pass, Keswick, Whinlatter Pass, Keswick, Ambleside.
Distance: 133 km / 83 miles
Kirkstone Pass.
11 September, 2020:
Ambleside, Kirkstone Pass, Ullswater, Penrith, Kirkby Thore, Great Dun Fell, Langwathby, Hartside Cross, Alston, Nenthead, St John’s Chapel, WESTERNHOPE MOOR, St John’s Chapel, Alston.
Distance: 170 km / 106 miles.
12 September, 2020:
Alston, Allendale, Hexham, Elishaw, Carter Bar, Hawick, 79 Alemoor Loch, St Mary’s Loch, Moffat.
Distance: 184 km / 114 miles.
Lowther Hill.
13 September, 2020:
Moffat, Elvanfoot, Lowther Hill, Netherton, Uddington, Hyndford, Whitburn, Forth Road Bridge, Cowdenbeath, Kinross, Perth.
Distance: 193 km / 120 miles.
Glen Quaich.
14 September, 2020:
Perth, Dunkeld, Amulree, Glen Quaich, Kenmare, Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Blacklunans, Spittal of Glenshee,
Braemar.
Distance: 155 km / 96 miles
Lecht Road.
15 September, 2020:
Braemar, Crathie, The Strone, Tom Dubh, Cock Bridge, Lecht Road, Tomintoul, Grantown-on-Spey, Cairngorm, Inverness.
Distance: 179 km / 111 miles.
Bealach Na Ba.
16 September, 2020:
Inverness, Great Glen, Glen Moriston, Shiel Bridge, Bealach Ratagain, Eilean Donan Castle, Auchtertyre, Achmore, Strathcarron, Ardorrach, Bealach Na Ba, Applecross.
Distance: 187 km / 116 miles.
Applecross.
17 September, 2020:
Applecross, Bealach Na Ba, Ardorrach, Lochcarron, Achnasheen, Gorston, Dingwall, Easter Ardross, Bonar Bridge.
Distance: 128 km / 79 miles.
And that’s a wrap!
18 September, 2020:
Alness (Dingwall), Tain, Golspie, Helmsdale, Latheron, Thurso, John O’Groats.
Distance: 163 km / 101 miles.
We end in John O’Groats which is traditionally considered the northernmost point of mainland Scotland and Britain.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 2990 km / 1858 miles.
Average: 142 km / 88 miles each day
Text John Johnson from PJAMM Cycling with questions and he will call you within 24 hours: (707) 292-4900. Due to excessive robo-calls, phonecalls will not be answered
BIG members shall have priority as this is a BIG anniversary event, but non-BIG members are most welcome.