If you’ve spent any time looking into cycling end to end in the UK, you’ll probably be familiar with LEJOG – Land’s End to John O’Groats. It’s often talked about as the way to do it. But for 2026, we’re returning to riding JOGLE – John O’Groats to Land’s End – and it’s a decision that’s been shaped by years of experience, listening to riders, and realising what actually makes the best journey.
This isn’t us trying to be different for the sake of it. In fact, it’s the opposite. JOGLE was where we started and it’s a route we’ve always loved.
JOGLE Was Where We Began
When Bike the UK for MS first launched in 2014, John O’Groats to Land’s End was our original end-to-end route. It’s the journey that shaped the organisation in its early years, and one that a lot of us still feel very fond of.
There was something about starting in the far north of Scotland and gradually working your way south that just made sense. The landscape unfolded slowly, the routine settled in naturally, and the whole journey felt like a proper progression rather than a sudden shock to the system.
Over time, though, we made the decision to switch directions.
Why We Switched to LEJOG and Why We’re Switching Back
Part of the reason we moved to LEJOG was simple: it’s what most people expect. If you ask someone about riding end to end, chances are they picture Land’s End to John O’Groats.
There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a brilliant challenge either way.
But after running the route in both directions for years, riding it ourselves, and seeing how different riders respond to each version, we’ve realised that north to south just works better for many people especially in a supported, group setting like ours.
Let’s Talk About Cornwall
If you’ve ever ridden through Cornwall, you’ll already know where this is going.
Cornwall is tough. The climbs are steep, they come thick and fast, and just when you think you’ve finished one, there’s another ramp waiting around the corner. It’s beautiful, but it’s relentless.
When you ride LEJOG, you hit Cornwall immediately.
You’re fresh, yes, but you’re also nervous, still figuring out pacing, still getting used to your bike setup, your kit, your routine. Those early days are when doubt creeps in most easily. We’ve seen it time and time again with solo end-to-end riders: the combination of Cornwall and Dartmoor in the first few days is often where people question whether they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
It’s not that the rest of the route is as hard, but it feels like it might be when that’s your starting point.
With JOGLE, Cornwall comes at the end.
By then, you’ve been riding for two weeks. Your fitness has built. You know how to fuel yourself, how to pace climbs, how to deal with a tough day. Cornwall becomes a final challenge rather than an early shock – something to dig into with confidence, not fear.
Scotland Is a Brilliant Place to Start
Starting in the Scottish Highlands gives riders the space to find their feet.
The roads are quieter, the scenery is unreal, and while there’s certainly climbing, it’s generally longer and more gradual. That makes a huge difference in the early days, especially if your training hasn’t gone quite to plan (which, let’s be honest, happens to most of us).
Those first few days aren’t about smashing miles, they’re about settling into the rhythm of end-to-end riding:
- packing up camp
- finding food
- riding
- resting
- repeating
Scotland is the perfect place to learn that routine without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
What About the Wind?
This always comes up.
Yes, technically, the prevailing wind in the UK comes from the south-west, and on paper that can make LEJOG look more appealing.
In reality? It’s incredibly variable.
We’ve run trips in both directions, in multiple years, and we’ve never seen a consistent “favourable” wind direction. Some years it helps, some years it doesn’t, and some days it just changes its mind entirely.
Also, and this is important, we’re not riding 120-mile days. Our typical days are around 60–70 miles. A headwind can make a day harder, sure, but it’s very unlikely to stop you finishing a day or finishing the trip altogether.
Wind matters. But it’s nowhere near as decisive as people sometimes think.
Ending at Land’s End Just Makes Sense
Logistically, John O’Groats is much harder to get to than Land’s End.
By starting in JOG, you get the trickiest travel out of the way while you’re still fresh, excited, and full of anticipation. There’s something about standing at the signpost in John O’Groats knowing the journey is about to begin that just feels right.
Ending at Land’s End also avoids the scenario no one enjoys: finishing an epic ride, completely exhausted, and then facing a complicated journey home from the far north of Scotland. Being able to roll into Land’s End and then head straight to Penzance, with a direct train route out, makes the journey home far simpler and far more appealing.
We always help riders with travel planning, both at the start and the end, but from experience, finishing at Land’s End is simply easier.
A Proper Reset Before the Final Challenge of JOGLE
Rather than sitting neatly in the middle of the route, our rest day in Bath comes at exactly the right moment, just before the final three days through Dartmoor and Cornwall, which are some of the toughest of the entire journey.
After nearly two weeks of riding, Bath gives everyone a chance to properly reset. We take a full day off the road and spend time riding adapted bikes with the local MS community, something that’s relaxed, fun, and a powerful reminder of why we’re all there in the first place.
Physically, it allows bodies to recover before the steep climbs and constant rolling terrain of the south west. Mentally, it gives riders space to pause, reflect, and regroup. By the time we roll out again, people feel rested, re-focused, and ready to take on Dartmoor and Cornwall as a final challenge rather than something to fear.
Saving the Highlands for When You’re Fresh
The Scottish Highlands deserve to be enjoyed, not endured.
Starting in the north means you experience some of the most dramatic landscapes of the entire route while you’re still curious, alert, and taking everything in. Long views, quiet roads, and that feeling of being properly away from it all.
It sets the tone for the journey ahead.
So, Why JOGLE?
For us, returning to John O’Groats to Land’s End feels like coming back to what works best.
It builds confidence gradually.
It makes the toughest terrain more manageable.
It creates a better physical and mental progression.
It simplifies travel.
And it delivers a journey that feels complete.
For anyone considering cycling JOGLE, these things really matter. LEJOG will always have its place, but for our riders, our route, and the experience we want to create, JOGLE just makes more sense.
If you’re curious about riding end to end with us, or want to chat through whether JOGLE is right for you, we’re always happy to talk it through. Sometimes the direction you ride really does change the whole experience.
And for us, north to south feels like home.
