Walking Lands End to John O' Groats - End to End Trail
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2021
- My Lands End to John O' Groats walk. I hiked 1213 miles following the end to end trail. Wild camping along the way.
Including
South West Coast Path
Offa's Dyke
Pennine Way
West Highland Way
Cape Wrath Trail
Starting from one Celtic nation and ending in the other 🟰🟰🏴♥️
Bravo Dexter. I am slowly walking around the coast of Britain (done Barnstaple in North Devon to Scarborough in North Yorkshire so far). It's pretty amazing and I highly recommend it if you're looking for an even bigger project!
Sounds epic, how did it go? Or are you still going?
Thank you Dexter for filming this and editing it into a very watchable video. It really captures what the trip was like .
Amazing video mate. Proper brought back all the memories of the first 3 weeks.
Brilliant adventure very well documented
This looked like an epic journey!!
I'm planning on doing it from the end of July. I can't wait.
Thanks for sharing the adventure
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your adventure. 🙏
Thanks for watching mate. It truly was the adventure of a lifetime. 🙌
Amazing work dude what an adventure!
Congratulations, and a great film too.
Thanks. 🌞⛺🌄❤
Really appreciated Dave 🙏👍
Brilliant film. The minimal narration really created a vibe. Loved it.
Thanks for watching mate and I really appreciate the kind words! This was such an adventure and I would love to do another big adventure soon!
Wonderful video, great filming! really feeling the wanderlust here! Cheers
Thanks so much for the kind words. I hope you manage to get out on some kind of adventure soooon
Great film brought back so many memories for me from a few years back. 😁
Absolutely loved it dude, you really captured the vibe of the journey. Lookforward to seeing how ya get on woth the swcp. Keep crushing n lookforward to our trails crossing again soon 🤙
Was a pleasure man. I'm gonna keep hiking after the SWCP so letssss do it. Cambrian way late summer / early autumn sounds like a plan to me.
Enjoyed watching this Dex you had a great adventure. Take care cheers Karl 🤘🤘🤘
Thanks for watching mate 🙏 yeah it was a big one!
Cracking video mate, what an adventure! 😀
Thanks for watching Richard, really appreciate it mate 🙏
Wow what a great watch thank you
Really enjoyed this Dexter. Fair play mate.
What a fantastic little film really enjoyed it and even a nice visit to shenaval a place I've stayed a few times years ago thanks
Thanks so much Kevin 🙏 glad you enjoyed it.
Really looking forward to seeing this.
Loved your video, you caught the spirit of the walk so well. I am at Alston in Cumbria on my LEJOG. You have inspired me even more to keep going. Also I am a fan of Z Pack tents and I have the duplex which is performing so well. Great video, thank you
Thanks so much for the kind words John. You've made it so far and you definitely have the best scenary to come. Keep at it mate and congrats for making it so far.
How did you get on? Did you make it? 👍
Epic! Lovely little film that🤙
Thanks so much Jason. Cheers for checking it out. 🙏
Hi Dexter, great video,I just keep watching it over.
Hey John, this is so awesome. It really means a lot to me that you've been enjoying the video. Thank you!!!
Very much enjoyed....thanks for sharing😊....weldone...
Wow,, really inspirational,, amazing going ,, look forward to more atb mike
Thanks Mike 🙏
easy to watch!
Epic walk, Inspiring!
you got nice charisma!
very respectful !!!
P.S. i like the music, really suits footage.
Wow thanks for the kind words mate. So happy you enjoyed it. Got a video of my southwest coast path hike coming up very soon!
This is awesome!
Easily the best ldw video I've ever seen. Brilliant.
Wow, thank you Brendan 🙏
brilliant video mate. I'd love to go on this adventure.
Great stuff Dexter. The 'crazy' night made me smile. One for your memory box hey?
Awesome Dexter what an adventure was a pleasure following you along 😀 atb daz
Thanks so much Daz 🤘🙏
Lovely stuff 👏👏👏
Thanks for watching James really appreciated 🤘
Well done what an adventure 👍
Thanks for watching Dominic 🙏
@@easydexter what time of year did you start this? And thanks for my atom you just sent out 👍
@@dominiccox330 Hey mate! Hope you enjoy the pack. I started April 20. We had a few cold nights but nothing too bad!
Great video buddy. Setting off myself in 5 months. Slightly different as I'll be dragging a van tyre.😀
It,s a good life” Yes Indeed..
Haha absolutely Edward. Love that's the one thing that stuck with you from this. Important words. 🙏
This is incredible.
I have a million questions.
Hey Nath, send me a private message on Instagram, would be happy to answer any questions about hiking!
legend
Haha cheers buddy 😂
That is some achievement to walk it in that time, well done, did you use the lightweight gear as of the load out with all British gear.
Thanks so much Paul. Yup I used the gear from that video - only big change was switching to a tent for Scotland - but used the tarp till aboot half way!
Well done! Just a quick question, I'm after a new lightweight waterproof jacket and I was thinking of the omm but I notice that you replace it halfway through, I'm taking it didn't hold up well?
Cheers for watching mate!
Haha the OMM halo jacket was a pile of shite. I was really disappointed with the tear resistance - one slight snag and the whole hood was ripped in half. This happened on day one! Also it didn’t really like the rain - anything heavy and the waterproof layer started to come off on the inside in little white dots that annoyingly went all over me. It’s a big no from me on that one mate!
Cheers for the heads up, I will save my money and get the enlightenment equipment jacket I think. I have just ordered the duplex and the 35l atom so I'm slowly becoming one of the cool kids.
@@dalefalgate2716 you’ve made some very sensible choices there bud. Duplex is the best 2 person tent available. And I wouldn’t even consider another pack, my atom is as good as the day I got it 2 years ago and after 1500+ miles.
Ace! I'm glad as its a lot of money too me. Just hope I can fit the duplex and my cumulus 450 in the 35l pack, worry I'm ambitious
Hi Dexter, did you use the hiker app through the whole journey? And also did you carry physical maps aswell? Starting this on the 25th of April very exited by your video
Hey Elliot, ah jealous man, what a journey you have ahead. I used Hiiker for 95% of my navigation. I used Harvey maps on Cape Wrath. Let me know how you get on!
@@easydexter ahh brilliant as I ha ent actually acquired any as was hoping to make do with the hiiker app and the cicerone book, I’ll grab that map though if you recommend it!
Hey @easydexter, did you have much choice on your start time? I am thinking of doing it this year but am still working out what time of year would be best for me. I also have a solo tarp set-up and don't have an enclosed tent at the moment. Would that be a problem on any particular part of the trail? Midges in Scotland come to mind!!!
Hey Chris thanks so much for the comment. I started in April as the group just wanted to get started, but I would recommend starting mid May onwards if possible. We had some cold nights. You’ll definitely need some insect protection if you’re in Scotland during the summer, I switched to a proper tent as was very thankful for that!
@@easydexter, nice one. I assumed that was how you approached it. Well done to all of you.
Fair play mate, I'm building up the courage to try next year
Good on you Craig! Let me know if i can do anything to help you prepare!
@@easydexter wow! Appreciate that, I'm gonna get a few mini hikes in before then to get everything in order.
Just laid out for new kit, this is happening!
Hello again dude, a quick question if I may? If I was to take a trekking trolley, across a similar route to yourselves, how much do you reckon I would need to carry it? 50% of the time? Rarely? All the time? There's a reason I want one.
Hey Dexter, with all the wild camping how much did you spend on trail/ prep end to end?
Thanks Sam
Hey Sam, I'm not totally if I've got the questions right, so correct me if I'm wrong. But you're asking how much time did I spend hiking compared to camping / running errands etc?
It varied so much day to day. I personally don't like to spend too much time in camp when wildcamping. I'd be gone be on trail on average around 6:30. And I'd probably hike till around 20:00 and set up camp as its getting dark. A couple of days a week I will probably spend some extra time in town in a cafe eating food and recharging my electronics. Its hard to put an exact number on it. Cafes were probably the one big loss of time for me.
I didn't really plan anything though. I didn't even know how far I was gonna walk on day 1 or where my first resupply would be.
Thanks mate really appreciate it!
Your Videos and Stories really make my thinking about come to the Uk for some hikes. Which part of the whole trail would you recommend if there is only time for one trail? Which one is most beautiful? :-)
Hey Carry thanks so much for your comments. We have some amazing scenery in the UK. Scotland is definitely my favourite part for scenery. If you are looking for something easy to follow and social go for the west highland way. If you are looking for something more dramatic, challenging and remote go for the cape wrath trail. Or if you are looking for something quite big you could link both those trails together!
@@easydexter Thanks Dexter. :-) West Highland Way sounds great.
I'll be leaving Lands End in just over a month. Great video. It's got (to my eyes anyway) a kind of 1970s look and feel. Did you do anything to the video to give it that look or am I just imagining it.
Hey Seamus, good luck on your LEJOG. You'll love it! Haha I added a bit of colour and grain in post - mainly to cover up the fact I filmed it all on my phone but I do enjoy the film look!
Hi Dexter, congratulations ,looks like quite a mission :)
Would like to do it too maybe, with some variations going through wales, do you know if there is a free GPX file to this trail, tried the hiiker app but you need a subscription and I already use plenty of different hiking apps?
Amazing video. I'm trying to choose a quilt for my LEJOG and see you had the 5C - did you ever wish you had something warmer (or colder)?
Cheers
Haha YES definitely I was cold on quite a few nights during April. The 3mm pad didn't help. We had quite a few unseasonably cold nights hovering around freezing. I actually ended up adding an extra fleece for a little while. If we had started 3 or 4 weeks later I would have been more than happy with that quilt though. It was perfect for the summer months.
@@easydexter Iiinteresting, April feels so long ago I'd forgotten how cold it can be so I had been more concerned about the end of the trail. Part of me is thinking I'll do the same and add layers as needs me and part of me just wants the extra coziness hahah. I guess with an inflatable mat it would probably be fine anyway.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Have you got a large-scale version of your route map available anywhere? I'd like to trace your route through the Highlands. I was thinking of cutting across along the affic Kintail way (ish) but from the looks of the tiny map on your thumbnail you went W->E across the Highlands much further north.
Hey Rob, I followed the End to End trail by cerecone - there is a guide book or you can find the route on the Hiiker app. The last part after leaving the Cape Wrath wasn't my favourite part TBH.
@@easydexter just windfarms, bogs and underwhelming hills I imagine?!
@@HMSindistinguishable haha its like you were there with me! Also lots of land owners who don't seem to accept the right to roam.
@@easydexterout of curiosity, knowing what you know now about that section, would you still have done it, if not what would you have done instead? I've been trying to do Lejog this year but had so much sickness I've had to return home 3 times. I'm weighing up whether the Highlands are worth it, especially as it becomes a physical push once I hit 16 miles for some unfathomable reason lol
Hi Dexter. That's a really brilliant vlog. I like your style!! I've been planning the same walk for the last two years since my retirement but postponed because of lockdown etc. I notice you walked April to June. I'm also planning to start April but not planning to cover the distance per day that you did. Were you pleased with that choice of start date or would you change anything if you were to advise me?
Thanks for watching David, really appreciate the kind words. I started April 20th and I was mostly really happy with that. The South West coast was wonderfully quiet at that time of year. I had a couple of chilly nights but nothing too bad. Hitting Scotland in the middle of summer I was terrified about the midges but having experienced them before I came prepared - thankfully they weren’t so bad either, perhaps due to the slightly chilly spring. Stick with an April start mate, you’ll love it.
Great video. Planning to do a scilly isles to Shetland walk once my daughter goes to uni and I'm off dad duty. Videos like this beckon me to go! Your route seems similar to the one I would take. Did you go up Cape wrath trail?
Cheers Rob, appreciate you watching the video. Yeah this route did about 75% of the Eastern Cape Wrath route. Going back and doing the more western route is definitely near the top of my list. Loved it up there so much. Get out and do your Scillly Isles Route mate you won't regret it!
@@easydexter cool. Did you make hot food when you were wild camping? I didn't see a gas stove in your equipment video.
@@HMSindistinguishable Rob I didn't carry a stove with me on this trip. I either ate food that didn't need cooking or I cold soaked (soaking noodles, freeze dried meals etc in cold water till they rehydrate and eating cold) it's not for everyone but I liked it for the simplicity.
@@easydexter wow! Living on cold food in the Highlands! Hard-core. Keeps weight down though I guess.
Great stuff, Dexter! Are you going to do any kind of post-trip gear review?
Hey Jack, I probably won't be posting any gear reviews on this channel. I think gear preferences are soooo personal and the items I like probably won't work for 90% of hikers. But if you have any specific questions I'd be happy to speak with you directly about any of my gear.
@@easydexter Definitely a fair point! Was really interested in how you got on with your tarp. Looked like it shed some pretty heavy rain, comfortable enough? Cheers
@@Jack-sl5lj yeah the tarp worked out great mate. The rain isn't really a problem, I had some really heavy rain on this trip and there was always enough space under my tarp to stay dry. Its actually kinda fun having the rain be just there and being completely dry! The bigger problem is when it's rainy and windy at the same time - and I had plenty of that too - that is when campsite selection is all important you absolutely need to find shelter either in some woodland or behind a wall or something - getting that wrong could end in a very wet night. I'd recommend getting a cheap tarp (before getting something like DCF) and trying it out on a weekend trip as there is a definite learning curve and it's not for everyone. But it's a pretty cool experience being so immersed in nature like that. I love it. Note I did use a tent in Scotland because I'm scared of midges!
@@easydexter Cheers! I use a tarptent atm, but wouldn't mind the potential weight saving, particularly when a bug bivvy isn't required. Definitely something to think about
@@Jack-sl5lj completely agree with you there mate. I’ve tried a couple of bivvys and they are a pain the arse. Not worth the hassle when a lightweight tent weighs almost the same, plus they completely ruin the thing that is great about tarping, the openness! My tarp is about 200 grams.
What did you use to navigate LEJOG?
Hey Ryan. I downloaded the maps and route on an app called Hiiker. Would highly recommend it. I also carried paper Harvey maps for the Cape Wrath Trail section as I knew navigation was going to be a little more serious with less opportunities to charge the phone.
What a amazing hike, well done 👏 may I ask how you had taken care of your feet along the way? You got a new sub from me.
Thanks so much Sammy. I've been really lucky and not had many problems with my feet, especially considering my shocking footcare routine. I mean I take my socks off at lunch on nice days but other than that... I just have one pair of socks for hiking that I wash in streams every couple of days. When they are drying I hike sockless. I think the best thing I did was find comfortable footware. I wore trail running shoes the whole time and I only got one blister on this and the SWCP combined (1800 miles)
Sorry I couldn't be of more help! Thanks again for the sub! 🙏
@@easydexter thank you for the info, I am going to rethink my footwear for hiking as I get blisters very easily, I did 25 miles over the weekend and my boots had broken my feet.
@@sammyslavvu1981 25 miles is good going mate, but yeah my opinion is most people with healthy ankles will benefit massively by switching to something lighter and more flexible than boots. Especially when trying to do big miles! I use Innov8 G270s at the moment but I hiked the first section of LEJOG in Altras!
@@easydexter amazing I will be sure to check them out 😀
Well done Dexter, I did LEJOG in 2018. PS Did you managed to get a ticket to Cape Wrath? lol
Hey Andy, always love hearing from other LeJoggers! Haha I'm still mortified about that moment, I was so sure that was another LEJOG hiker Lee!
How often did you take rest days?
Roughly about one full day off every two weeks, and I would usually follow that with a late start the next day. I had 5 days off in total over 8 weeks.
Can i ask what month you started your walk?
April 20th we started. I would probably recommend starting a little later for most people as we had some really cold nights the first couple of weeks. I think early May would be perfect!
@@easydexter - Thanks, Much appreciated!!.... i wasnt sure when to start as i also want to avoid the dreaded midge on the CWT later? How did you find it?
Just woken up to your channel. I love your approach to hiking as I'm trying to go lighter...
2 quick questions:
1. What tent did you switch to? I can't seem to find a reference to it - sorry if I missed it.
2. Your OMM rain jacket failed. Did you change it (you were wearing a yellow one nearer the end)? What lightweight rain shell do you recommend now?
Rgds
Imran
Hi again Imran, thanks so much for checking out the videos. I used a Zpacks altaplex which is imported from the US and kind of expensive but worth it if you do a lot of walking. The yellow rain coat is a Frogg Toggs ultralight 2. These are kind of fragile but they only cost 25 quid on amazon and they are just as good as more expensive jackets.
Thanks for all your answers. Power to your elbow for all future missions :)
Hi mate, I'm thinking of does this this summer. How would I be able to contact you directly? I obviously need advice on the things I need how much money etc.
Did you ever get into trouble for wild camping?
Nope not yet, but I am very careful and (in my opinion) respectful. I try to pick spots that are hidden from view. I avoid farmland and livestock. I pitch very late and leave very early. I leave no trace. If I ever get asked to leave I will apologise and do so with no fuss, but thankfully sticking to my above rules that hasn't happened yet.
@@easydexter thanks! Good luck with everything!
Km??????,
The route was 1952km if that's what you are asking.
Don’t believe he walked all that way. I’ve walked 38 miles in one day & that was along roads, some 10 hours walking.
My legs were so sore, & my feet were so sore.
I just don’t believe they did what they say. I believe they did walk for miles. But what you must understand is simply just walking south doesn’t cut it, one would have to cross rivers, valleys & private land to walk this distance in a efficient way. & I just don’t believe this sorry.
They paint the video like they had the time of their life’s, yet it would be miserable with the British weather.
Music spoils it mate
No one likes a negative nacy mate.
good show - good average and a fine film
Haha good comment Richard 😆
@@easydexter i just watched your SWCP film - v good and v honest. its a surprisingly gnarly beast isn't it - that's one you want to avoid in the winter!