End to End - Lands End to O'Groats on Foot, Route planned on Bing's Free Ordnance Survey Maps

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Possible route from Lands End to O'Groats on Foot. Just spent the last three days plotting it across Bings Ordnance Survey Maps- did you know they had them free across the whole of England!!!! This has definitely earned them my love.
Does anyone know an easy way to avoid trudging up the A roads at the end? I'm trying to navigate a different route but I suspect it'll be me lost in moor land swearing and daydreaming about passing cars and tarmac. 
  Over the next few weeks I'll be breaking down the walk into smaller sections and playing around with possible alternatives but I wanted to get a better idea of the distances and terrain first. Boy is it daunting. Any advice PLEASE email.

  Route tracked a mixture of Andy Robinson's route in 'The End to End Trail' (books bloody heavy, no way I'd carry that with me and the maps are a little confusing but it is helpful) and  'When I Walk, I Bounce: Walking from Land's End to John o'Groats ' by Mark Maxon (personal account of the walk, not guide, but funny and engaging)

This route partly goes along the following National Trails:

South West Coastal Path
Offa's Dyke Path
Pennine Way
West Highland Way
Great Glenn Trail 

I've partly chosen it because it covers half of Offa's Dyke instead of remaining more central and walking up the Cotswold Way. I've done the majority of the Cotswold Way already and find open moors more more appealing than a long stream of golf courses.

DISCLAIMER - other peoples routes and I've yet to walk them. All this is is a very carefully plotted trail based on their instructions.

50 Miles Along the Cotswold Way

Day 1- Chipping Campden to Hailes (16 Miles)

 
  I'd stayed in Stratford-upon-Avon last night, in a hostel, worrying about this morning. The hour it had taken me to walk between the center of town and the hostel has pulled something in my back. Such a wimp so early in the walk. Then next day I wondered back into town, caught a bus and made my way to Chipping Campden and the start of the Cotswold Way. 
  I passed through Chipping Campden quickly, patting the sign on the Town Hall which marks the beginning or the end of the hike. The town is dates back to the 14th 15th Century, the home of the successful wool merchant William Grevel. Rather fitting for me, an artist, that I set off from a town where Arts and Crafts helped save this town from decline after years of agricultural doldrums.The gravel path rises up into the hills, past a farm or two and towards Dover's Hillat 225 Meters.
  The land here seems straight from Milton's Jerusalem Hymn by William Blake:

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen? 

  

 Approaching Broadway Tower

  The climb, quite gentle in nature, takes you up to Broadway Tower, a very fine looking building from 1799 for Lady Coventry by the 6th Earl of Coventry. Its on Beacon Hill 312 Miles above sea level and the second highest point on the Cotswold Way. Its then straight down over farm fields to Broadway. Broadway is a lovely town, bustling with people and little privately owned cafes. I stopped and bought myself an orange, found a bench and stopped for lunch. A perched pigeon promptly pooed on my brand new shorts on the branch above.

 

  I met another hiker later on that day and attempting to match his pace we walked together the rest of the way indulging in a quite wonderfully nerdy debate on equipment, walking boots and other walks we'd been on. I know no other hikers and been able to go on like this was quite a treat. He was a much more experienced hiker, on his way to completing all the national trails in England. Not that I'd confess it out loud but I was walking faster than I had before and I felt it the next day. I got into camp so much earlier though and lay around reading and eating grapes that I'd bought from farm shop, resting my limbs and enjoying the unexpected warm of the Spring sun. 

 

Gear Review - Scarpa Ranger II ActTX Womens Walking Boots

 Bought - May 2013 

Distance - 300 Miles

 Price - 160.00

  Shoe Size - 7 

PROS

  As advertised they are waterproof and insulating, protecting you from the path with impressively thick and hard soles. These boots are hard and built to last. They look like they've been taken a strolls over the fields not 300 miles over moor land, through marshlands and gravel lanes and roads. Scarpa boots are designed to survive pretty much everything. The only problem is my feet might not survive them over the course of another walk.



 CONS

    I bought these in preparation for the Pennine Way. They are heavy boots, the ankles cushioned and very well padded fixing your foot in place. They advertise that "Auto-fit foam inserts in heel area provide perfect foot hold and increased comfort" and for the first twenty miles this is fine, and while they aren't as cushy as they appear in the shop they seem fit for the job. By the fortieth mile however things go down hill. First its important to note that I have wide feet and not dainty skinny ankles. I suspect shoes are like a kiss and its not about how skilled one person is but how they fit together. These boots and I were never meant to be. For the entire Pennine Way, 250 Miles, they game me hell blistered my left heel and compressed it so that it could hardly carry any weight. I only carried on my heavily plastering it and wearing a supportive bandage. I assumed I'd just not broken them in enough, that my feet had just not hardened to the trail, but since then I've come to realize that it wasn't me it what the boots. On the Cotswold Way, a 100 mile walk, they'd given me five blisters on one foot and three on the other by the second day, and soon after my heel began to hurt for the first time since the Pennines. I've concluded that the constraints around the heel compressed my ankle too much, as my feet were simply too wide. Even if they did fit well its also worth noting just how heavy these boots are, and once they're wet they drag.

Upper Material:	Leather
Waterproof:	Yes
Waterproof Technology:	GORE-TEX®
Height:	Boot Cut
Insole:	Viscoflex Activ fit insole with memory foam
Midsole:	Hi-Flex
Sole Type:	Vibram®
Stiffness:	Soft, for low level walks on defined trials
Lacing Type:	Standard Lace Up
Boot Grade:	B0 - not suitable for crampons
Ideal Crampon Rating:	Not Crampon Compatible

 
CONCLUSION

   I wouldn't buy another Scarpa boot. In fact I took quite a lot of pleasure in selling them on ebay and using the money to buy myself a forty pound pair of Trespass walking boots. These Trespass boots are light, waterproof and an instant match. I took them on a thirty mile hike and didn't get a single blister. I hated how heavy Scarpa boots were, hated putting them on in the morning and there are simply not enough plasters in the world to make them comfortable.

Gear Review - Black Diamond Trail Women's Trekking Poles - Pair

Last day on the Pennine Way, England, during a 28 Mile stint 2013

Bought: November 2012

Miles Covered: 500+ Miles
My height: 5 foot 5  

My Weight : 15 Stone + backpack

• 3-section poles provide patented FlickLock adjustability and solid, slip-free security
• Simply flick the lock open, set the length and flick the lock closed—a quick, tight, and easily accomplished task, even with gloved hands
• Soft, dual-density foam grips and extensions have padded wrist straps for security
• Poles extend from 23 to 49 in.
• The Black Diamond Trail trekking poles include low profile baskets for general use and powder baskets for use in the snow

 I found the straps annoying so chopped them off in a fit of ultra-lite hiking verve. Apart from that there's nothing negative to say about them, they support my weight reliably and have never let me down. I'm quite a heavy girl, especially while carrying a backpack and not once did the extensions collapse on themselves and I've barely walked a mile without their help. On a number of occasions I've nearly fallen and placed all my weight on one of them, they bent slightly but held. The handles allow you to grip securely and in varied grips while the textured foam handles prevent you from slipping from sweat.The heights are easily adjustable and show no sign of failing, and make it easy to pack them away once they've been used.There is no shock absorption but I've never felt jarred by them, perhaps this would not be the case if I were walking a long distance on tarmac or concrete.
   I bought these poles because a shop keeper had told me they'd be needed in the Blue Mountains. Before I used them I suspected they were either for the wimpy of elderly but not strong hikers such as I'd be...eventually. Within half an hour of been dropped off on Morton Island I'd changed my mind and relied on them on every hike since in England and Australia. They are essential when crossing difficult or slippy land, they are also very useful in relieving you of some of the weight of the rucksack. They can pull you up a hill and assist when your trying to descend one safely. More that that, when your in Australia or anywhere else that's inhabited with poisonous snakes, they provide a barrier and protected obstruction which might make all the difference on either side of your legs.As for picking up a stick from the bush instead...why would you when both poles together weight only 1oz and can be packed away when not needed?

Descending down into the valley in the Blue Mountains 2013

Specification	Description
Best use	Hiking
Shaft material	Aluminum
Grip material	Foam
Adjustable	Yes
Maximum length (in.)	49 inches
Minimum length (in.)	23 inches
Maximum length (cm)	125 centimeters
Minimum length (cm)	59 centimeters
Locking mechanism	External lever lock
Shock absorbing	No
Camera mount	No
Weight per pair	1 lb. 1 oz.
Gender	Women's

Crossing a shallow creeks in the Australian bush 2012

 

Gear Review - BlackWolf Mantis 1 Person Hiking Adventure Tent

On the first campsite along the 6 Foot Track in the Blue Mountains, Australia 2013

Tent in the middle of the Australian Outback, along the Sunshine Hinterland 2012

The Lizard, Cornwall, England 2013

RRP $269.00

Sleeps: 1
Dimensions: 255 x 220 x 80cm
Weight: 1.9kg
Floor: Polyester 5000 PU coating
Fly: Ripstop polyester 3000mm water column
Poles: (2) 8.5mm premium T6 alloy 

Features:

• 2-pole tapered rectangular design
• Spacious & lightweight
• Dual side entry
• Dual side vestibules
• Gear hammock
• Head & foot vents
• 4 guy rope points
• Ring ‘n’ pin colour-coded flexi poles
• Heat taped seams
• Waterproofpacked size 40cm x Φ15 cm  

Bought: November 2012

Miles Covered: 500+ Miles
Height: 5 foot 5 

Tan Hill, Along the Pennine Way, England 2013

I bought this as my first hiking tent while I was in Australia - since then its sheltered me along the Sunshine Hinterland Great walk (four night- 60 odd kms), Great Ocean Road (six days 100kms), Six Foot Track (3 days 40 odd kms), and god knows how many weekend exertions- one during the floods. Now I'm back from Australia it has braved the considerably less mild weather of rainy England where I've walked the Pennine Way (450 plus kilometers over 15 days along the spine of England into Scotland)- during this trip it rained the majority of the time but sleeping in this tent meant a snug and dry sleep every night no matter what. I've bought a few sets of new tent pegs for it, but other than that it is barely marked. Considering its been put up and taking down every day, stuffed wet back into the rucksack, rolled quickly and badly in winds, and all in all treated quite roughly,  the fact that its in such good order is a testament to just how high quality this tent it. Other basic points- the porch space is very spacious, ventilation is great and although condensation collects on the inside of the tent the material dries very quickly, strong in high winds, no problems with the zips, packs up into a great size, and has WONDERFUL tent poles that seem to magnetically connect together and can almost be flicked into place with your wrist. No sign of the string joining the tent poles snapping. Its quick to assemble if slightly tricky to put up in rain, not high enough to sit up in but material does give a little so that you can move around happily. Be aware that I am a medium to short woman, and a tall man might find this tent somewhat short: my feet do touch the roof but that's because I like plenty of space above my head. As I said this is my first hiking tent so I'm no expert but I can say its been superb every time I've put it up, its durable and has survived me which is something that few other things have managed.  When my friend asked to borrow it I felt she'd asked for my child. I have absolutely no qualms in recommending this tent, its worth every penny been charged.

Devil's Kitchen Campsite along the Great Ocean Walk, Australia 2013

Mankinhole, 3rd Day of the Pennine Way, England

Flaxton Camp Ground, Queensland