Andrew Robertson
Andys over the hill Lands End to John O Groats Run
Fundraising for The Charlie & Carter Foundation
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page,
Hello everyone, just a update from last year pre covid.
You Amazing people donated well over 5000 pounds to my challenge and to the fantastic people at the CCF.
As you're all aware, covid stopped the LEJOG in its tracks,but now with 5 months to go its back on course and so am I.
I will be using a bivvi/one man tent and lightweight sleeping system so if local lockdowns impact accommodation I can still carry on running.
due to a huge devastating impact covid has had on so many people and so many small charities incomes I've moved the target to 10000 pounds now.
Thankyou for everyones continued support and best wishes,let's make 2021 a year to remember not try and forget like 2020.
Hi and a huge thanks for taking a peek at the page, right here goes .As some of my friends know I've ran a few long distance ultra marathons over the past few years and have a passion for running and all things nuts really.
This has been an itch I've struggled to scratch for 5 plus years now, and always the same thoughts spring to mind can I manage ? can it be done by an average Joe and not the super elite level athletes ?. And its always the same answer I come back with, WHY NOT ?
So as my 40th year is approaching yes I know most of you have just re-clicked on my profile picture again and are thinking that's a typo he can't possibly be nowhere near 40, alas it is true ha ha. With the help from other work colleagues I have managed to get enough leave boxed together and have had that very awkward chat with my wife , so in my best possible American accent its GAME ON !
On April 16th 2020 (my actual birthday) starting at lands end I will attempt to run the End to End trail route to John o Groats , which measures approximately 1211 miles and 123,000 ft of elevation of off-road, muddy hilly running and to average 40 miles per day.
As I have done in the past I will be fund raising as much money, awareness and support as I possibly can for the CHARLIE & CARTER FOUNDATION. An amazing charity who offer financial aid to families caring for children with life limiting illnesses, they need our help so if you can please make a donation it would be greatly appreciated .
I'm estimating it will take 31 days consecutively if no rest days are taken or needed ,but that will have to be a fluid schedule depending on fatigue levels hopefully no Injuries and will more than likely change daily. This will be a part self supported and part supported attempt and will rely on my organisational skills and planning but mainly on the kindness of others to offer a hot meal or a bed for the night, or a shed or a barn etc….
What is the end to end trail ?
The End to End Trail is a 1211 mile off-road walking route
from Land's End at the tip of Cornwall to John O'Groats at the tip of Caithness in the north of Scotland ,utilising hills , mountains and open moorland wherever possible.
The route is an unofficial one, so it isn't waymarked on the ground all the way, although it follows parts of a number of shorter waymarked routes.
Section 1: Land's End to Barnstaple
The first section follows the spectacular northwest coast of Cornwall and Devon all the way. Most of it is on the South West Coastal Path, which is a waymarked National Trail.
Section 2: Barnstaple to Knighton (Welsh borders)
The route leaves the coast at Barnstaple and crosses Exmoor, the Quantocks and the Mendips hills to skirt Bristol and reach the M42 bridge over the Severn Estuary.
Across the bridge it picks up the Offa's Dyke Path, another waymarked National Trail that forms a land border between England and Wales, and follows it up the Wye valley and over the Black Mountains range to Knighton, halfway up the Offa's Dyke Path.
Section 3: Knighton to Hebden Bridge (West Yorkshire)
From Knighton the Trail heads northeast through the Shropshire hills to cross the Severn River again at
Ironbridge. It then continues in a more easterly direction into Staffordshire, joining the Staffordshire Way and following it across Cannock Chase and north towards the Peak District.
It crosses the Peak district along limestone valleys and gritstones edges on the line of the Alternative Pennine Way to reach Hebden Bridge in the Calder Valley.
Section 4: Hebden Bridge to Jedburgh (Scottish borders)
Just north of Hebden Bridge the Trail joins the Pennine Way, following it as far as the Scottish border in the Cheviot Hills.
It then makes a beeline for Jedburgh,following Dere Street, a Roman road.
Section 5: Jedburgh to Fort William
The route crosses the Southern Uplands via Melrose, Peebles and West Linton to join the Union Canal west of Edinburgh. It follows the Union Canal to Falkirk, then the Forth and Clyde Canal most of the way to Glasgow, leaving it for a disused railway track which is eventually joined by the West Highland Way.
The Trail now follows the West Highland Way along
Loch Lomond, along the edge of Rannoch Moor, and past the foot of Ben Nevis to reach Fort William.
Section 6: Fort William to John O'Groats
Initially this stage follows the Caledonian Canal to the northeast along the Great Glen, before cutting north into wilder areas of the Highlands. The route visits Glen Garry, Strath Cluanie, the head of Glen Affric, the tremendous Falls of Glomach and Kinlochewe, to reach the head of Loch Broom on the west coast.
From here the direction changes to northeast, crossing wild and remote country to Oykel Bridge, round the northwest end of Loch Shin, then out of the mountains to the lower moorland around the Helmsdale and Thurso valleys.
The last few miles follow the cliffs of the east coast to Duncansby Head and John O'Groats and to end of my journey.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, any help will be greatly appreciated by both the Charlie & Carter foundation and myself.
Thanks Andy :)