THE ROUTE.

LEG 1: Wembley, London - Chippenham

Description:

This is a 87.48 mi route dropping south from Wembley before picking up the A4 Bath Road westbound, skirting Windsor and Eton before rejoining the A4 before Reading and following it all the way to Chippenham. With a total ascent of 1,361.55 ft and maximum elevation of 669.29 ft.

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LEG 2: Chippenham - Cardiff - Swansea

Description:

This is a 107.33 mi route from Chippenham over the Severn Bridge to pick up the A48 to Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend and then along the Gower to Swansea (more specifically Andy's house - who has kindly offered to put me up). With a total ascent of 2,798.56 ft and maximum elevation of 590.55 ft meaning a lot of ups and downs.

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LEG 3: Swansea - Llanelli - Fishguard

Description:

This is a 70.49 mi route from Swansea to Fishguard via Llanelli, Camarthern and Haverford West along the A40 for the most part. With a total ascent of 2,824.8 ft and maximum elevation of 649.61 ft.

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LEG 4: Fishguard - Rosslare, Ireland

Description:

Day 4 provides a bit of respite with me catching the 1430 StenaLine ferry to Rosslare Harbour on the south-west corner of the Republic of Ireland. This is where it gets all international and is the only reason for me lugging my passport 700 miles on my bike!

LEG 5: Rosslare - Dublin

Description:

This is a 102.29 mi route Rosslare along the east coast via Wexford, Gorey, Arklow, Wicklow, Greystones and Bray finishing in Dublin. With a total ascent of 1,873.00 ft and maximum elevation of 420.00 ft. This promises some spectacular scenery skirting the edge of the Wicklow Mountains and is likely to be the most difficult leg of the route due to the number of miles, new territory and the navigational aspect involved in getting from A to B.

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LEG 6: Dublin - Rostrevor

Description:

This is a 75.93 mi route from Smithfield Square in Dublin to Rostrevor, Northern Ireland. With a total ascent of 2,060.00 ft and maximum elevation of 489.00 ft. Departing Dublin marks what is essentially the beginning of the end, the second half of the route. As with anything, once you know that the finish line is closer than the start it all gets much easier (at least that's the nonsense I'll be telling myself from this point onwards). This leg sees me cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland where I'll be stopping overnight in the Mourne Mountains.

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LEG 7: Rostrevor - Belfast - Cairnryan - Stranraer, Scotland

Description:

This is a 47.75 mi route from Rostrevor to Belfast StenaLine Ferry terminal where I will catch the ferry to Cairnryan, Scotland and make my way south an additional 7 miles  to Stranraer for the penultimate overnight stop. With a total ascent of 1,385.00 ft and maximum elevation of 692.00 ft this on paper is the least challenging day, but with ferry's to catch and the Mournes to negotiate, I'm sure it will prove just as difficult as the other legs. 

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LEG 8: Stranraer - Devel

Description:

This is a 68.03 mi route from Stranraer to Darvel, Ayrshire that skirts Loch Ryan then follows the coastline up to Ayr before heading inland due north west to the town of Darvel. Despite a route along the coast, this leg includes a total ascent of 2,195.00 ft and maximum elevation of 692.00 ft. Let's hope the legs are still functioning by this point!
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LEG 9: Devel - Edinburgh (THE FINAL DAY!!)

Description:

This is a 50.72 mi route from Darvel to the last Capital City: Edinburgh!! It's going to be one final slog to the finish on the outskirts of Edinburgh as I tackle the largest ascents of the trip with some of the most difficult gradients (but on the flip side, there will be a 20 mile descent to the finish - enough to bring a smile to anybody). With a total ascent of 1,512.00 ft and maximum elevation of 928.00 ft this will complete the CCSCC.
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CCSCC Statistics:
Total ascent:     16,009.91 ft
Max elevation:  928.00 ft (the final day)

Total distance:  610.02 mi (plus a few extra for getting lost and finding accommodation)

If you think this sounds easy.....try doing it solo.