Where To Stay Cycling John O’ Groats To Land’s End

Stew and I have cycled John O’Groats to Land’s End twice. The first time, Stew went solo and planned to camp along the way, but found himself in accommodation more often than not.

When we did our 15 day JOGLE we had a strict timeline so we booked our accommodation in advance, and stayed primarily in Airbnbs or guesthouses.

In this article, we’re sharing your accommodation options, our accommodation recommendations, and we’re answering questions we get asked about booking accommodation along your JOGLE cycle.

In this article:

• Accommodation options along JOGLE/LEJOG
• Our JOGLE accommodation recommendations
• Advantages and disadvantages of booking ahead.
• How we planned and booked our accommodation.
• Questions to ask before you book your accommodation.

Accommodation options along JOGLE/LEJOG

In the U.K., you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to your accommodation options. Here I’ve listed each option and expectations.

Warmshowers

We love Warmshowers. When we did our JOGLE, we didn’t actually use it, we hadn’t ‘made friends’ with it at that point, but we’ve used it a tonne of times since!

Warmshowers is basically couch surfing for cycle tourists. You can find hosts who are cycle tourists ready to host you, a fellow cyclist, for free! I’ve gone through the etiquette, costs, and expectations of Warmshowers in our complete guide.

It’s $30 to join now, but you’ll pay at least that to stay anywhere in the U.K., so I highly recommend giving it a go!

As you can see from the map above, there are loads of people ready to host you!

Wild camping and camping

Wild camping rules in England, Scotland and Wales vary so you need to be careful here.

In Scotland, wild camping is mostly legal, but some areas prohibit camping. Thanks to Scotland’s Outdoor Access Code these areas are few and far between.

In England and Wales, wild camping is generally illegal. Most of the land is private and owned, so by rights, you need to seek permission before you camp.

That said, this isn’t true for all of England. You can wild camp legally in parts of Dartmoor National Park.

Where wild camping isn’t allowed, you can find paid-for, generally cheap, wild-camp-esque-parks where you get a wild camp experience. A farmer might allow you to pitch up for as little as £5.

When it comes to camping along your JOGLE, as a cycle tourist, sometimes you get into a problem, and the best thing you can do is pitch a tent.

If you’re carrying a tent, just be smart and thoughtful. Pitch as the sun goes down, get off the road, stay away from busy areas, and make sure that you leave no trace. Or better, pick up some litter and leave the area in a better place than when you found it.

If you’re stealth enough, no one’s going to find you, are they? That’s kinda the goal with wild camping.

Hostels and bunkhouses

Hostels and bunkhouses are likely your cheapest accommodation option along John O’ Groats to Land’s End.

You can book them on websites like booking.com or contact them directly.

A hostel or bunkhouse does not automatically mean you’ll be in a shared dorm, but it might do. Some hostels have private rooms with en suites, so check all your options.

If you’re using dorms, you might want to check if it’s all men or women, or mixed.

Expectations

As a cheap accommodation solution, don’t expect any frills. You’re likely to be in a simple place, with a bed, maybe a kitchen where you can cook a meal. If you’re lucky you’ll get breakfast thrown in, but unlike a B&B it’s not a guarantee.

When booking hostels and bunkhouses, what’s included in the price varies, so do check! Sometimes you need to pay extra for things like linen or towels.

B&B and guesthouses

B&B and Guesthouses are some of my favourite places to stay in the U.K.

B&B stands for bed and breakfast, so if you choose a B&B, you’ll definitely get a breakfast. Generally, in the U.K., this means a good serving of a traditional English breakfast: sausages, eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms etc. Vegetarian options are usually available. If you’re really lucky you’ll get a choice of cereals, too.

To be honest, a Guesthouse is usually the same and B&B and Guesthouse could be used interchangeably, though if you’re staying in a Guesthouse and you want breakfast, double check it’s available.

Both a B&B and a Guesthouse may also offer lunch, packed lunches for the next day, or dinner. You’ll have to ask.

Expectations

Expect a room to yourself with different sleeping options (double bed or single). Generally, B&Bs and Guesthouses are within someone’s home, or an extension of their home.

They’re generally quaint, cute places to stay. There’s something quite wholesome about them.

Airbnb

Airbnb was our preference when we did our JOGLE and we’ve stayed in over 100 Airbnbs around the world.

Airbnb varies a lot. It’s really important that you read the Airbnb listing carefully before you stay. You should also prewarn your host that you’re bringing a bike so you can check there’s a place to store it. There’s a template for this in the final section of this article.

Airbnb accommodations options include a room within someone else’s house, or an entire place to yourself. The rules of each listing are set by the host which is why it depends.

Some hosts might offer a room in their home, plus access to their kitchen. Or, they might offer a room only, no access to the kitchen. Some will let you do laundry, others won’t. Some will provide breakfast, others won’t.

It’s not regulated at all so you’re at the mercy of the host.

If you’re new to Airbnb I recommend choosing a host with good reviews, Airbnb gives the best hosts ‘superhost’ status so you can identify them.

If you’re unsure of anything, you can message your host before you book and I’m sure they’ll be happy to give you.

Hotels

Hotels in the U.K. are the same as they are in any other part of the world. The standard varies.

Generally, we don’t prewarn hotels about the bikes and have always managed to store them either in the parking area or in the hotel itself.

The experience of each hotel will vary but you can check what’s included when you book in.

Our JOGLE accommodation recommendations

Well, when I started writing this I fully intended to share the exact places we stayed in during JOGLE, but the majority of people are no longer hosting. The good news is, one of our most memorable Airbnb experiences was in Tiverton, and they’re still hosting, so I’ve shared their details below.

Some places, like Bath, Hereford, Fort William, Inverness, and more, we know really well so I’ve been able to recommend places we’ve actually stayed in. Otherwise, I’ve done some research to offer at least two accommodation options per place.

For each day I’ve linked to a mini blog I wrote. Follow the link to find a summary of our day, plus the Strava record so you can see if that day might suit you.

Thurso

To get to John O’ Groats you’ll probably take the train to Thurso or Wick. We went to Thurso then cycled from Thurso, to John O’ Groats and back to Thurso where we stayed the night.

We stayed in an Airbnb in Thurso, and it was pretty awful, so I’m glad it’s not available!

Budget option: Sandra’s Backpackers

Sandra’s Backpackers is your best budget option. It’s a fairly typical hostel type accommodation with a kitchen, so you can save money and cook your own meals.

You’ve got the choice of mixed dorms so you’ll be in bunk beds in a room sleeping upto four or six men or women.

You’ll have shared spaces, so the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen will be shared with other guests.

Alternatively, you can opt for your own private room with a private bathroom.

To be honest, when Stew and I stay in a hostel, we nearly always book our own room and private bathroom. We just like our own space. Even with the private room, Sandra’s Backpackers is your cheapest option.

What do guests say?

Generally, guests are happy with Sandra’s Backpackers giving it a 7/10 total rating. Breakfast is generally rated really well with people saying it’s ‘very good’ and has ‘plenty of options’.

People critique the accommodation for this and that, but I went through the reviews and didn’t really find anything worth mentioning. The bottom line is, this is budget accommodation, so don’t expect it to be all frills. It’ll be basic, but everything you need.

Where will your bike be stored?

According to comments from previous guests, those who travel with a bicycle have said they were able to  post their bike bag and drop off panniers before making the ride to John O’ Groats and back. The only other review about bike storage isn’t the most positive as the guest felt the bike storage wasn’t the most secure.

I recommend giving them a call if you’re thinking about booking and ask where the bike will be stored, afterall, we all have different ideas of what’s safe or not.

If we stay in budget accommodation, we just want to fall asleep, and if we get a good breakfast, which you seem to here, we’re happy! One person complained about disruptive guests but said the host handled that well, which I thought was positive.

Accommodation in Thurso: Manor House Hotel

Manor House Hotel is a great option if you’re looking for something a little more upmarket. Breakfast is available at the property for £12/person.

It’s well rated with 8.3/10, and it’s not too far from the train station.

What do guests say?

The review summary is really good for Manor House Hotel. The accommodation scores over 8/10 on everything, an impressive 9.1 for staff, 8.8 for cleanliness and wifi, and 8.7 for comfort. Not bad!

Most people are complimenting the staff and the food. When you’re on a bike tour, food becomes very important; you will be hungry, and you will want good food, so if you can afford to prioritise it, do.

Where will your bike be stored?

According to comments from previous guests, those who travel with a bicycle said their bike was stored ‘somewhere secure’ or ‘stored safely in a shed for me overnight’.

Read our JOGLE cycling adventure from Thurso to John O’Groats and back again.

Lairg

I adored the place we stayed in Lairg; it was just a caravan, but it was so cute. There was a really cute cat, and the host was lovely, and even made us a cottage pie dinner! I wish I could share it with you, but sadly, it’s no longer listed.

Instead, I found two properties for you, but neither is budget. If you’re camping as well as hotels or BnBs, I might recommend a camp for this night.

Cheaper accommodation option: Star Cabin

Star Cabin is your cheapest option, but I wouldn’t call it a budget option. It is cute, though! If Stew and I were riding this route again, we’d definitely stop here or camp.

It is super cute inside, equipped with a private bathroom and even a kitchenette with the essentials such as a microwave, kettle, and toaster. We stayed in a lot of places like this on our cycle tour, and we enjoyed scrambled eggs, done in the microwave, with buttery toast and a cuppa coffee. A perfect start to the day.

What do guests say?

Guests seem really happy with Star Cabin giving it a rating of 8.4/10. Lots of people describe it as ‘cute’, ‘homely’, ‘clean’ and a lot of other positives.

People are generally disappointed about the size, but my feeling is that their expectations weren’t really in line with what this is: a cabin in someone’s garden. It sounds like the bed and shower space might be a bit small, but Stew and I would expect this to be the case, so for us, it would be a null point.

Where will your bike be stored?

I couldn’t find any comments from cyclists, so you might want to contact the property to check if you can store bikes okay.

Do call, but my feeling is that your bikes would be fine in Lairg, just locked up outside. We’d be comfortable with that, but it is best to check with the host.

Accommodation option in Lairg: Altnaharra Hotel

Altnaharra Hotel is your next best option. The only other option in Lairg is a two-bedroom house, which is pretty expensive and a bit much for a JOGLE, in my opinion.

It does look absolutely lovely. If you stay here, you can eat at the restaurant, which looks gorgeous but is a bit expensive!

Before you book anywhere too fancy on your JOGLE, it’s worth considering whether or not it’s worth the expense. If you’ve had a hard day in the saddle, you really don’t care where you lay your head and might end up in bed earlier than normal.

What do guests say?

This hotel is also well reviewed with a score of 8.4/10. You can also get a great breakfast at the property, making the mornings nice and easy.

There are loads of complimentary reviews about the place and the hotel. Guests love the open fire, though if you’re cycling JOGLE, you’re probably heading out in summer, so don’t expect that to be going. People are generally really happy with the food.

Some people are disappointed with the hotel’s aesthetic, describing it as ‘worn.’ We’ve stayed in so many hotels, and so many of them are like this. It wouldn’t put us off, but see how you feel.

Where will your bike be stored?

According to comments from previous guests, those who travel with a bicycle have said the bikes were stored safely in a secure and dry building, which is a great storage space!

One guest said the hotel organised a takeaay breakfast for them which is a great touch if you’ve got a big day ahead and want to leave before breakfast is available.

Read our JOGLE cycling adventure from Thurso to Lairg

Inverness

We used to live in Kinlochleven, so Inverness was our nearest big city. We’ve spent a bit of time here! We used to do a big shop every now and again. We returned our van when we moved to Scotland in the Inverness branch, and of course, we cycled through on our JOGLE.

We’ve provided a budget option and a place we stayed in, not on JOGLE, but when we did the Inverness Half Marathon.

Before I get into Inverness accommodation options, there is one cheaper option than the budget option I’ve provided below, and that’s Inverness Student Hotel. Inverness has a university campus. I can’t lie, though; ‘student hotel’ put me off immediately, especially because it’s dorms, but if budget is important to you, check it out.

Inverness budget accommodation: Black Isle Hostel

Black Isle Hostel is quite near the train station (not that you’ll be using that) and fairly central, so it’s a pretty good place to stay, though you’ll have to cycle through Inverness to get here. You could opt for somewhere on the outskirts if you’d rather save yourself the trip through Inverness.

The Aldi is only half a mile away by foot. We went there to stock up on food.

What do guests say?

The hostel is rated 8.3/10, which is great for a hostel! A lot of the time, hostels have lower reviews than that, so the positive review is promising.

The biggest complaint is poor wifi, rating 7.1/10. Not the best, but that’s not too bad, to be honest! And it’s not like you’re working. As long as you can update your Strava, all is well in the digital world during a bike tour!

Guests tend to rate the staff, the comfort, and the convenient location.

Where will your bike be stored?

In our experience, hostels are generally well equipped to look after luggage, so my expectation is your bikes will be fine. There is an image of a bike bag under a desk on booking.com, and a review on Google Maps reports that the bikes were secured safely.

Accommodation we’ve stayed in: Torridon Guest House

Torridon Guest House is lovely! We stayed here when we ran the Inverness Half Marathon. The host is really lovely.

We remember breakfast being a full Scottish breakfast, which went down a treat before our half marathon. From memory, the room was plenty big enough, comfortable, clean, and tidy!

I remember you could go around the back of the house; we parked our car safely there. It’s a bit tight but fine. I’m sure there were garages there, too!

What do guests say?

Torridon Guest House scores 9.3/10, which is very impressive! It does well in every category, and we’re not surprised!

Guests compliment the host, Russell, who we remember was talkative and friendly. Almost every guest who leaves a room mentions a good breakfast, just what an end-to-end cyclist needs!

Hardly anyone is complaining about Torridon Guest House. I was going to filter by one-star reviews, but I know how awesome this place is so I won’t bother.

Where will your bike be stored?

I couldn’t find any comments about bike storage. I have a vague memory about a garage in the garden, BUT it is vague, and even if there was a garage, it doesn’t mean Russell, the host, would put a bike in there. It’s best to ring up and check.

Read our JOGLE cycling adventure from Lairg to Inverness

Fort William

Stew and I know Fort William really well, in fact I love it! I’ve stayed in a few hotels there, and we’ve dined in anywhere we haven’t stayed!

There is a Tesco Express in town and a large Morrisons. The last time I stayed in Fort William for a climbing weekend, I grabbed lunch from Tesco. You could do the same so you’ve got food for your next JOGLE installment.

Failing that, there is a Wetherspoons, whichnd Stew and I love. Every time we go to Fort William, we eat there, which is probably terrible because there are lovely eateries like Ben Nevis Inn, The Geographer (you’ll need to book there), and for some good pub grub, The Crofter.

A hotel we’ve stayed in is Ben Nevis Hotel and Lesuire Club . I don’t recommend it to be honest, the prices are extortion for what it is.

On our JOGLE, we stayed in an Airbnb that’s no longer listed, so here are a few other recommendations.

Budget option in Fort William: Fort William Backpackers

I’ll warn you now: Fort William Backpackers is at the top of a steep hill, so you might not fancy it! But, if cutting costs is your goal, then it might be a necessary evil.

The location isn’t great, to be honest. You might want to head out and eat before you go, or you can walk the mile(ish) into town if you have the legs.

This is a hostel and seems pretty standard. You’ve got the choice of gendered or mixed dorms, which is great if you’d like to stick with a female-only dorm, for example.

Being in Fort William, the hostel will be well used to cyclists staying.

What do guests say?

A hostel with a score of 8.1 is not too bad at all! People are complimentary about the hostel on the whole, and the few complaints are not worth mentioning.

Where will your bike be stored?

Those travelling with a bike say they stored the bicycle in the shed, which is perfect. It doesn’t get safer than that.

Accommodation we’ve stayed in: Fassfern Guesthouse

Fassfern Guesthouse is lovely, but more expensive. Worth it, but it might be a bit much for your JOGLE.

We stayed there on a wet day after our West Highland Way hike. It was the last place available, hence the price. Usually, we wouldn’t stay somewhere like that on JOGLE, but since we can recommend it and did love it, I’m including it here.

After a hard hike, arriving at this hotel was bliss. The room was gorgeous, with a super comfy bed and a lovely host, and the breakfast was amazing, too!

The location is amazing because you won’t have to cycle uphill to get there, but the view is gorgeous. The high street is a matter of minutes away on foot.

What do guests say?

Naturally, the reviews for this place are amazing. It’s often rated exceptional, and the property boasts reviews of 9/10 overall, with the location scoring highest with 9.6.

It’s not worth me looking into complaints because I know from experience that this guesthouse is perfect.

Where will your bike be stored?

No one has mentioned where the bikes will be stored, but one review does confirm that a bike was stored safely. It might be worth contacting the guesthouse to make sure they can secure bicycles okay because it’s unclear if the reviewer is referring to a bicycle or motorbike.

Read our JOGLE cycling adventure from Inverness to Fort William.

Tiverton

For Tiverton, I will recommend you to the Airbnb we stayed in because it was so lovely!

Accommodation we’ve stayed in: Airbnb in Tiverton

This Airbnb in Tiverton is one that stands out in our minds. Bear in mind, we’ve stayed in over 100 Airbnbs and if I say to Stew, ‘remember that Airbnb with the pringles?’ he will know I am talking about Tiverton!

There’s nothing cheaper on booking.com, but I’ve shared an alternative below, incase Airbnb isn’t your vibe.

We were so happy to complete our day after a long, long day on the bike! From memory, we popped our bikes into the garage, and we were warmly welcomed by the family.

We were starving and hungry, and when we got to our room, there was a little snack box, and we devoured the lot. Don’t go in with expectations of this, it has been a long time since we stayed and things could’ve changed.

What do guests say?

I might as well just share our review here!

Where will your bike be stored?

We stored our bikes in the garage and we felt very safe with that option.

Accommodation in Tiverton: Fisherman’s Cot

Looking at the options, I think I’d go for Fisherman’s Cot. It’s cheaper than other options but well-reviewed. It has over 1000 reviews and 8.1/10, which is good.

It looks like a lovely place with gorgeous views. The Inn has a good breakfast, and you can eat dinner at the in-house restaurant as well, which saves you a trip out. If you end up riding Bath to Tiverton, you will work hard that day so an easy dinner will be highly desirable, trust me on that!

What do guests say?

Generally, guests are happy here. They’re complementary about the breakfast (ideal) and the staff. They say the rooms and beds are comfortable and that’s all you need!

The main complaints seem to be aesthetic; guests say that the hotel is a bit shabby, or that the television doesn’t work. As I said earlier, I do find this type of review is common in most hotels.

Where will your bike be stored?

No one has mentioned bicycles or bike storage, so I would ring ahead and check they’ve got a safe place. Tiverton is a small place, and I’d potentially even turn up without mentioning bikes as I think we’d be happy leaving them outside, but do your due diligence and just check.

Read our JOGLE cycling adventure from Bath to Tiverton.

Roche

We stayed in an Airbnb in Roche, and it was a really memorable experience! We sat around a campfire, cost and exhausted, chatting with the hosts and drinking wine! I so wish we could recommend them to you, but they’re no longer on Airbnb.

I’ve found some options for you, though!

Travelodge near Roche

If you take our JOGLE route, you’ll come through Roche, which is a tiny place. This is an accommodation you want to book as soon as possible. Alternatively, if you’re a camper, it’s a good spot to pitch the tent instead.

There’s not much around so make sure you’ve got plenty of food of you’ve filled up before you arrive.

The best hotel I can find is this Travelodge. It makes me appreciate how lucky we were to find the Airbnb back when we did JOGLE.

What do guests say?

The Travelodge has got pretty average reviews, which is what you’d expect, really! It’s a budget hotel in the U.K. and doesn’t offer much more than a basic room with a bed and a television.

Where will your bike be stored?

No one has mentioned bike storage, so I’d ring up and check. I would expect Travelodge to accommodate you; they’re generally quite big.

Roche Airbnb

To be fair, there is an Airbnb, which you could try. This is not the one we tried.

This room is in someone else’s house, which we generally find quite pleasant. There’s no kitchen access, but at the time of writing this, the host will let you use the washer and dryer, which might be appreciated.

What do guests say?

The Airbnb has some decent reviews but only nine in total. I wouldn’t let that put me off, personally.

Previous guests shared that they experienced a ‘warm welcome’ and reported that they had a friendly host who recommended things to do in the local area.

There’s not a single complaint, and the room comes with breakfast, though it’s worth noting it’s a veggie household and a veggie breakfast. That would never be an issue for us!

Where will your bike be stored?

There’s no mention of bikes in the nine reviews, but I’d just message the host before booking. There’s a template that I use at the end of this article.

Read our JOGLE cycling adventure from Tiverton to Roche.

And that was it for us! Stew’s dad drove all the way from Telford to Land’s End to pick us up at the end! You can read about our final day in the saddle here.

How we planned and booked our accommodation.

When we cycled JOGLE, we had a strict time frame. We had to complete the ride within 15 days to get back to work.

We booked our accommodation in advance. I had booked and paid for our accommodation by the 2nd of February, and we stayed in our first accommodation around the 30th of June.

So, we booked our JOGLE accommodation about five months in advance.

We worked out where we’d end up based on how far we could cycle, taking into account what we’d do the day before and after so we’d balance the miles as equally as possible.

When we’re not on a strict time frame, like when we’re cycling around the world, we tend to book on the day or even turn up on the night. However, if we’re going to a very touristy place or want to be a bit more comfortable, we’ll book in advance.

Advantages and disadvantages of booking ahead.

There are advantages and disadvantages to booking your JOGLE accommodation ahead of time.

Advantages

The main advantage of booking your JOGLE accommodation ahead is that you will know where you’re putting your head that night. If you feel anxious about where you’ll end up, booking in advance is a solid move.

If you book early enough, you’ll have the advantage of your accommodation options, and you’re more likely to get exactly what you want.

Booking ahead means you can travel lighter.  If you’ve got all your accommodation sorted, you don’t need to carry a tent as a backup. If you’re not camping, you’re probably not cooking on the road, so there goes the stove and the kitchen. You’re in for a light and breezy credit card tour.

Booking ahead has the motivation of not losing your money in the event of a cancellation so that might help you do what you need to do to complete the day. It is very useful if you have limited time like we did and have to complete the trip.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of booking ahead is that once you’ve made your booking, you’re financially committed.

Once you’re on the road, anything can happen, maybe you won’t make it to the planned destination, or maybe you’re too tired to make it, or simply wish you could stay longer in another town.

Bear in mind that the whole schedule could suffer if you fail to get to your accommodation on day two.

If time isn’t a factor, you might wish to alter your route and take the scenic road. If you’ve booked ahead, decisions such as this could end up costing a fair bit.

Finally, if you roll up to your destination without a booking, you might find every hotel room gone. We managed to grab the last room in the last hotel when we hiked West Highland Way so this really can happen. Equally, you can end up somewhere you don’t like.

Questions to ask before you book your accommodation.

You can usually turn up at your accommodation with a bike, and you’ll be alright. This is true if you use Warmshowers as they expect you on the bike.

We tend not to prewarn hotels, hostels, or bunkhouses about our bicycles, but we would send a polite note to Airbnb hosts, B&Bs, and Guesthouses.

Usually, before booking, I send a message asking if there’s a place to store bikes and check if we can arrive late if we’ve got a big day in the saddle.

Message templates to check you can bring bikes

“Hi, [name],

I’d love to book your Airbnb for a night on the [date].

Before I go ahead and book, I wanted to ask a couple of questions.

I’m travelling on a bicycle. Is there a safe place to store the bike?

It’s tricky to know when I’ll arrive, as you never know with a bike, but I’d expect to arrive around [time] in the evening. Does this sound okay? Naturally, I’ll keep you updated on the day.

Looking forward to your response and booking in!

All the best,

[your name]