The founders of Anglotopia share their experiences driving the length of Britain, from Cornwall’s rugged coast to Scotland’s northern reaches
After more than a decade of covering all things British, Jonathan and Jackie Thomas, the husband-and-wife team behind Anglotopia, embarked on what many consider the ultimate British road trip: driving from Land’s End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland. This iconic journey, known colloquially as “LeJog,” spans nearly 1,000 miles and encompasses the full breadth of Great Britain.
The Inspiration Behind the Journey
The idea for this ambitious undertaking came to Jonathan during the summer of 2017 while watching Geoff Marshall and Vicky Pipe’s YouTube series “All the Stations,” where the couple visited every train station in Britain. “I got quite jealous watching their adventure,” Jonathan admits. “I thought, well, I want to go on a grand adventure too.”
While visiting all 2,560-something train stations wasn’t practical for the Thomases, the Land’s End to John O’Groats route offered a different but equally compelling challenge. The journey would take them through Cornwall, Devon, the Midlands, Northern England, and crucially, to Scotland—a part of Britain they hadn’t visited in their 15 years of travel to the UK.
Planning the Route: More Than Just Miles
Planning a drive of this magnitude requires careful consideration, especially when dealing with what the Thomases jokingly refer to as “British miles.” As Jackie explains, “For some reason to us Americans, it seems like one mile actually equals about three or four. It takes you a lot longer to get wherever you want to go in Britain.”
The couple spent over a year planning their route, using multiple resources including:
- The Great British Adventure Map (sold through their Anglotopia store)
- Stanford’s UK Route Planning Map
- Google Maps for detailed route planning
- A quality British road atlas
Rather than following the traditional route through the Lake District, they opted to “jog east” through Yorkshire and Durham before heading to Edinburgh and then north to John O’Groats. This decision allowed them to explore areas they hadn’t previously visited.
Starting Point: The Remote Beauty of Cornwall
The journey began with a unique challenge: getting to Cornwall itself. Located at Britain’s southwestern tip, Cornwall is notoriously remote—five to six hours by train or car from London. Fortunately, British friends with a holiday cottage in the area offered to collect them from Heathrow and serve as guides for their first three days.
The couple stayed at the Polurrian Bay Hotel in Mullion, a Victorian seaside establishment that Jonathan describes as having “a very loved-in feel.” From this base, they explored the Lizard Peninsula, the southernmost point in Britain, where dramatic seas meet windswept landscapes.
“Cornwall has this beachy, laid-back vibe,” Jonathan notes, “but not like California beachy or Florida beachy. It’s a vibe all of itself.” Jackie was equally enchanted: “It’s what heaven looks like, in my opinion. I could live very, very happily down in Cornwall.”
Highlights of Cornwall
Among their Cornish adventures, several experiences stood out:
St. Michael’s Mount topped Jackie’s list as an absolute must-see, despite treacherous wet paving stones that had her wishing for proper trainers instead of loafers.
The Lizard Point offered dramatic views of the churning sea, where they watched sea lions playing in the surf while enjoying breakfast at a tiny café perched precariously on the cliff’s edge.
Port Isaac, the filming location for the beloved series “Doc Martin,” proved both enchanting and overwhelming. Despite September being off-season, the village was packed with international tourists. Jonathan finally tried his first Cornish pasty here—a significant milestone for someone who describes himself as “a very picky eater.”
The Unexpected Luxury: A Land Rover Discovery
When it came time to collect their rental car at Bristol Airport, the Thomases received an unexpected upgrade that would define their journey. Having booked a standard SUV, they were handed the keys to a Land Rover Discovery—a £70,000 luxury vehicle complete with heated seats, heated steering wheel, and enough technology to require a call to Jackie’s auto-industry sister just to sync their phones.
“We felt like tools,” Jonathan admits with a laugh, referring to the Top Gear terminology. “We felt like those Americans in their giant car come barreling down a single track lane.” Yet the vehicle proved invaluable, especially when navigating muddy National Trust car parks and the hills of northern Scotland.
Packing Light: A New Travel Philosophy
Perhaps most impressive was the couple’s decision to travel with carry-on luggage only—a significant departure from their previous trips. Using Away travel bags, they managed to pack 11 days’ worth of clothing by following key principles:
For Jackie:
- Mix-and-match pieces that could be worn multiple ways
- Layers for unpredictable weather
- Skirts with tights (pack thin but stay warm)
- Three pairs of shoes (walking, casual, and dress)
- A versatile scarf for warmth and style
For Jonathan:
- A dozen t-shirts from their Anglotees business
- Two pairs of jeans plus wearing one
- A few polo shirts for “smartening up”
- One versatile pair of shoes
- A zip-up hoodie instead of a coat
Both acknowledge this approach had drawbacks—Jackie ended up purchasing a waxed cotton sailing coat in Port Isaac when the weather proved colder than expected, and Jonathan later regretted not bringing a proper jacket or hiking shoes.
Lessons Learned and Adaptations
The remoteness of Cornwall provided an early lesson when Jonathan discovered his seven-year-old son had “helped” pack his camera gear but forgotten the battery chargers. Amazon UK’s next-day delivery doesn’t extend to remote Cornwall, forcing them to source replacements from a local online retailer.
Their “pack light and buy what you need” philosophy proved valuable throughout the trip. As Jackie notes, “I found some of my most favorite products that I absolutely love doing that.” These purchases became meaningful souvenirs—items with stories attached rather than typical tourist trinkets.
Looking Ahead
As this first installment of their journey concludes, the Thomases have only just begun their epic drive. Still ahead lie the Cotswolds, York, Durham, Edinburgh, and the final push to John O’Groats. They survived storms, navigated single-track roads, and discovered that even in September, Scotland can be decidedly chilly.
For those inspired to attempt their own Land’s End to John O’Groats journey, the Thomases offer this advice: invest in good maps, pack layers, be prepared for “British miles” to take longer than expected, and don’t overpack—Britain has excellent shops where you can buy anything you’ve forgotten.
Most importantly, they emphasize, allow time for serendipity. Whether it’s an unexpected Cornish pasty in Port Isaac or a luxury Land Rover upgrade, sometimes the best travel memories come from the unplanned moments.
The Thomases spent 11 days completing their Land’s End to John O’Groats drive in September 2018. Future articles will cover their experiences in the Cotswolds, Northern England, and Scotland. For more information about planning your own British road trip, visit anglotopia.net.
