^ Thanks, very useful comments. I've done some research on the route so I've got some idea what to expect, but it's good to hear some first-hand experience. I've not weighed the gear, but without going ultra-lightweight I've been careful with a few key elements, e.g. sub-2kg tent, and I think the clothing is just about down to a bare minimum.

We've got a mini-tour planned in a few weeks, ~200 miles over 3.5 days of riding which will include a fair amount of undulating roads in S England, so this will be a chance to see how the legs are after heavier mileage over consecutive days, sleeping in a tent, etc. It'll also tell me if I can make any adjustments to my kit list - hopefully discarding items rather than adding things I wish I'd taken. I'm a pretty strong cyclist, but new to touring so don't want to take anything for granted. I'm also a keen runner so I want to look after my knees!