It's time to commit!

Today is the first day of spring, the covid nightmare seems to be getting under control and the sun is out. It seems like as good a time as any for the big reveal. Today I'd like to unveil my plans for the ambitious — and perhaps slightly crazy — personal challege that I have been quietly concocting.

But before the 'what', comes the 'why'.

Yep, this is Andy teaching me how to ride a mountain bike!

At the beginning of 2020, my good friend and climbing buddy Andy Vine was swept away by an avalanche while winter climbing in Scotland. The amazing Lochaber Mountain Rescue team searched tirelessly for him for days in appalling conditions.

They found him but tragically it was too late. I would like to do something to both remember my friend and to raise money for the brave and dedicated volunteers at Lochaber Mountain Rescue.

The activity that Andy and I enjoyed together most was mountain biking — in fact he took me on my first ever trips. So I have decided to set myself the challenge of planning and riding a route from John O’Groats all the way to the Isle of Wight, staying off roads as much as possible. 

On the way I will take in the Highlands and Grampians, down the Trossachs, pop in to both Glasgow and Edinburgh, cross the border into Northumberland and the Kielder forest, cross the Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and Peak District before trending west for the Brecon Beacons and Wye Valley, then across the Severn for the Cotswolds, North Downs and finally the South Downs for Southampton. The total distance is approx 1200 miles — depending on how often I get lost!

To make it more of a challenge I will be doing it unsupported, camping wild where I can and carrying all my gear with me.

While there is no 'official' route, the Great North Trail
from John O'Groats to the Peaks is a great starting point

I hope to set off for Wick, covid-permitting, around 19 May 2021 with the aim of arriving in Isle of Wight by 13 June. 

13 June is an important date — it would have been the birthday of my dear Nan, Sylvia Thomson. But she too died in 2020. We could not properly mark it at the time, so we hope to celebrate her life with the entire extended family.

I will use this blog to chart my progress both planning during the adventure, so please do subscribe if you'd like to receive occasional updates (use the little "follow by email" box on the right).

Please give generously to support the amazing services of Mountain Rescue (who are all volunteers, have no government funding and receive no pay). 

The best way to contribute is via the Just Giving page that I have set up, so I can keep track of the donations. My target is £2000, please give whatever you can using the button below.

And if you’d be interested in riding with me for part of the trip you’d be very welcome!