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.

I hope to set off for Wick, covid-permitting, on 19 May with the aim of arriving in Isle of Wight by 11 June. Here I will remember another very dear person, my nan Sylvia Thomson, whose life we are celebrating with the entire extended family.

Please give generously to support the amazing services of Mountain Rescue (who have no government funding and receive no pay). And if you’d be interested in riding with me for part of the trip you’d be very welcome!