Our journey is over, but the memories will last forever

It all started with:

We wanted to cycle from the Southernmost and Northernmost points on mainland UK, via Land’s End to John O’Groats. When we mentioned this to Arlene, she took maybe 5 seconds before she decided that she was coming too. 

And thus started months of planning, even more months of training, all in aid of getting Michael across the UK. 

And we did it!

Land's End to John o' Groats in 11 Days! 

  

With a little bit extra on both ends, from Lizard Point to Dunnet Head in 12 Days! 

 

 

• Total distance ridden: 1,004 miles (1,616 km)
• Total elevation climbed: 57,802 ft (17,618 m) which is only 220ft short of climbing up Mt Kilimanjaro THREE times.

A massive THANK YOU is not enough to express our gratitude to Bruce for training with us, driving nearly 2,000miles (to the start and then across the UK), looking after us during the ride, loading our bikes onto the car at the end of long days, and still always being able to smile and offer a quirky word of support.

 

A second massive THANK YOU has to go to Almero for being our leader and guide for the first two days. Giving up his time to ride with us will never be forgotten. Neither will his ability to balance in his cleats for minutes on end at red traffic lights 😁.

 

 

A third THANK YOU must go to all of our supporters who followed our journey, sent us messages of support, rooted for us the whole way and helped us achieve our fundraising goal for the PKD Charity.  

 

(As at 18:30 on 31 July 2026)

 

Last but not least, we do want to thank our sponsors. Without their generosity in supporting us physically, financially and ongoing social media, this journey would never have been possible.  

 

 

Heading up Strath Vagastie

The downhill to Inverness was so welcome and exciting, that Moose and Mouse nearly forgot Bubbles their cat after a road side stop for munchies.

 

 

Having quickly realised their mistake, they too passed through Inverness and took in the views form the Highland Farm Cafe.

 

And finally they rolled down the hill to the 0vernight stop having conquered the Strath Vagastie on the very narrow A836.

 

 

Heading towards John o' Groats

And just like that this afternoon, we found ourselves in the laid-back and quaint town of John O'Groats. It seems like it was another life 11 days and 989 miles ago where we stood under a very similar-looking sign in Land's End at the beginning of our End-to-End cycling adventure. 

 

 

Today was our last day of long cycling (a very short day planned to get to Dunnet Head, tomorrow). It took us the length of Loch Naver and along the River Naver to Betty Hill on the coast, then a sharp right and West towards John o' Groats for the rest of the day. 

 

 

We braved swarms of midgies, got drenched (again) in a rainstorm, wished that we had superpowers to make the howling and freezing headwind go away and climbed 1135m of elevation before arriving in John O'Groats this afternoon. A warm coffee shop in Thurso and some beautiful views of the Orkney Islands on the horizon helped to keep us smiling. 

 

None of this trip would have been possible without Bruce, our indefatigable support crew. Huge thanks and absolute respect to him for the long hours of driving, loading bicycles and kit, creative problem-solving and keeping a step ahead of tired cyclists. 

 

Looking forward to standing at the northernmost point of the UK tomorrow! 
 

Rain and Hills

Rain could not stop Moose and Mouse's enthusiasm as they were well prepared for the weather. 

And once the rain had stopped they climbed into the highlands and were last spotted passing Slochd Summit on their way to Inverness.

 

Nessie, the Highlands and a long climb - Day 11

A day without rain! We started early considering that the last 20 miles of this day's ride were uphill. 

 

What we did not anticipate were the A9 roadworks just after we started. which detoured us for at least 5km on gravel paths. But once these had been conquered the promised downhill to Inverness was very welcome indeed. 

As we entered Inverness, we rode straight through the UHI Inverness campus - campus to campus in 2 days 😁.

Shortly after UHI Inverness, we encountered a further detour across the Kessock Bridge however that was easily overcome and we started our ride across the Black Isle. 

This route however meant that we had to miss our rendezvous with Nessie - we'll have to come back to do that. 

 

We quickly reached Dingwall where we stopped for coffee at the Highland Farm Cafe. Here we encountered another group doing LEJoG, albeit over 22 days ... twice the time of our ride.  And all of them on e-bikes.

 After climbing Struie Hill,  we dropped into the Kyle of Sutherland,

 

crossed the Bonar Bridge, and finally turned North onto the A836 which goes up the Strath Vagastie to our overnight stop.

Anyone for a picnic?

 

As we slowly made our way towards Perth and the ASW, Moose and Mouse decided to use the great weather to have a picnic. Michael thinks that he would much rather have joined them as they were eating his favourite biscuits ... Baker's Lemon Creams from South Africa.

However, the intrepid pair soon got back on their bicycles and met us in Dalguise.

It was difficult leaving Perth for the last part of our journey ... Day 10

Rob McKenna, (the rain god in Douglas Adams' So long and thanks for all the fish) described 231 types of rain. We probably experienced about half of these during our ride from Dalguise to the Slochd Summit. 

However, true to form we battled the elements and reached the highest point of the NCN in Scotland at the summit of the Pass of Drumochter at 1,515 ft above sea level (462 m ASL). 

And as already mentioned, we crossed the Slochd Summit where we called it a day. Note that it was dry here but you can't see the headwind we were riding into.

The route took us to 127km (25km past Aviemore) with an elevation gain of 4,278 ft (1,304 m).  

There was method in the madness of cycling past Aviemore ... we start day 11 on a downhill towards Inverness. Hoping for tailwinds and less rain tomorrow.

Our shortest day for some well deserved rest - Day 9

Before our climb into the Highlands, we planned a short day. The plan was to rest, look after our trusty bikes, and prepare ourselves for the last 3 days.

The route took us from North Queensferry to Dalguise, via the ASW of course. A mere 90 km and 2,352 ft (717 m) worth of climb.  

  

 

We finally crossed back into Perth and Kinross

  

Stopped off at the ASW to an amazing welcome from staff and members alike. After a celebratory espresso (double of course), 

 

 we added a further 20 miles to the day and called it a day at Dalguise. 

 

 

Thank you to our sponsors ...

We would never have been able to do this without the financial, practical and media support from 

 

The ASW at UHI Perth,

The team at Biophys  

The team at Disperazol Pharma 

The management of Fulhold Pharma

The management of Vikings Fisheries.

 

 

Moose and Mouse in Scotland - an update

 They found coffee and shortbread at Gretna, just like we did 😁

They were up early to join us at the start with our personal piper.

Photobombed at 1,000 km

 

Our first day in cycling through Scotland - Day 8

Our day started at Gretna Green with our own personal piper sending us on our way. A very special moment for all of us. 

 

We then crossed the 1000km in the saddle mark ... and celebrated with a quick picture.

 

We cycled into a stiff headwind, got rained and hailed on and finally saw some sun as we entered Edinburgh from the South.

The finishing stretch saw us crossing the Forth Road bridge for a well deserved rest.

Distance: 157km, Climb 4,448 ft (1,356 m).

 

We have hit our fundraising goal ... and are beating it!

As of 6am today we had already surpassed out goal by 4% ... here's hoping for a lot more to support the Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity.

Our Just Giving Page can be found here!

Moose and Mouse are catching up

 After navigating the canals in the Midlands,

they felt that going down hills is more fun than going up, and waved as they went past.

 And why ride, when you can travel in style on a tractor that is being chased by a bunch of cyclists?

Crossing the Mersey was fun, especially on a closed road.

 

They were last sighted in Scotland ...