HOLIDAY DETAILS
The End to End: Ever since the invention of the bicycle people have been inspired to ride the 'End to End'. The
first official time recorded over the distance is 65 days, 16 hours and 7 minutes, ridden on a penny farthing in 1880, and
since then the route has been covered on everything from a bed to a motorised bar stool!! Today the record is held by Gethin
Butler who in September 2001 covered the distance in an incredible 1 day, 20 hours, 4 minutes and 20 seconds. The ladies
record of 2 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes and 11 seconds is held by Lynne Taylor.
There is no 'official' End to End route and thus no official distance. There are various published guides - they all vary in
the route they take, but most make the distance around 1,000 miles. Most trips start from Land's End, the main reason being
that the prevailing winds in the UK are usually from the south-west, and so if you are lucky you could have a tail wind all
the way to Scotland.
The Tour: This is a fully supported holiday with a tour leader riding with the group and vehicle support to
carry all the luggage and provide additional assistance if necessary. The trip is designed to enable you to complete the
‘End to End’, while keeping to a route that follows minor roads as much as possible. The total distance is just over 1,000
miles and there is one rest day. To complete the trip in 20 days is a challenge that you should be prepared for. The average
daily mileage is approximately 55 miles, but some of the hardest parts are the first couple of days through Cornwall and
Devon, where there is a lot of up and down. Most people do find that they get fitter during the tour, but you need ensure
you are well prepared before you start the trip.
Accommodation & Food: This is a hotel/B&B based holiday with the option of standard or superior accommodation. Standard accommodation is generally graded 2-3* or similar, we usually book en-suite rooms if possible but this cannot be guaranteed. If you opt for superior accommodation you will mostly be staying in higher grade establishments (generally graded at least 3*, usually higher) all with en-suite facilities. Single people travelling alone will be booked into a twin bedded room with another single person of the same sex – unless the single room price for the holiday has been paid. Breakfast will be provided at the accommodation each morning. Evening meals are available at nearby pubs or restaurants.
Start: The ride starts at Land’s End at approximately 9.30am on Sunday morning. As this is a full days ride, to enable us to get a prompt start you will need to arrive at Land's End on Saturday afternoon/evening. Therefore the price of the holiday includes accommodation at Land's End on Saturday night. The nearest railway station to Land's End is at Penzance and transport is provided from here to Land's End if required.
Finish: The cycling ends at John O’Groats on Saturday evening. The holiday price includes the accommodation at John O'Groats on Saturday night. Transport is provided from John O'Groats to Inverness on Sunday, the coach arrives in Inverness around midday and will take you to the railway station or airport.
Cycle Transport: If required we offer a cycle transport service to return your bike from Inverness to anywhere
in the UK (additional fee payable), to save you the hassle of getting your bike home by train or plane. Using a courier service
we can also have your bike transported to Land's End.
Documents: Insurance is optional for this holiday for UK residents. Participants from outside the UK must have
suitable travel insurance.
Bikes: All types of cycle are suitable for the trip. The most important thing is that your bike functions
properly and that you are comfortable riding it. However you should make sure that it has suitable gears as there are some
very steep hills on parts of the route, notably in Devon and Yorkshire. Most people will require a cycle with a triple
chainset. If you are riding a mountain bike then you should fit it with narrow 'slick' tyres. You should also make sure that
you are able to carry some spare food and clothing with you on the bike. The route does cross some wild exposed areas with
little in the way of shelter and no services, and you can get very cold and wet if the weather is bad.
Weather: The weather in September should be fairly warm with sunny days but cooler evenings.
Temperatures are normally in the 60s, the north is usually a few degrees cooler. You should be prepared for colder, wet
weather particularly in Scotland. |