They said they weren’t cyclists – they did it anyway!
A bucket list ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats
In May 2026, a group of six riders set off from the very tip of Cornwall with a simple (if slightly terrifying) goal: pedal the entire length of Great Britain. In 10 days – averaging about 100 miles a day. All the way to John O’Groats!
Led by Midlands farmers Rod Adlington and Guy Minshull, this duo who rowed the Atlantic in 2024 for charity. The team also included farmer Mark Parker, ex-England water polo player Simon Pemberton, and Rod’s son and daughter, Toby and Lily. The ride was in memory of Rod’s son Barney, who died from meningitis in 2005 aged just three. Every mile was ridden for Meningitis Now and Get A-Head Charity.
**The Route**
Bike Where You Like designed a route that showcases the very best of the British Isles. We wanted roads that were deliberately quiet and consistently stunning. And bearing in mind the inclines! Day one took the team along the rugged north Cornwall coast, through fishing villages and across Bodmin Moor. Days two and three brought Devon’s hills, Somerset’s flatlands, the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, and the Wye Valley. By the time they hit the Midlands and pushed north through Cheshire and East Lancashire, the legs were finding their rhythm. We always notice the riders get stronger as time goes on. Not that the riders always believe us when we tell them on the briefing calls before the ride..! “You’ll get stronger and fitter on the ride”.
Which they needed for when we hit Scotland!
The Scottish Borders gave way to Edinburgh, then Perth, then the Cairngorms — including the infamous Glen Shee and Lecht Pass — before the team pressed deep into the Highlands. The penultimate day ended at Loch Shin. The final day, riding quiet coastal roads to meet the Atlantic at Bettyhill before rolling into John O’Groats on 25 May, was by all accounts some of the best cycling of the trip.
**The Hard Bits**
Let’s be honest, cycling in the UK in May means it wasn’t all sunshine and tailwinds (though there were some of those too), with the weather being cold and rainy on and off. We were met with incredibly kind hospitality and generosity at various pubs and cafes along the way and luckily the showers and rain eased off as the ride went on.
And let’s not forget the hills… Day 1 was the toughest day with over 2,400m of elevation in just 85 miles. Unfortunately you can’t escape the steep Cornish hills but you are also rewarded with stunning coastal scenery and epic downhills. The team navigated the descents well and soon got used to their gears.
And yet, the high points more than matched the hard ones. *”You get some days when the wind is behind you, the sun is shining and you think this is the best place in the world,”* saidLand’s End to John O’Groats: 1,000 Miles, 10 Days, and One Extraordinary Team
**The Numbers**
The team raised approximately **£17,000** for Meningitis Now and Get A-Head, including £12,000 in corporate sponsorship. If you’d like to add to that total, donations are still being accepted at their [LeJog2026 fundraising page](https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/12705/lejog-2026/).
**Feeling Inspired?**
This is exactly the kind of challenge Bike Where You Like was built for. Whether you want to join a supported group ride like this one, plan your own LEJOG adventure, or use cycling to raise money for a cause close to your heart — we’re here to make it happen. Fully supported, beautifully routed, for the adventure of a lifetime!
Who knows what your capable of?