The Great Tour, a 64-day, 6,700 kilometre awareness and fundraising cycle ride around the British coast will reach Dumfries & Galloway next week, cycling from Ayr to Carlisle between Wednesday (5 August) and Saturday (8 August).
Two cyclists – Hugh Roberts and Robin Young – are aiming to ride around the entire coastline of Great Britain, having got underway from the Isle of Wight on Saturday 4 July, they will reach Port Patrick in Dumfries & Galloway on Wednesday, August at the end of Day 33 having covered around 3,650 kilometres.
Accompanying them during the Dumfries & Galloway will be Rob Kennison, Finish Director of the Tour of Britain cycle race and the man responsible for overseeing the professional race when it has finished in the likes of Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas and Dumfries.
Over the course of next week, they will cycle to Port Patrick (Wednesday), Newton Stewart (Thursday) and Dumfries (Friday) before crossing the border to finish Carlisle on Saturday 8 August.
They aim to finish back on the Isle of Wight on Saturday 4 September.
Inspired by The Great Tour event that took place in 2010 and 2015, SweetSpot Founder and Managing Director Hugh Roberts and long-time friend Robin Young are re-creating the 6,700 kilometre, 64 day ride, filling the gap between when the Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain professional cycle races should have taken place, had they not been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fittingly 2020 is Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters and The Great Tour hopes to showcase the beautiful scenery, heritage and natural landscapes of the Scottish coastline.
This year’s ride aims to raise awareness and funds for chosen health charities and causes in 2020 and to help create an annual fundraising ride around a recognised and waymarked cycle route around the whole coastline of Britain from 2021 onwards.
From 2021 the Great Tour ride will be the fundraising flagship of The Great Tour, for which charitable status is being sought. This annual event will raise money to support projects or other charities in community, health and environmental charities and causes – all of which are consistent with the Great Tour’s ethos.
Past editions of The Great Tour in 2010 and 2015 have supported a range of health charities, including The Prostate Cancer Charity, MacMillan and Anthony Nolan.
The awareness ride will has the support of partners Ascot Lloyd, a leading UK independent financial advice firm, and a small support team equipped with ŠKODA support vehicles.
Following the coastline as closely as possible by bike, and never losing the sight, the sound, the smell of the sea or sense of the sea, The Great Tour route takes in 6,700 kilometres of roads, cycle paths and green lanes around the country in a celebration of Britain’s coastline.
More information about The Great Tour can be found at www.thegreattour.co.uk and you can find out more and donate via our Just Giving page here.
