A LANGWATHBY man has cycled over 600 miles from the most westerly to most easterly point of the British mainland to raise funds for the Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group.

Robin Davies, from Langwathby near Penrith, undertook the 600-plus mile solo cycle ride from Ardnarmurchan Point in Scotland to Ness Point in Lowestoft, the furthest West to the furthest East of the British Mainland, at the start of this month.

Speaking about the challenge Robin said: "After having cycled Lands’ End to John o’ Groats 19 years ago I came up with the idea of cycling Dover to Cape Wrath, the other diagonal, but it never happened.

"Then one day about 10 years ago it seemed the only other ‘end to end’ to cycle was the East/West route, hence Ardnarmuchan to Lowestoft.

“I decided, about four years ago, that it was now or never. But then Covid and trying to sell our house put paid to the idea, until this year.”

Robin had a severe accident seven years ago when a chisel slipped and went through his left wrist, severing most of his tendons, nerves, and arteries. As a result, Robin can't feel his left hand properly and has limited mobility in it.

The Langwathby man as put in much preparation for the challenge lost over 1st 9lbs to take part in the solo bike ride.

Talking about his training, Robin said: “I started training a month ago with the idea of cycling the route before the ‘back end’ and after the school holidays. I’ve cycled about 300 miles over the last 3 weeks, and it has been somewhat depressing to realise that I’m now 19 years older and my muscle mass is not what it was.

“Also trying to get fit and stay fit is harder but, on the good side, I cycled up Hartside on Monday and managed it in 5 mins less than the last time I did it 19 years ago.

“I must have cycled nearly ever road in the Eden Valley over the last 3 weeks and have found it quite a lonely thing to do and I’m now at the stage of saying it’s time for the real thing.”