Charity Bike Ride

Trip Highlights

"Nothing is impossible!"

These are the inspirational words of Jamie Andrew, quadruple amputee and co-founder of 500 miles, a brand new charity which aims to help amputees and other disabled people in deprived parts of the world.

Together, 500 miles and Trailbrakes are offering you the unique opportunity to take part in a truly unforgettable challenge, by riding Scotland's longest, continuous mountain biking adventure over a total of 500 miles! The route will take you through the most breathtaking Scottish wilderness, between some of the country's finest cities. Beginning in the south-westerly tip of Scotland, the trip will be a real test of fitness and stamina, with 9 days of adventurous riding, crossing the country no less than three times, before finishing at a luxury hotel in Inverness.

By collecting sponsorship money for completing the 500 miles charity bike ride, you can help 500 miles in their invaluable work in Malawi and Zambia. There, many people have to survive on less than £1 a day and there is no free medical help for those who lose a limb or the use of a limb through accident, disease or poverty. They are automatically consigned to a life of extreme poverty, degradation and discrimination - and some will inevitably die. For as little as £60, 500 miles can pay for a prosthetic limb in Malawi or Zambia and as little as £100 can pay for a life changing operation in Zambia.

This unique, exciting trip offers an unforgettable experience, not to mention a chance to help truly change people's lives for the better...so start collecting sponsorship money today!

Price Details

Price

From: GBP730 per person (10 Days)

Price Includes

• Port Patrick to Inverness via Edinburgh and Glasgow
• Group size 4 - 10 people
• 10 nights’ accommodation plus breakfast
• Transfers and transport as required
• Baggage transfers
• SMBLA qualified guide
• Vehicle back up

Price Excludes

• Lunches Evening meals and drinks

Departure Dates

Price per person:
Fund-raisers - £1000 minimum sponsorship; No maximum! (£630 goes towards trip costs)

Self Funders - £730 (£100 goes to charity)

Dates for 2009:
6th to the 16th August*


Sponsorship:
If you would like to use Just Giving to collect on-line donations for your activity and follow the instructions for creating an on-line fund-raising page. It's simple, safe and secure. We can provide you with extra information to build your Just Giving page.

Remember every penny helps 500 miles. Just £60 buys the average prosthetic limb in Malawi or Zambia. This is the small price to pay for turning one person's life around and it's not a lot when you think of what we spend on luxuries like a pair of trainers, a new bike or a night out!

Itinerary

*The 500 miles Charity Challenge can be organised at any time of year for groups of 4 or more - contact us with the dates you have in mind.

If you're interested in taking part in the 500 miles charity bike ride or you have any queries or questions, get in touch with us, we'd love to hear from you!

Why Not Try:

* Organising a group of friends or colleagues to do this trip together
* Cycle with us in relay - each person doing a leg of two or three days!

Day 1. You arrive in Scotland. We can help you with transport to our start point, get the bikes organised and talk through the trip. We stay overnight in Portpatrick, a beautiful fishing village on the west coast.

Day 2. Weaving along an interesting coastline we pass old lighthouses and cliff tops before heading inland across open moors where the smugglers and covenanters used to roam. The scenery changes as we approach the Galloway Hills on our long descent into the market town of Newton Stewart for our overnight stop.

Day 3. We head off-road through the UK's largest forest park and on some of its finest singletrack. We take on the granite outcrops at McMoab then head into the hills where wild goats and deer still roam. Climbing higher into the hills a roller-coaster of a route takes us into the valley of the Shinnel Water before reaching the birthplace of the bicycle at Thornhill.

Day 4. Leaving Thornhill, we head east to take on some world class, manmade trails through Ae Forest. From here, we follow the ‘Crooked Road’, dropping down into the pretty town of Moffat. After lunch we link up with the Southern Upland Way, climbing into the Moffat Hills with arguably one of thebiggest views in Scotland. We’re rewarded at the end of the day with a stunning descent and warm welcome in the Ettrick valley.

Day 5. We’ve got a tricky climb to start the day, rewarded by a blistering descent into the bustling Borders market town of Peebles. We sneak into the fantastic Glentress trails before winding our way through farmland on old drove roads towards the outskirts of Edinburgh. From here there is one final push up and one fantastic descent down the Pentland hills to drop us into Scotland’s beautiful capital city.

Day 6. After the epic climbs of the previous day, it’s a relief to have a day of flat, easy cycling! Following the Union Canal west from the heart of Edinburgh, we dodge the pedestrians and dog-walkers and head for Linlithgow, where we’ll see the magnificent, roofless remains of Linlithgow Palace. Next stop is Falkirk, home of the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat wheel! We then hook up with the Forth and Clyde Canal which takes us all the way to the cosmopolitan west end of Glasgow.

Day 7. We head out of the city via some scenic cycle paths and through Mugdock Country Park. Our first major challenge is Conic Hill, which is worth the effort for stunning views over Loch Lomond. We follow the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond along some tremendous single-track and spend the night at the northern tip of the loch.

Day 8. Today we begin by charging headlong into the Highlands on old military and drove roads, surrounded by some of Scotland’s most impressive, towering peaks. Remote moors lead us through to Glencoe and some of the most magnificent scenery to be found in Scotland. Tonight we stay right in the heart of this magical place!

Day 9. Leaving the majesty of Glencoe behind we tackle one of the biggest climbs of the trip from Kinlochleven to Fort William. The trail is challenging and technical and we are totally enclosed by mountains as we head ever forward towards Ben Nevis. We cycle in the shadow of ‘The Ben’ and continue into the Great Glen and some quick miles along the Caledonian Canal. Our day ends in Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness.

Day 10. Today is the last on this epic journey and we cycle the full length of Loch Ness. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for the monster! Great trails and superb scenery take us along the banks of the loch. One final climb out of Drumnadrochit followed by a fantastic descent and a final stretch of the Caledonian Canal take us to the Capital of the Highlands and our journey’s end at Inverness. Tonight we stay in the lap of luxury in the capital of the highlands. For those with any energy left a Saturday night of live music and lively bars will keep you going until the small hours and for those that justwant to collapse a luxurious bed and hot bath awaits!

Well done you made it!

Other Info

Accommodation Details

We use only tried and tested accommodation providers who we know will give a good quality service. They provide everything you could need after a long day in the saddle from secure bike storage to hot showers, hearty food and comfortable beds. Accommodation will be in a combination of guest houses, small inns or hostels with dorm style beds and is on a bed and breakfast basis.