THREE Farnham men have completed a cycle ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End to support local charities.

George and Brian Hellyer, David Risley and Christian Jason, started their journey from the north of Scotland on Easter Saturday and successfully completed the ride 10 days later.

They raised more than £3,000 for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice and George’s school, College Town Primary, where he is a newly qualified teacher. They were helped by George’s dad, Brian, who supported them in a hired camper van.

Having driven 14 hours on Easter Friday up to John O’Groats, they then set off across the north coast of Scotland before turning south to their first overnight stop at Lairg.

Unfortunately the camper van’s heating was not working properly so they had to endure three nights over the Easter period without heating, and with outside temperatures of just four degrees.

They aimed to complete an average of 90 miles each day although this was proving difficult in northern Scotland where some of the main roads only have passing places and the road surface is uneven.

From Lairg they cycled to Fort Augustus in the Scottish highlands on day two and then day three took them on to Fort William, past the ski resort of Glencoe, where they camped overnight at the small village of Luss.

The aim for day four was to successfully negotiate Glasgow and then rest up at Moffat, which they did, but only after encountering a heavy hailstorm on the way which blew them all off the road and into a hedge.

Day five saw them heading for the border, which they crossed at Gretna Green and then followed the A6 through Penrith, stopping overnight at Kendal.

On day six, they continued on the A6 through the picturesque city of Lancaster, through Preston and stayed overnight at Warrington in Cheshire.

Friday, day seven saw them travel 110 miles down the West Midlands towards Gloucestershire reaching Tewkesbury for their overnight stop

They were now on the final stages and while day eight dawned wet and windy, they set off at 9.30pm towards Bristol aiming to reach Bridgewater, which they did at 8pm.

They were met by Christian’s parents, Andre and Christine, who treated them all to a slap-up meal in Tewkesbury which revived any flagging feelings that they had.

Day nine saw them push on to Launcestonin in Cornwall, where they treated themselves to a curry to celebrate their last night camping before the final push on day 10 to Lands End, where they arrived at 4pm on Monday, April 4, 10 days after leaving John O’Groats. A total of 950 miles successfully completed in 10 days.