Snowden

The final day followed a gruelling evening in Betws y Coed where we found the only late bar and then lost our hotel!

Bought a couple of English ales to take up and then began to cycle to the start. The friends we met last night told us it was flat to the hotel.........10 miles and 300m of cycle climbing later we arrived.

Climbed the Pyg trail up to a very busy summit where we had our beer and shared an Oggy pastie with the seagulls.

Penultimate day

A bit of a chew.

Left Scorton in the pouring rain bags on our feet et al.

112 miles and 1100meters of climbing.

Finished in Betws y Coed ready for the final push up to Snowden today.

Sent from my iPhone

Stats so far

Days 4
Peaks, ben nevis and scaffel
Miles 380

Sent from my iPhone

Early start

Had breakfast at 8.30am AFTER bagging Scafell Pike. And then to our ride over hardknott, wrynose, and eventually down to scorton. Even found time to paddle in wast water. We had only turned up at the hotel at 10pm the previous evening.

A day of madness.

And so to England

Tough day
111 miles through hilly lakes. Stopped for world cup. Late into wasdale 10pm

Saturdays stats kilmellington to moniaive

124.6 miles
1600m climb

Ow

Great pub though in a village full of scousers.

Sunday morning

1st stop burnley power bar, Scottish style.

Arran ferry day 2

While waiting for the Arran ferry this lady asked Peter where. He was from. Liverpool he replied. "but you speak a foreign language" she said genuinely surprised. Classic! ( thought he was from the Netherlands)

At the top of ben nevis

We did it in 3hrs 10mins, great climb then back to the bunk for a
63miles and 611m climb.

View from ben Nevis bunk house

Cool view, and a haggis super inside us. Ready for the ride.

The accommodation was &14 Peter thinks we have been over charged!!!

Final preparations

Peter, makes final adjustments to his steed at Fort William railway station.

Can you tell we are in Scotland?

Meal deal on the train: sandwich, coffee and HAGGIS flavoured crisps on the train.

1st stop.....

Lunch in Glasgow between trains.

Here we go here we go.....

Wigan station awaiting the 8.00am for Glasgow. Lynne and Hilary have dropped us off. Scotland here we come.

1 day to go...

I (Mick) am travelling back from working down south yesterday. All
ready for the set off tomorrow on the 8.00am from Wigan to Glasgow.
Final preperations tonight.

Peters son Ollie raises the bar

Energy bars and powder

Wrapped and ready for despatch.

Planning meeting

Planning week before the off.

10th June - Training and watching...

Peter went out with Dave Cross for a couple of hours, In the evening I went up to watch the Pirate (Steve Hodge, see photo) win the time trial.

Three Peaks Challenge

Three Peaks Challenge: "Welcome to the home of the Three Peaks Challenge

The National Three Peaks Challenge is a well known phrase amongst the more adventurous. This challenge involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales.

Training Photos

We have had a go up Scafell from Wasdale Head, great day really clear and warm with fantastic views, on the real day we will have to also climb over Hardknot and Wrynose then ride to Scorton..........OW!

The Story So Far

On Thursday June 23rd Peter Noble and myself (Mick Freeman) will head north by train along with our bicycles and walking boots to Fort William.

The morning after we will begin our "3 Peaks Cycle Challenge".

This involves walking up, and down, the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales and cycling the 510 miles between them.

The walking and cycling is further complicated by the other challenges we have set ourselves, they are to a) complete it within 6 days, b) drink as many brands of local real ale as we can en-route, c) to support Englands world cup bid as we progress and d) to have a bloody good time.

(Photo Peter in training)