In todays video I start on a journey, a quest if you will, that will likely take several years to complete. For no real reason other than I thought it might be an interesting thing to try, I will now make it my life’s mission to ride my bike to the highest point in every county of the United Kingdom, and only death or a sudden drop off in motivation will stop me!
I begin with a collection of 9 titans located in the East of England, all of which I am sure will have been the subject of much myth and folklore across the ages, revered and respected by locals, with only the bravest tempted to even try and reach their mighty peaks. I was beset with mechanical issues and M25 traffic, a just punishment for the hubris I displayed in attempting to tackle 9 such peaks in a little over 24 hours, but I persisted.
In all seriousness I would be interested to know if anyone knows if anyone has attempted this before? I realise I have ticked off some of the easier options to get me started, but hey, I’m already 10% of the way there!
Thank you for watching, and please subscribe to follow along with future instalments of this adventure.
00:00. Introduction
01:50. Suffolk
04:30. Cambridgeshire and Essex
09:16. Bedfordshire
12:17. Dinner and stealth camp in the van
14:49. Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
18:16. Oxfordshire
20:19. Surrey
23:23. Kent
25:10. Goodbye
26 Comments
I love it, Mat! What a great idea. If you fancy some company for the ones in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, give me a shout.
It may just be me, but I believe the camera at 02:59 was already moving before you reached it? Do you have any Jedi blood in the family? I feel like playing up on that may attract more views than this bikepacking stuff, as much as I enjoy it.
A wonderful idea this, I do hope to see you tackle a really challenging one sometime soon, I am mentally checking off some of the bigger UK peaks I have done as to whether they could be done on a bicycle, I imagine with a fair bit of hike-a-bike most could be tackled. I feel it will more be a question of finding quiet times when you won't be that ** on a bike as everyone is enjoying a character building hike.
Interesting fact about Leith Hill. If you look north you can see central London. Look south and look for the chimney from the derelict cement works near Steyning, you can see the English Channel through the Adur Valley which cuts through The South Downs (best viewed on a winters afternoon as the sun reflects off the sea)
Nice to see the country side in your neck of the woods!
Only been to London and hope to visit more UK (from California ) soon
What a great novel idea. Should keep you busy for a long time too in between other trips. Looking forward to you coming my way in West Yorkshire. Reckon that'll be a bit tougher than these few!
Let me know when your down on Pembrokeshire I’ll join you up to Foel Cwmcerwyn on the Preselis
Hey Matt .
Are you not missing your pinion bike ?
I’ve ordered one after watching your previous adventures.
Great video’s 😊
Cool idea! Thanksgiving here for us, off to volunteer community free meals Breckenridge.
Keep doing it Mat
What a great premise for discovering the UK, this is going to be a good mission!
What list are you using to define the peaks?
Oh, that fungus was a Shaggy Ink Cap, and edible, best eaten soon after picking as they go kind of soggy. Still be ok in a soup though 👍
That was something different save yourself for the longer and brighter days, winter sucks.
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Mat 👌 great views 🌞 interesting snippets of history green children 😱.. country retreat lol 😆 funny thanks for sharing. I can't wait for more .
Brilliant Mat absolutely loved it looking forward to the next instalment 👍
Very cool – what a neat idea for your rides! Looking forward to more in the series.
I loved the video. I was in Ipswich in 2022 and love seeing the area around it again.
A few years ago, I decided to ride as many single track trails at mountain bike parks as I could, in a single day. I mapped out a driving route for time efficiency, started at sunrise and rode the last few in pitch black with lights. I rode 10 trails. Great fun. I recorded it on Strava. I heard a few people tried to duplicate my ride, which I thought was really cool.
Enjoying this new adventure you're on!
Hi Matt, I ride a 2021 Vitus Nucleus and also broke the shifter. After checking online it appears quite common. Even though out of warranty the service from Box Components was amazing and after a bit of back and forth they sent me a brand new shifter free of charge. Didn't take that long either. Just thought you would like to know.
Not sure about this. To the highest peak in every county in the UK . . . from where? From a mile or two down the road? This is poorly defined. Also, have you been to Scotland much? Ben Nevis, the Cobbler Schehallion? I suspect you'd be carrying your bike most of the way up those, not to mention Snowdon and Sca Fell Pike. Cycling all these peaks would be daunting to me.
Wait until you get up North to some real peaks😆
Very enjoyable video, looking forward to part 2 …….. although I did expect you to do them all starting from sea level……. on a tandem with Ros 😂😂
I'm looking forward to Scafell Pike!! That one will be mostly hike-a-bike territory.
Down to just two sheep now eh bro? What happened to J Edgar and Hoover?
This is an interesting challenge, very cool. I did something similar here in Florida. We have 68 counties here in Florida and my challenge was to ride in every single county in Florida. It took me of cause longer period of time. After I finised it I thought: Now What?😅
Oh you slipped up a bit when visiting the highest point in Surrey as there is a much used Octopus 🐙 route that is made up of eight different ways up Leith Hill.
Beautiful trip. Well done, Ross, for your organisational skills.
Very informative, we are so lucky to live in this area. Thanks, Mat, for sharing with those of us who are not such cycling enthusiasts but still appreciate a good piece of scenery without the effort😊.
However, how neglectful have you been to your poor van!!😱 you can grow your own mushrooms 🍄 on that! 😉
Innovative challenge 👌😊😂
Enjoyed this one Math. I liked the little snippets of info. I think the keys probably belong to my house. X