I have always wanted to take on the Lands End John O'Groats challenge and after my sister, Polly visited Ghana in March this year with V.S.O, I was given a good reason to. S.K.E.P. (Savannah Kids Education Project) is a non-government organization (NGO) which was set up to help educate street children in Northern Ghana with the aim of reducing exploitation through child labour. Through education the kids have the opportunity of a much brighter future and can break free of the cycle of poverty.
I was introduced to Oluu Mahama the director and founder of S.K.E.P. by Polly and began making plans by email and I was inspired by the many photos he sent me and the stories of the children.
For more info on S.K.E.P. please visit their website www.skep-ghana.nl or see the UK website : www.skep-ghana.org.
The end 2 end route I undertook was 1088 miles in total over 13 days in August and September 2006. All the money raised went to S.K.E.P to purchase cycles for 35 children on the project who live substantial distances away from the school set up in Tamale, in Northern Ghana. The total raised is approaching the target of £2000, but any further contributions would be greatly appreciated, please email me at end2end@kalstok.plus.com for details.
I decided to take a longer scenic route on (fairly) quiet roads for the enjoyment factor. I took a relatively leisurely 13 days as opposed to the originally planned 10 due to a minor knee injury sustained in a training ride a couple of weeks before I left (just my luck!). I was glad to have the easier pace and time to enjoy the scenery with time to take a few photos along the way.
The route I took followed the North coast of Cornwall and Devon, through Bristol into Wales and border country. Then back into England, Shropshire, Cheshire and the North skirting around Manchester. I then stuck as close to the central Pennines as I could, through the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines to the Scottish Border. I took an inland route through Scotland through the Grampians and northern Highlands before reaching Caithness and the North Coast. A half day was planned for a stop at Edinburgh, before making stops at Pitlochry, Inverness, Tongue and I caught made the long train journey back to Cornwall from Wick.
For a blog with photographs and maps accounting my trip day by day please click here.
