An art teacher from Bishop's Stortford has set of on a 15-day cycle ride from John O'Groats to Lands End.
"It's a personal challenge really and I want to use it to get inspiration for an art exhibition which I am holding later in the year," said Andrew Clare, 57.
"It's something I have been meaning to do for many years. I have always liked cycling and I think this is the ultimate trip in Britain."
He is also hoping to raise more than £500 for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Mr Clare, who set off on Sunday, has worked at Bishop's Stortford High School for 25 years and has been head of art for the past eight.
Describing the trip as a holiday, albeit a strenuous one – cycling 70-plus miles a day to cover the distance of more than 1,000 miles – he said before setting off: "I'm looking forward to meeting and getting to know the people, seeing the sights and hopefully completing it." Mr Clare, who live is Clare Road Braintree, is no newcomer to this type of venture. He cycled across Mexico a few years ago and raised about £3,500 for Macmillan Cancer Care and has taken part in a number of other cycle rides including the route from London to Brighton.
He is among a group of 20 people from al over the country taking part in the ride.
