At the end of June, a group of some 21 older cyclists – plus my son Charlie and myself – under the superlative organisation of Peak Tours, successfully completed a ride, which included record-breaking temperatures over the first four days in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset and headwinds of 40mph as we tried (and, in our case, failed) to ascend the Lecht in the Cairngorms, a ‘true monster of a climb’ even without the wind.

However, the ride was also an opportunity to experience ‘this other Eden, this demi paradise’ in a novel and stimulating way, connecting places which otherwise seem quite separate. On Day 4, for example, we rode 62 miles from Street in Somerset across the Severn Bridge via Chepstow to Monmouth in the Wye Valley, a route one would not necessarily consider otherwise.

Blessed with virtually no rain, we rode through beautiful countryside largely on small, less-travelled roads. Our journey through Warrington and Wigan led us along scenic canal-side cycling paths that belied these towns’ industrial reputations.

Perhaps the most spectacular leg involved riding between the austere, but impressive, forms of the Moffat Hills just over the Scottish border. A long and fairly stiff climb straight after breakfast was followed by a glorious descent into Broughton where we were met by my friend and former colleague William Daniel, by chance over from Jakarta.

In Moffat, we were able to tend the graves of James Gray Lawrie, my great grandfather, and his daughter Lady Cross, who spent four decades of widowhood there.

The last two days saw us strike north from Inverness through some bleak Sutherland moorland to the tiny hamlet of Crask, near Lairg. This leg was followed, to my surprise, by verdant agriculture in Caithness before arriving at our goal in full sun.

Charlie was a great companion, and our cycling ability was broadly similar so we could ride together without delaying each other. We also enjoyed the company of our other fellow riders, whose general knowledge of bicycles and cycling put us to shame. A bicycle maintenance course is now essential!

I was very apprehensive that I might not be up to the distance. This apprehension had, however, prompted me to train hard and I was delighted to find that 14 days in the saddle were not beyond me. In fact, we have already begun to think of other possible long-distance rides and I shall continue to ride with the Oxonian Cycling Club of Eynsham, which I joined a couple of months ago.

At the time of writing, we have raised £8,430 plus Gift Aid for Medical Aid for Palestinians. Our JustGiving page is still open for anyone minded to support the cause.

James Lawrie