THORFINN BARTON

The young Scot sets off on a globetrotting trip of a lifetime

Starting from Cape Wrath, Thorfinn has embarked on an epic journey on his steel hardtail. His aim: “To follow trails of connectivity to cultures and ecosystems foreign to the Scotsman’s eye, and leave nothing behind me but memories and tyre tracks”. We’ll be with him the whole way.

“Over the past three weeks, I’ve ridden from the weather-beaten northern tip of Scotland to London. The first few days, tracing a path through the breathtaking Highlands, were almost destitute of people, and in their place reigned great herds of red deer. On one occasion, a hind gave me company at a mountain bothy, and on another, an entire herd raced alongside me as I descended a mountain pass. My journey southward saw an incline in people and temperature, the latter giving reason for me to take every opportunity to plunge into the fresh mountain water.

“An enchanting Buddhist monastery and the ancient remains of Hadrian’s Wall marked my entry into England, but to think it marked a rest in unfettered wilderness would be a mistake. I soon found myself winding up empty peaks on a trail that hugged the humble beginnings of the River Tee. Throughout the Pennines, singletrack often took the place of 4x4 tracks or deteriorated completely, leaving an array of off-piste options for the imagination to play with. Traversing the backbone of England, I stumbled upon many delights – cosy pubs in the Yorkshire Dales, hospitality of all descriptions and some unbeatable (if frightening!) riding in Wharncliffe. I close the first chapter of my story and look up with eager eyes to the lands beyond the Channel.”