LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Distance: !!" miles/!#$km (stage) %&' miles/!()&km (full event) Grade: Severe – long, high and uncompromising Download: www.mapmyride.com/routes/ view/2042522530

GETTING THERE

Getting to the start in Land’s End is up to you, but there is a shuttle service from local transport hubs in both Land’s End and John O’Groats that takes you to basecamp. For bike transport, organisers use a third party company, European Bikes Express, to transport your bike. They collect your bike from a bunch of different pick-up points around Britain for an additional fee.

WHERE TO STAY

The Classic Package (currently £1699) includes eight nights camping in the RAB basecamps (tents are erected for you). If camping isn’t your thing, there are a smaller number of single (£2499) and double (£2299) occupancy hotel options available. If you don’t have the legs to do the whole LEJOG route, there are distinct England (five-day) and Scotland (four-day) packages available. At time of writing, all packages for 2018 were still open. If you’re raising money for charity, reduced fee entry (£449) is also available.

WHERE TO EAT

On the road, feed stations are included in entry, as is breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner at basecamp. “You can expect everything from fresh salads, mouthwatering meat, fish and vegetarian dishes [and] puddings worthy of Nigella,” says the event website. “Nine days of riding it may be, but plenty of people report gaining weight on the ride.”

DELOITTE RIDE ACROSS BRITAIN

The 2018 event takes place between 8-16 September. Cycling Plus will be on the start line in Land’s End – look out in the autumn for a full report on our experience.

Entries for the 10-year anniversary Deloitte Ride Across Britain, which runs from 7-15 September 2019, open on 18 July at rideacrossbritain.com