Last month, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After three years and 15 exams, I am now chartered in my chosen profession. You will note that my profession is not “adventurer”. I don’t actively portray myself as a full-time adventurer. A cur... Read more
My least favourite part of running my own expedition grant is having to turn people down. Which is why I love it so much when someone who doesn’t win a grant still completes their expedition. Here’s one such story from Tom Hennell, w... Read more
Laura and I have contributed a chapter to a new book. It’s called ‘The Kindness of Strangers: Travel stories that make your heart grow’ You can buy it here on Amazon. The book has been published by Summersdale. It’s edited by Fearghal O... Read more
I always enjoy reading applications for my grant but but I particularly enjoy applications from young people. The application I received from teenagers Joe, William and Ollie to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc was excellent. I was really impressed w... Read more
I usually say that The Next Challenge Grant is for small adventures but every year there are exceptions. Last year, Lisa and Libby ran up every 3,000ft mountain in Scotland and, in 2015, Elise ran five thousand miles around the coast of Great Br... Read more
The Next Challenge Grant is once again open for applications and donations. The deadline for applications is 31 December 2018 and grants will be awarded in January 2019. Click here to apply Click here to donate The 2019 Next Challenge Grant This... Read more
In his application for The Next Challenge Grant, German student Hajo Spathe wrote: I have never seen a more beautiful place than the Canadian Rockies! Turquoise lakes like emeralds and the Icefield Parkway Highway is just breathtaking.” Hi... Read more
The ‘TT’ (Tourist Trophy) is a series of motorcycle races that take place on the Isle of Man each year. The route of those races is 37 miles and grant winner George Shelton decided that it would make for a good day’s run. So, earlier... Read more
As well as enjoying the drama of England’s progress through the group and knock-out stages of the World Cup, it’s also reminding me of where I was this time four years ago: cycling across Malaysia. Our time in the country did not jus... Read more
Grant winner Val Ismaili and his friend Mark (pictured above) have recently completed a kayak descent of the Drin River, which runs for 200 miles through Kosovo and Albania. Kayaking the Drin by Val Ismaili This Easter my friend Mark and I compl... Read more
North Korea is in the news a lot at the moment. I’m sure it’s a great place and, who knows, maybe it will be open to cycle tourists one day. But until then, let me sing the praises of its southern neighbour. Laura and I spent three b... Read more
Six years ago, Dan Keeley was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and experienced a dangerous manic episode whilst in Rome. Six months ago, he went back to Rome to exorcise his demons, which he did in remarkable style by running over one thousand mi... Read more
