The First True South-North Traverse of the British Isles
South
North
Adventures
Join Us to Conquer the Top to Toe of Britain
How We Started
The idea for the South-North adventure was created and founded by Professor Kevin Dutton, who is passionate about celebrating resilience and a “can-do” attitude in young people. He put together a team of liked-minded people, Krishna Thapa and Stephen Feeney to take on the challenge of the TRUE south-north of Great Britain from MID-JUNE TO MID-JULY, 2024. The team will be raising funds for a group of amazing charities all focused on children’s mental health and wellbeing. Our journey is a celebration of the psychological strengths of our young people.
"Totally and utterly bonkers - 2k was enough for me!! But what a challenge and a great cause. Good luck making history, fellas - and when you pass through Henley, there's a couple of beers with your name on them!"
"Kev and the boys are going for a full clearance. A 147. A maxi. First one in history! Best of luck mate - and be sure to drop in on me on the way!"
"Ocean rowing and a tuk-tuk? Can't see it catching on as a sport but CAN totally see why no one has attempted this challenge before! Crazy idea but all for a great cause. Go well lads - there's Yorkshire Tea and cake waiting for you up here in Bramhope. "
"The SAS prayer, The Road to Samarkand, begins: 'We are the Pilgrams, master; we shall go always a little further...' Well, Kev and his team are taking this to the extreme! Wishing you a fair wind and a following sea, lads... and I'll be waiting for you at the Poole Harbour with a brew and a bacon sandwich. You're paying!"
THE MISSION
Land’s End to John o’ Groats. For time immemorial, it has symbolised “the full length” of our nation, with everyone from endurance athletes to intrepid fundraisers traversing its path to conquer the “top to toe” of Britain.
There’s just one problem… it isn’t!
Because all along, a longer, higher, tougher “peak” has lurked within our midst - hidden from view beneath the thick, dense cloud of conventional thought. The unconquered “south-north” face of the British Isles. The TRUE south-north of Britain.
Unconquered that is, until now.
Our 1500-mile mission is to be the first to successfully complete the “ascent” from Les Minquiers (a group of small islands 15 km south of Jersey and the true southernmost point of Britain) to Out Stack (a lump of black, pre-Cambrian rock jutting defiantly out of the waves of the North Sea 2 miles closer to the Arctic than the furthest tip of Shetland: the true north of Britain.)
And we’ll be doing it in style!
First, we’ll be rowing across the English Channel from Les Minquiers (Coordinates: 48°58′14″N 02°03′43″W / 48.97056°N 2.06194°W) to Poole, with a brief stopover in Jersey. Second, we’ll be hopping on our custom-built tandem-rickshaw (the only one in existence!) and cycling to John o’ Groats. Finally, to top it off (quite literally), we’ll be jumping back in our ocean rowing boat and paddling our way to Out Stack (Coordinates: 60.8603°N 0.8741°W.)
Ours will be the First TRUE South-North Traverse of the British Isles.
While we are on our journey, we’ll be stopping off to spend time with young people who have triumphed over adversity. We are on a mission to embrace resilience, to celebrate those who have overcome adversity, and along the way to learn what our young people can teach us about mental health.
Followed every stroke and pedal of the way by Global, National, Regional and local news, we’ll be joined at several points by some of Britain’s most well-known and best-loved celebrities – iconic figures from the worlds of sport, music, fashion, politics, gastronomy, literature, and the military - and we’ll be dropping in on some truly inspiring projects, with the aim of raising money for, and shining a light on, children’s mental health across the country.
This is the story of three men in a boat and a tandem-rickshaw…and then another boat!
Of an iconic, world first challenge…on home soil.
THE CHARITIES
MQ Mental Health Charity
Time 4 Children - Peter James
Reading Agency - Andy McNab
Dream Factory - Harry Redknapp
Fight for Life - Gary Lineker
Big Kid Foundation - Michel Roux Jr
Kidstime - Alastair Campbell
Guide Dogs - Susie Dent
Action for Children’s Arts - Sir Philip Pullman
Ambitious about Autism - Gregg Wallace