In a momentary day dream the idea germinated.

Take a central point between Cape Wrath and Duncansby Head (Strathy Point) on the north coast of Scotland and draw a line due south where it eventually drops into the Solway Firth just east of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. This line is the 4 degrees west of longitude. Then, quite simply, run the 290 odd miles down the line.

How, though, can one add a little more interest into the idea? Challenge someone to bicycle round the west coast of Scotland, starting and finishing at the same points and see who completes their course first!

Thus Christopher Godfrey-Faussett and John Gunn created the Mad HaT (Hare and Tortoise) Challenge with the aim of raising money for three very deserving causes, the King’s Royal Hussars Appeal (40%), as the Regiment heads out to Afghanistan in early 2012, Prostate Cancer Scotland (40%) and The Borders Children’s Charity (20%).

The challenge has evolved over the last few months. We have decided to start in the south by Kirkcudbright; going ‘uphill’, heading north but with the prevailing wind on our backs, on Thursday 2 June 2011 and we will hopefully reach Strathy Point on the north coast on Friday 10 June 2011.

John’s bicycle around the west coast will provide many and varied undulations presented by the coastal road, including a climb from Kishorn up the steep glen of Allt A’Chumhaing, which has been described as the most severe climb on a UK road taking him from sea level to 2100 feet in five miles. John will also be hopping from the coast to various islands including Arran and Skye. In all he will cycle almost 800 miles.

Christopher’s run along the line of four degrees west of longitude is certainly more direct, however in order to give himself a little leeway he is able to divert up to 500 metres west or east of the line, but within this zone he has to climb every mountain and hill that rises in front of him and cross every river, loch or firth that he encounters. Forestry or woodland will have to be fought through. Railway lines will have to be leapt and somehow he will have to dodge the juggernauts on the M74 and M8. One rather intriguing point is that he will encounter very few built up areas. He runs through Motherwell, Airdrie and Cumbernauld but apart from that he will come across just a handful of villages and hamlets. The run is thus pure cross country and he will cover approximately 350 miles over the nine days.

We very much hope this will capture the imagination of a great many people and it is our intention to carry GPS equipment which will be linked into a soon to be announced website so that our progress can be monitored as we make our way along our respective routes.

Should you wish to support us in our endeavour we have established an account with Virgin Money Giving, the link for which is below.