Although our recent review of a bike tour from Land’s End to John o’ Groats HERE might suggest otherwise, not every adventure on a bicycle runs smoothly and is great fun. In the video recording of his July 2025 trip cycling the British coast anticlockwise, experienced ultracyclist Chris Hall often makes reference to “Sod’s Law,” the British equivalent of Murphy’s Law. This states, in its basic form, that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong, and is a fundamental Rule of the Universe.
Chris Hall has a full time occupation but undertakes challenge events on his bicycle for worthy causes. In 2020 during the 107th Tour de France he rode around Britain putting in 107 miles daily in support of an organization helping 107 youngsters with motor disorders. In May 2023 he did an Everesting challenge every day for a week to raise awareness of mental health issues and the Movember Foundation. Among other accomplishments, he has completed the 800km Badlands gravel race in Spain four times and crossed Australia in 20 days. His ambitious plan in 2025 was to ride 6,500 kms around Britain over 30 days in July, raising funds for the Movember Foundation, before returning to the Badlands race for a fifth time at the end of August.
The theme to the video comes from John Donne’s poem that begins “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.” Mental health issues have become a “silent epidemic” for men. Globally, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day. Hall’s journey is a difficult one and he seems pretty downcast for most of it, even considering quitting at two points. However, looking at the video one can only be impressed by the degree of support he receives on his journey. He has sponsors who come through with products when things go awry, bike shops that go above and beyond to help, being joined by other cyclists for stretches, and people on the roadside cheering him on (and offering gummi bears!).
Leaving Covent Garden in London, he travels to the easternmost point of Britain before turning northwards towards Norwich, where he comes to a bike shop/cafe and already has to replace his rear tire. The shop does group rides and for many of the men participating it is a valuable opportunity to meet others and share experiences. Throughout the video Hall makes thoughtful observations about the cause for which he is riding and believes that riding a bicycle is a real contribution to one’s mental health.
But this ride certainly is a challenge to him. One of the biggest obstacles he faces is terrible weather. While nobody thinks of the British climate as comparable to Mallorca’s, July 2025 looked particularly wretched. Making his towards Scotland in the pouring rain would test anyone. The other issue is that he has a schedule since in many segments of his planned route accommodations are very limited and must be pre-booked. The countryside is quite wild and empty.
After taking a recovery day in Edinburgh, he crosses the Firth of Forth estuary after pointing out that the elevated road bridge he will take is the scene of one of the highest suicide rates in Europe.
The reason that he chose an anti-clockwise route was to enjoy the northwest coast of Scotland. An area normally of great scenic beauty the bad weather killed the joy. Nonetheless cameraman Jack Hague managed did an excellent job in the video. But it was in this section of the trip that various things go wrong. Besides the weather, there are mechanical issues that make things difficult, from a broken spoke to the crank coming loose. After so many days of long miles on the road it all contributes to visible stress. Certainly the last straw is his experience on the Isle of Skye. Here he discovers some of the most dangerous roads he has ever experienced, shoulderless and with heavy fast traffic. It is the height of tourist season on Skye but not a place for a long-distance cyclist.
Escaping from this situation, he works his way down to Glasgow for another recovery day. Things improve as he is able to utilize some very beautiful cycling networks, avoiding traffic and making impressive time. He reenters England via the Lake District with a friend. This helps with morale as they have to climb 2,500 m in a single day. Things continue to improve, although getting to Cardiff in Wales sees more lousy weather. But support comes in the form of new wheels from one of his sponsors. Unexpectedly, there is a bike mechanic too that does a major overhaul of his bike.
One of the surprising things is just how hilly the stretch through Devon and Cornwall is. This is perhaps the hardest piece of the entire circuit. The riders face something like 31 climbs in all. Turning from Land’s End he is into the home stretch. Soon he enters London’s massive conurbation and reaches Covent Garden and the completion of his trip.
Chris Hall thinks that this may have been the most difficult ride he has done. In spite of the setbacks he is clearly dedicated to his cause and perseveres. He inspires others to believe in him. At one point he arrives at a hotel, exhausted and ready to collapse. He has booked the cheapest room but the rider with him decides to stay in the hotel too. The only room still available is the suite Queen Victoria once used. His companion hands him the key to the suite and tells him to use it. Truly, no man is an island and helping hands are to be found wherever there is good will.
“Cycling the Whole British Coastline” starring Chris Hall
Produced by Jack Hague and Chris Hall
52 minutes, released November 2025 on YouTube, link HERE
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