Pints & Pounds

This section begins in the historic Temple Bar area of Dublin. After a night sampling the "real" Guinness, riders head north through the green Irish countryside, crossing what was once one of the world's most guarded borders between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. A rest day in Belfast gives cyclists a chance to enjoy the legendary Irish craic and a shot or two of Bushmills Irish Whiskey in some of the city's fabled bars.

The next day a ferry carries riders across the Irish Sea to Scotland, home to some of the world's finest single malt whiskies, and a rest day in historic Edinburgh, where participants can relive the antics of the city's most famous fictional detective, John Rebus, over a pint of Deuchars IPA in The Oxford Bar.

The route then heads south through the small towns and shires of rural England, with a rest day allowing riders to explore the walled city of York and its fascinating medieval architecture. The last stretch takes cyclists through the fabled university city of Cambridge before riding into London past Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge, marking the end of this section in one of the world's great cosmopolitan cities.

Highlights:

• Sample Guinness and the "real" Irish pub experience in Dublin
• Rest day in Belfast, with Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Irish craic
• Ferry crossing to Scotland and single malt whisky in Edinburgh
• The walled medieval city of York
• The university city of Cambridge
• Finish riding past Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge in London

Surface and terrain:
1–5% unpaved roads; a touring or gravel bike with 35–40c tyres is recommended. Mostly flat to gently rolling terrain across Ireland, Scotland and England. Tour is e-bike friendly.

Suitable for:
Riders comfortable with long daily distances (averaging around 97km on riding days) who want cultural and pub-focused immersion rather than mountainous terrain. Touring category, 2.5/5 difficulty score.