A MAN is cycling down the entire length of the British Isles to raise money and awareness for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

Stuart Nelson, who lives in Farndale, is currently cycling from Unst in Shetland to St Agnes on the Scilly Isles, via Orkney, Iona, Holy Island, York, Hull, Lincoln, Norwich, London, Canterbury, Stonehenge and Land’s End - a route he says is about 2,900km.

A keen traveller, Mr Nelson said he is also doing the cycle as a kind of "camino" - a traditional pilgrimage route.

“Our beautiful islands stretch from Muckle Flugga in the far, far north of Shetland, to St Agnes in the south,” he said.

“Having walked across Scotland, England, Spain and the length of Portugal on pilgrim routes, I am on my very own ‘pilgrimage’ to see our country - from North to South.”

On his journey, which he started on May 29, he is visiting various cathedrals and places of interest, including York Minster and St Paul’s in London. He passed through Ryedale last week, reaching Castle Howard on Saturday.

On choosing the YAA, he said: “In the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, the nearest hospital is a long way away. Our more remote areas are beautiful, but do not have facilities on hand to help people in need of urgent medical care. Thankfully we have charities which provide helicopter assistance.

“The YAA need £12,000 each day to keep them in the air.

“I am proud to support their work. I just hope I never have to travel in their helicopter.”

To donate to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/themaninthebleblazer-yaa.

For more on Stuart’s travels see themanintheblueblazer.com or his Facebook page ‘The Man in the Blue Blazer’.