Published on: 23/09/2026
The Diocese’s Net Zero Programme Manager has cycled nearly 500 miles in a week to help fundraise for disability access improvements at Rotherham Minster.
David Castle, who is also a Churchwarden there, set off from Inverness on Saturday 12 September and made it back to Rotherham the following Saturday. Travelling over 716km, David’s journey included 35,416 feet of ascent, nearly 21,000 calories burned and over 45 hours of cycling time.
The cost of a new accessibility ramp at Rotherham Minster is over £60,000, with over £10,000 still needed to meet that figure.
David says:
“Rotherham Minster has long been a place that welcomes everyone, and is well established as a significant part of the community in Rotherham.
“We welcome everyone, but we have a challenge making parts of this medieval church accessible to those who are physically less able, so we are replacing our defunct lift with a wheelchair-friendly ramp. This will make virtually the whole building accessible to all! It will also eliminate annual servicing costs.
“The cost is over £60,000, and although we have a substantial disability grant that covers a large part of this, there is still an estimated shortfall of around £10,000 to find.”
Revd Canon Phil Batchford, Vicar of Rotherham Minster, said:
“What an amazing effort David has put in, cycling 445 miles from Inverness to Rotherham to support the installation of a new accessibility ramp in Rotherham Minster. We are so grateful to him and all who have contributed towards this work.”
David documented his journey each day, noting the following highlights:
Day 1: 44 miles from Inverness to Aviemore. Starting off with my new friend Ronny who joined me for the first 10 miles out of Inverness, I passed the Culloden battlefield, followed by 15 miles of steady ascending along the NCN 7 to the Slochd pass at 1,315 feet which held beautiful views. This was followed by a fast descent to Carrbridge, Boat of Garten and finally Aviemore. What a perfect start to this adventure!
Day 2: 56 miles from Aviemore to Pitlochry along NCN 7. Beautiful weather with a tailwind much of the day. Climbed over the Bealach Druim Uachdaire (pass of Drumochter, 1,515 feet) and then an easy descent to Pitlochry youth hostel.
All going well
Day 3: 75 miles from Pitlochry to Edinburgh to stay with my niece Susie.
A good day, but long. Stopped in North Queensferry to meet up for tea with Adele Borrowman, our Strategic Net Zero Funding Manager who lives close by, then across the Forth road bridge.
Tired legs by the end, and sore Achilles tendons, but still going!
Day 4: 67 miles to Hawick. A lovely start through central Edinburgh, across The Royal Mile, then a tailwind along a beautifully smooth tarmac railway cycle route. Edinburgh is fab for cyclists (apart from the cobbles!).
Then on into the hills (of course!), crossing the Southern Uplands into the Scottish Borders, to arrive at an Air BnB in Hawick. One big long climb from 50 to 1,325 feet and then another to 900. Knackered on arrival at 5.30!
Bought ice packs for the tendons which seem to be doing the trick!
Day 5: 65 miles to Bardon Mill, close to No-More Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall. Today started beautifully calm and sunny, passing a pig farm with lots of piglets in the fields. But the inevitable hills rose up ahead to test the mettle of the best cyclists, and beat that of this one more than once! The hill signed “Unsuitable for heavy vehicles” proved also unsuitable for me, as I pushed my way up!
However before long we crossed the border out of Scotland and passed through the Kielder Forest, overlooking Kielder Water. Lunch was taken in a church yard, that turned out to be a holiday let!
And finally, arriving at Hadrian’s Wall, we turned headlong into a strong headwind that provided the strongest test of the day, before dropping down to my friends’ house for the night at about 5pm.
Day 6: 83 miles from Barden Mill to Ribblehead Station. Said goodbye to my hosts and set off on a lovely morning. Not for long! Brutal hills, high remote passes, blustery headwinds and frequent showers meant my route via Middleton-in-Teesdale was not safe, so on leaving Alston I short cut (into the wind and over the 1,900 foot Hartside Pass!) to the station at Langwathby after 32 miles, and caught the train to Ribblehead.
Day 7: Official Hike with a Bike Day! Well, the Yorkshire Dales are brutal on a bike, especially when it’s cold, wet and windy! I lost count of the times I was forced to push up a hill, but we finally made it, the 51 miles from Ribblehead station to Sowerby Bridge. A very busy and scary section of the A65 was mercifully uneventful, despite heavy traffic on the Friday afternoon getaway.
An interesting steep descent of the wet cobbles of Heptonstall led to Hebdon Bridge, with another 2 brutal ascents to finish the day.
Day 8! The final day! Surely it has to be downhill all the way, doesn’t it? Unfortunately not!
42 miles from Sowerby Bridge to Rotherham Minster, and then another 10 home. The forecast was right: strong blustery tailwinds, frequent rain showers and weekend drivers!
It was up and down all the way, but getting less extreme as we entered South Yorkshire, and finally onto the flat cycle path just outside Shiregreen. The sight of tattered flags on lamp posts was particularly depressing after the beautiful landscapes of the North, but soon we were on the sunny towpath to the middle of Rotherham, where the Minster and a small reception party welcomed me in with cheers and clapping!
So here are the stats:
8 days
445 miles (716 km) ridden
35,416 feet (10,795 m) of ascent
45 hrs 4 mins riding
20,926 calories burned (apparently!)
Hundreds of hills!
Claude, my trusty steed, needs some TLC now!
You can support the fundraising efforts here: David Castle is fundraising for All Saints Rotherham PCC