'I travelled by stunt scooter across the country'

Harry holding cycling gloves taking a selfie in front of Big Ben. He has short black hair, glasses and facial hair.Image source, Harry Jones
Image caption,

Harry Jones documented his 500-mile (800km) challenge through his social media

  • Published

A man who travelled from the most easterly point of Britain to the west on a stunt scooter has raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Harry Jones, 25, said he went through "agony every day" as he crossed 500 miles (800km) from Ness Point in Lowestoft, Suffolk, to Land's End in Cornwall.

He started his challenge on 3 April and finished on Sunday after an arduous 11-day journey.

Mr Jones said: "I severely underestimated the difficulty of the journey, but with the support from hundreds of people I kept going." He has raised more than £2,300 for suicide prevention charity CALM.

Harry is a hi-vis jacket on his scooter at Ness Point, with the sea in the background.Image source, Harry Jones
Image caption,

He started his challenge at Ness Point on the Suffolk coast

Mr Jones said he originally began the challenge to inspire others and have fun, as it was always something he had wanted to do.

The epic journey was documented on TikTok and Instagram, with one of his videos obtaining a quarter of a million views.

"There was people who noticed me on the way... it gave me even more of a reason to keep going," he said.

A selfie of Harry and his mum at Ness Point. Harry is in a yellow hi-vis jacket and his mum has glasses and is wearing a white jumper. Image source, Harry Jones
Image caption,

Harry said: "My friends and family (mum, pictured) are so proud and that warms my heart."

Day one started at 08:00 and he scootered about 65 miles (105km) from Lowestoft to Colchester, Essex.

"I arrived at my campsite at midnight that night. I thought I was going to be camping through the trip, but only got two hours of sleep," he said.

"I slept in this tiny sleeping bag and my hip was killing, so decided to have a comfy bed at least and sleep in Airbnbs.

"I was in agony every day from the challenge. It was in my hamstrings, fingers, shoulder and back.

"My fingers are very sore still and really stiff from the vibrations of the scooter."

Cattle grid conundrum

After travelling through many counties, including a stop in the capital, the Suffolk scooting star eventually made it to the opposite end of England.

"The hardest part of my trip was when I was going fast down a hill in Cornwall and realised there was a cattle grid coming up.

"I couldn't stop in time, so I had to jump over it."

A highlight was meeting strangers on the way and "explaining the challenge to them was great, because everyone I met was so supportive," he added.

Harry pointing at a road sign while on his scooter. It gives directions for the A12 towards London.Image source, Harry Jones
Image caption,

At the start of his journey, Harry made his way through Essex...

Harry taking a selfie outside the road sign for Somerset. He is wearing a grey jumper, glasses and bright orange gloves. His scooter is purple and red, with red handlebars.Image source, Harry Jones
Image caption,

before heading west, through Somerset and towards the sea

Mr Jones has loved scootering since childhood and spent a lot of his time at the local skatepark practising tricks.

"I decided to travel by scooter because I thought it would be something different and stand out.

"My scooter was designed by my brother for me - a little stunt scooter with 110mm (4.3in) wheels.

"My friends and family are so proud and that warms my heart."

He added he would be celebrating the end of the challenge by going for a well-earned spa break.

Harry in hi-vis holding his scooter over his head, smiling as he completes his journey. The Land's End sign is in the background. Image source, Harry Jones
Image caption,

He finished his challenge on Sunday at Land's End

Get in touch

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk?