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Cyclists being guided in by DA leaders

UK
The Grand Départ 2027
3 days

Challenge:
Cycle
Main Accommodation:
Hotel
GRADE:
ORANGE 1

Dates & Prices

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About the Challenge

A UK Grand Départ, for the first time in over a decade.

Same roads. Same climbs. One day early. Fully supported. Just turn up and pedal!

In July 2027, the Grand Depart of the 114th Tour de France comes to the UK for the first time since 2014 – and you can cycle the opening stage the day before the professionals race it!

Cycling the route of a Tour de France stage – one of the biggest and most gruelling sporting events in the world – is a fantastic achievement, and it’s very rare to be able to do it on British roads. Tackle this long day in the saddle with our experienced cycle-challenge support team, and enjoy the atmosphere building up in the towns and villages as you ride. This is the closest most of us will get to feeling like we're part of the world's most famous bike race.

With two nights’ accommodation, and a transfer back to the start-point for a big celebration, we make the rest of the experience as convenient as possible for you – and leave you perfectly positioned to watch the pros the next day!

Dates & Prices

Itinerary

The Grand Départ 2027


OPEN • 3 DAYS

  • We meet for registration at our accommodation, a few miles east of Edinburgh city centre. Allow time to prep your bike and kit, so you’re all set up for tomorrow’s big day. Mechanics will be on hand to help if you need it. After a thorough trip briefing and dinner, you’re free to rest. Night accommodation.

    (Lunch not included)

  • Our big day, cycling the route of the 2027 Tour de France, Stage One, Scotland to England! We ride directly from our accommodation onto the route, heading south through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. We follow the Tweed Valley, known for its salmon-fishing, before riding through beautiful rolling landscapes en route to Galashiels. The only categorised climb (Cat 4) comes soon after – over 2 miles long and an average gradient of 6.7%; this has been used frequently in the Tour of Britain. Now dubbed the Côte de Melrose, this climb will decide the first polka-dot jersey wearer of the 2027 Tour de France - feel free to be proud of your own 'King of the Mountains' moment as you watch the race's TV footage later!

    It’s not the only climb of the day – don’t be deceived by the ‘Flat’ terminology of the Tour – but other hills are not steep or long enough to be categorised. After climbing out of Hawick, however, the terrain does become predominantly flat; we head to the border with England, and soon come to Carlisle – you may not have the legs for a sprint, but you’ll feel like a champion as you ride through our finish line! We then head back to our accommodation, where we’ll enjoy a big celebratory evening! Night accommodation.

    Cycle approx. 120 miles; Total Ascent approx. 7100ft

    NB: We endeavour to follow the route as closely as possible, but there may be deviations due to early road closures, one-way restrictions, and safety assessments on the day. We will do out utmost to ensure any deviations are as enjoyable as the official route.

     

  • After breakfast, you’re free to head out onto the route and cheer on the pros!

    (Lunch not included)


Dates & Prices

This challenge requires a minimum number of participants to operate.

Prices may vary depending on date.

  • 2027

  • On this challenge you have 2 options

PAYMENT OPTIONS EXPLAINED

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FULL PAYMENT OPTION

You are responsible for paying the costs associated with this challenge. This will be due for payment 8 weeks before departure. If you wish to, you can still fundraise under this payment option but there is no set target to achieve and 100% of all monies raised will go directly to your charity. You can select your chosen charity within the booking process
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PART PAYMENT OPTION

You commit to raising the target and pay at least 80% of this to your chosen charity 10 weeks before departure and the final 20% within 2 weeks of your return. Your chosen charity will retain 50% of the target plus any additional fundraising you achieve. You will pay a contribution to your trip costs which will lower your fundraising target.
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FUNDRAISING OPTION

You commit to raising the fundraising target and pay at least 80% of this to your chosen charity 10 weeks before departure and the final 20% within 2 weeks of your return.Your chosen charity will retain 50% of the target plus any additional fundraising you achieve.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Two night's accommodation, Edinburgh area
  • Parking
  • Bike storage
  • Carb-loading pre-night dinner & briefing
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the trip (unless where specified on the itinerary)
  • Experienced DA crew (number dependent on group size)
  • Full vehicle and mechanic back-up support and equipment
  • Medical support
  • Bike and rider transfer, finish to Edinburgh
  • GPX File & Digital Map
  • Finishers' cycle jersey
  • Celebration evening with dinner
  • We offset 100% of the carbon emissions from your trip

 

WHAT'S EXCLUDED

  • Bike and cycle helmet 
  • Transport to / from event accommodation 
  • Travel insurance; covering injury, cancellation/curtailment, lost items etc (optional)
  • Any meals specified 'not included' on the itinerary
  • Personal items such as drinks, extra snacks etc
  • Any applicable surcharges as per Terms and Conditions

On the Trip

  • Your trip will be led by experienced Discover Adventure leaders and support crew, including mechanics and at least one medic (depending on numbers).

    Our crew are selected for their knowledge and experience, friendliness and approachability, sense of humour and ability to safely and effectively deal with any situation that arises; they are also trained in first aid. The crew will have mobile phones and/or radios where appropriate, medical kit and other safety apparatus where necessary.

    The number of crew and support vehicles looking after you will depend on the final size of your group, but the team will be looking after every aspect of your trip whether that’s assessing route safety, keeping you fed and hydrated, and sorting out any mechanical problems. Support vehicles are with the group all of the time, and carry all kit and spares. The route will be supplied as a GPX file compatible with navigation devices, and link accessed via the free, user-friendly RidewithGPS app.

  • Your safety, and that of the rest of the group, is our highest priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with appropriate communication devices (eg phones, radios), medical kit and other safety apparatus appropriate to the destination. Our leaders always have access to our 24-hour emergency UK back-up. They are responsible for safety on the trip, and will make any changes to the itinerary they deem necessary, should local conditions dictate. Pre-trip administration - such as medical questionnaires and travel insurance as appropriate - is all done with your safety in mind.

  • Meals are provided from Dinner on Day 1 to Breakfast on Day 3. Breakfasts and dinners will be provided at our accommodation. Expect uncomplicated meals, but plenty of tasty, energising food! Food on the ride will focus on re-fuelling your energy levels; there will be multiple stops but no pre-set lunch. We like to support local businesses and will source food locally where possible. Being vegetarian, vegan, or having other dietary requirements or religious dietary restrictions is rarely a problem provided you inform us well in advance. We know that most people with specific dietary requirements are used to managing things in their daily lives, but we always recommend bringing extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply - plus it makes a nice treat to have your favourites to hand.

    Any meals not included are listed in the itinerary and are on travel / free days, giving you the flexibility to plan your day as you like.

Preparing for the Challenge

  • GRADE | ORANGE

    All our trips are designed to provide a challenge. Trips are graded Yellow, Orange or Red, in increasing level of challenge. This trip lies within the ORANGE range.

    Orange colour

    The grade is determined by factors such as terrain, distance, climate, altitude, etc. Each colour grade has a spectrum which reflects the difficulty of these factors. Trip duration, accommodation and living conditions are also taken into account. Some sections will feel more challenging than others, but the grade reflects the overall trip. Unusual weather conditions can also have a significant impact.

    The Accommodation icon indicates the living conditions while trekking/cycling. While there are usually several factors that present a challenge, the Challenge icon indicates the trip's most challenging element, for most people.

    Trip grading explained

  • This is designed to be a challenge, and it is vital that you train sufficiently for it. We will supply you with a thorough training guide once you have registered. Training is all part of the preparation: inadequate training will impact on your enjoyment of the trip, and your chances of completing it. We expect all participants to train hard in advance, but we respect everyone’s limits and do not expect everyone to maintain the same pace. If you have concerns about your fitness or if you have reduced mobility please do contact us for a confidential chat about whether this challenge is appropriate for you.

  • In the last few years e-bikes have become increasingly popular. At Discover Adventure we see them as a great tool for inclusivity, and a great enabler for people to get out cycling – at home and on our trips – especially when continuing riding (or starting again) in older age or through health problems.
    With charity challenges being at the heart of our business, we know that e-bikes are being used by beneficiaries of various charities to aid recovery, and that they enable participation in events raising funds for those charities.
    E-bikes must, however, be used with caution on a multi-day, high-mileage trip and are in no way a substitute for training. Please talk to us well in advance if you have one you wish to ride on this challenge, so that we can ensure that it is suitable for the challenge, and that you are aware of the pros and cons.

  • We plan our trips around the optimal weather conditions, but could still be exposed to bad weather at any time. It is vital you are prepared for all conditions. We provide you with a detailed packing kit-list on registration, with plenty of information, and we are always available if you need advice.

  • Travel insurance for UK weekends and one-day events is not compulsory but you might like to consider taking out cover in case of cancellation or loss of belongings.

    Once your travel insurance is arranged, just remember to let us know the policy number and 24-hr medical emergency phone number provided by your insurers.

  • In the unfortunate circumstance that you need to cancel your booking, we would ask that you notify us in writing either by email or post.  Your cancellation will be considered effective from the date the notice is received. Registration, administration and amendment fees are non refundable and, depending on your payment option and how close it is to your challenge departure date, you may be liable for a cancellation charge.

    Full details of all cancellation charges may be found in the Terms and Conditions of booking.

  • We have a Passenger Portal which will give you more details of the challenge itself. It also enables you to see any outstanding information we need, the countdown to your challenge departure, see your outstanding balance, make payments and update your contact details. You can access this via the following link - Passenger Portal Log in.

The DA Ethos

  • We believe that travel is a force for good, and it should be safe and accessible for everyone to take on any of our adventures, regardless of sexuality, gender, race or religion. We are committed to ensuring our travellers face no discrimination on any part of the trip we control. However, we operate in some parts of the world that are less accepting. We encourage customers to be aware of local laws and customs in their destinations for their safety and comfort.
    We don’t tolerate any form of discrimination, violence or harassment, either between travellers or involving our leaders, partners or local people. Any behaviour that disrespects our customers, leaders or local communities, makes others feel unsafe or breaks local laws may result in removal from a trip or denying their booking.

  • We are committed to an ethos of responsible travel here at Discover Adventure; this means sustainable tourism, ethical travel, community engagement, cultural respect, wildlife protection, fair trade practices, carbon footprint reduction and more. We have been on a 30-year journey with this as one of our core principles, and it continues to evolve; you can keep up to date with what we are up to and what all of this translates into on a DA trip here.
    From 2024, we will offset our entire carbon footprint, including the flights, via a carbon credit scheme (see more here). We must do all we can to be on the right side of history. Our offsetting brings peace of mind to many of our customers, but we think it is essential that our customers are aware of their impact; with this in mind, we encourage our participants to donate to World Land Trust’s Buy an Acre project when they book an adventure.

  • Our brilliant group dynamic is fundamental to us. We have become synonymous with it over our 30 years of adventure: the supportive nature and group camaraderie are always listed as one of the trip highlights in our feedback. You’ll meet people of widely varying backgrounds, motivations and experiences. Under these unique circumstances, you are more likely to open up about your story and form lifelong friendships. You’ll likely find something that resonates with everyone in the group. This is a unique way of travelling, after all, and that’s what brings you all together.
    We have travellers from 18 – 80 across all of our challenges, with the average age of our participants being in the mid-40s.
  • Many people opt to take on our adventures on their own – maybe they are keen to do something for themselves, love to travel this way or feel that this is an important part of the challenge. The great news is, you’re never really a ‘solo traveller’ when you travel with us as you’re travelling with a group of like-minded people, all ready to take on the adventure of a lifetime by your side.

  • Over the years, people with wide-ranging abilities have achieved personal goals on our adventures that they may have previously assumed were out of their reach.
    We must be aware of any circumstances that may affect your ability to take on the trip, whether you have concerns about fitness, health conditions or disability. This way, we can ensure we are providing the best advice and support. You will be asked to sign a medical declaration upon booking.

    Whilst we will always try our best for you, by the nature of adventure, not all of our challenges are accessible, and we are not an operator specifically offering adapted adventures. If you would like to have a confidential chat with the team about anything before booking, please give us a call or an email; we will be more than happy to help.

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