INTREPID friends raised more than £2,000 for charity by cycling between the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales – and climbing all three mountains – in just 69 hours.

Andy Stiles, 45, of Danby Wiske, near Northallerton, and Richard Woods, 50, of Bedale started by climbing Snowdon in Wales, then cycled 205 miles to Scafell Pike, in the Lake District, making it up to the summit and back down 27 hours after their efforts started.

After three hours’ sleep, they were back in the saddle heading for Ben Nevis and, following one more short rest break en route, overcame their fatigue to complete the challenge in a total of 69 hours.

Overall, they cycled 445 miles which included 19,000ft of climbing. They also walked 25 miles and climbed 10,000ft.

Last year, they did the more traditional National Three Peaks Challenge, which includes driving between the mountains and climbing them inside 24 hours.

After hearing about someone else who had cycled it instead of driving, they decided to go one better this year, and did a series of 200 mile-plus training rides in preparation.

Mr Stiles found the hardest part climbing Scafell Pike, but said there were a lot more highs than lows on the route.

“Scafell Pike was just a really tired, low point for me,” he said. “But the support from everyone was fantastic. Even from random people on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow who donated money to us.”

For Mr Woods, the toughest section was the second day of biking. “The first day was two mountains, 205 miles on the bike and 27 hours on the go,” he said. “We then had about three hours rest and sleep before we set off again, and getting out of the lakes was hilly.”

He added: “I think the high point was when we got off the bikes at the foot of Ben Nevis, because no matter how bad we felt, we knew we would finish.”

They have raised more than £2,000.

Mr Stiles was supporting Martin House Children’s Hospice, in Boston Spa, near Wetherby, and Mr Woods was the Halcyon Trust for Steve Walsh, a friend who suffered a series of strokes in 2013 which left him in a locked in condition.