A whisky enthusiast is preparing to undertake a cycling challenge around Wales' whisky distilleries for charity.
Robert Richardson will set off on his 400-mile 'Whisky Ventures' challenge on 16 May, beginning in Cardiff and working his way to all the country's whisky distilleries before finishing up in Holyhead. Along the way he will take in distilleries including the Cardiff Distillery, Penderyn, Dà Mhìle, In the Welsh Wind, Aber Falls, and LLanfairpwll.
He is using the challenge to raise money for the Welsh Air Ambulance charity, and will also visit all the Wales Air Ambulance helibases on his journey. He is hoping to complete the challenge within seven days.
In addition to asking for donations for his cycling challenge, Richardson is also hoping to host a charity auction upon his return using bottles donated by the Welsh distilleries he will visit.
It follows Richardson's initial Whisky Ventures challenge in 2022, in which he cycled to all of Scotland's 140-plus distilleries. He began his ride at Bladnoch Distillery near Wigtown and finished at Saxa Vord on the Isle of Unst, Shetland, covering 2,200 miles in seven weeks. The challenge raised almost £10,000 for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance and Cash for Kids.
His long-term goal is to complete similar challenges in England and on the island of Ireland, which have more than 40 distilleries apiece.
Richardson says that his first Whisky Ventures ride in Scotland increased his interest in whisky, and he has since completed a diploma in whisky production and undertaken shadowing visits with staff at various distilleries.
The ride will be tracked via live GPS, and there will also be posts on social media @whisky_ventures throughout the challenge for people to follow Richardson's progress. More information and an interactive map of the route can be found at whiskyventures.co.uk.
