A Glasgow man is embarking on a 20,000km adventure with his partner as they plan to cycle from Europe鈥檚 most northerly point to Indonesia.
Matt Kidd, 36, plans to spend 11 months cycling across the world with partner Jess Gray, from Norway to south-east Asia. The couple are raising money for Glasgow charity Refuweegee.
Matt, who was until recently working as a teacher in China, became known as the 鈥楽hanghai Piper鈥 after performing with his trusty bagpipes at a variety of events, establishing the first ever youth pipe band in China and even appearing on Chinese TV. His pipes and kilt are now packed as he plans to perform at unique locations across the globe, including the Arctic Cathedral, schools and festivals with an aim of sharing cultural connections and a passion for music.
Matt and Jess 鈥 who is from Hartlepool, County Durham 鈥 both recently left their teaching jobs in Shanghai in order to embark on the adventure. The couple are seasoned travellers, having previously kayaked the full length of the River Ganges in India, cycled from Kazakhstan to Mongolia, and last summer cycled the length of Japan.
Matt said: 鈥淲e have been fortunate to receive warmth and kind hospitality from local people when we鈥檝e travelled around the world and understand that the power of spreading kindness and positivity can make such a difference. We want to be able to do something similar for people arriving in Scotland.鈥
The pair will set out on Wednesday July 9 from Alta, Norway before heading up to North Cape, Mainland Europe’s northernmost point. From there, the couple will follow Norway鈥檚 magnificent west coast, cycling around fjords and mountains, all the way to Oslo.
From there, they travel to Sweden and south through Denmark, crossing into Germany and meeting the River Elbe at Hamburg. They will follow it to Prague before veering south into the Austrian Alps in September.
From there, they cycle through Slovenia and along the Adriatic coast to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and then Montenegro, turning inland through Kosovo and North Macedonia towards Istanbul. They will cross the entirety of Turkey before entering Georgia and crossing the Caucasus in winter.
The pair will then take a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan and will continue cycling across the Uzbekistan desert. From there, they fly to New Delhi around Hogmanay to cycle across northern India and into Nepal, heading east in the mountainous region into Myanmar and Thailand in the spring of 2026.
They will continue south into Malaysia before arriving in Singapore in April or May 2026. They plan to complete their journey in Indonesia in June 2026.
With every trip, they connect with local cultures, meet people from all walks of life, who have invited them into their homes and offered food and comfort, and document the beauty of slow travel on a bicycle.
Matt said: 鈥淭here’s something magical about exploring the world on a bicycle. You feel every hill, smell every change in the air, and meet incredible people you鈥檇 never encounter otherwise.
鈥淎dd bagpipes to the mix, and suddenly it becomes a conversation starter wherever we go and next thing you know, you鈥檙e performing at a local festival and wedding.鈥
Along the way, you can follow their journey on social media under the name 鈥楤ikes and Pipes鈥. Supporters can fuel their journey by buying them a coffee, receive a personalised postcard sent from somewhere along their travels, or buy personalised jewelry through their website. You can follow Matt and Jess on Bikes and Pipes on Instagram, YouTube, and their website for updates, music-filled moments, behind-the-scenes clips, and the inevitable ups and downs of life on the road.
The couple are aiming to raise 拢42,700 for Refuweegee to reflect the 42.7 million refugees currently displaced across the world. Their fundraising page can be found here.
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