Name: James Ward
Residence: UK
Year of birth: 2005
Bike: Salsa Cutthroat
Riding period: 19 June – 27 August 2026
Most favourite part: The seemingly endless gravel roads of Scandinavia and the equally endless dirt roads of Spain.
Random thoughts: As of 2026, I’m the youngest person to complete the trail!
How was this route made by one man?
What goes up must, at some point, go down.
Watch out for the dogs, especially in Portugal. I was chased 9 times in one day!
Everyone tells me Spain is the hardest section. I disagree, northern France was much more difficult!
Lots of the trail in Germany is pretty overgrown. Expect to be doing a fair bit of bushwalking.
Things will go wrong!
I was incredibly lucky with my bike. Over the entire trail I didn’t have a single mechanical issue, not even a puncture. Unfortunately, my electronics weren’t nearly as reliable. Along the way I managed to break
– a Phone
– a Bike computer
– 3 power banks
– a SIM card
– an electric Mosquito repellent
– a Set of headphones
– an Electric pump
– a Head torch
– 2 front bike lights
Replacing all of this while travelling along the trail was often more challenging as the riding itself!
Accommodation:
My accommodation of the trip included
50 nights wild camping
3 nights in campsites
6 nights in hostels
5 nights in Airbnbs
3 nights in hotels
Wild camping on the route is often pretty easy, you get to stay in some awesome places and its a good way to save some cash!
Favourite memory: cycling to the tiny village of Sesga after getting caught in a mountain storm. Sesga was a town of only a dozen permanent residents, but I had arrived right in the middle of the ‘Fiestas de San Roque. ‘ The village was packed with 100s of people who welcomed me in, sang to me, and fed me paella.
The song they made about me cycling from Norway to their village was definitely a highlight of the trip!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ward.inthewild/
James’ trip in pictures
