Ollie follows in dad's tracks for ride across continents

A 25-YEAR-OLD is following in his father's footsteps by cycling from the UK to Thailand, covering around 120km a day, wild camping and even staying in hay barns during rainy nights.

- BY MOLLY POWELL, PA

Olly Hargreaves, from Poynton, was inspired by his dad, Phil Hargreaves, 62 - who cycled from the UK to Australia in 1984 and has dreamed of doing something similar since he was around 10 years old.

After graduating from university in 2021 and securing a job as a product engineer in 2022, he began planning the trip and saving up.

He set off on April 17 this year, cycling across Europe through France, Germany, Austria and Croatia.

He plans to continue his journey through Turkey and Central Asia, eventually reaching Thailand at the end of the year, where he will reunite with girlfriend Ellie, 24, to travel around Asia and Australia together. Olly told PA Real Life: “I've been wild camping in a lot of fields - coming through the end of Germany and Austria, there was a lot because of farmland and stuff.

“There was actually a lot of barns, so I ended up bivvying out in the hay barns, which was quite nice because I didn't have to pitch up my tent and it was quite rainy at that point, so it kept me dry.

“My dad is really proud of me and living vicariously through me, I think!

“He's been so helpful to speak to along the way.”

“I grew up hearing these wild and amazing stories and I always wanted to do something similar... so the trip has been a long time coming,” Olly added.