SKIPTON Air Cadets instructor Phil Brotherton is planning a 3,500-mile ride to mark the centenary of the outbreak of Word War One.

Setting out next April, he intends to spend three months travelling across 12 countries - 11 of which were involved in the conflict - to raise money for the Royal British Legion and the German Volksbund.

"It is a form of reconciliation and friendship," said 37-year-old Phil.

He will cycle, walk and climb the route - and will leave a trail of 2015 Poppies as a sign of remembrance to all who died from both sides in the Great War.

The poppies have been provided by Skipton Royal British Legion.

A married man, Phil will begin his journey from Gallipoli, Turkey, and will then follow the First World War front line over the mountains of Greece and Macedonia, through Serbia, over the mountains of Slovenia and Italy, and then onto the home stretch of France and Belgium.

He hopes to finish at the English Channel towards the end of July.

He will cover most of the route by bike, but will be on foot for several hundred miles where the trenches pass over the mountains. In the Italian Dolomites. he will have to climb using the Via Ferratas with all his equipment and his bike strapped to his back.

"This isn’t an ordinary bicycle tour - it will be about 3,500 miles of sweat, fear, pain and emotions," said Phil, who suffered a serious head injury 11 years ago. "There’ll be sand, sun and snow, plus probably quite a bit of rain. Beaches, forested hills, flat plains and rugged mountains. Wherever the trenches ran, I’ll be following."

Phil added: "As a qualified mountain leader who loves spending time in the hills and mountains, I think that I have both the experience and the motivation to carry out this expedition and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

To sponsor him, visit trailofpoppies.co.uk or facebook.com/trail.of.poppies