Pedaling with Pipes: epic 20,000km bike quest from Arctic to Indonesia for charity

June 25, 2025

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Bikes and Pipes is the adventure of a lifetime awaiting the dynamic couple, Matt and Jess, who are about to embark on a year-long, 20,000km cycling adventure from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Indonesia with the Scottish bagpipes with the aim of raising £42,700 for Glasgow-based charity, Refuweegee.

Matt Kidd, 36 from Glasgow and Jess Gray, 35 from Hartlepool, are both teachers who recently left their teaching life in Shanghai, China, to start their new adventure. Matt, a secondary music teacher, had the idea to add a unique twist to their travels, by taking his bagpipes, ready to perform and share the joy of Scottish music with the people they meet along the way. In Shanghai, he became known as the “The Shanghai Piper” performing at a variety of events, establishing the first ever youth pipe band in China and even appearing on Chinese TV. And now, the pipes and kilt are packed with plans to perform at unique locations, including the Arctic Cathedral, schools and festivals with an aim of sharing cultural connections and a passion for music.

Matt and Jess have partnered with Refuweegee, a Glasgow-based, community-led charity supporting refugees, which ensures that people who have been forced to flee their homes arrive in Scotland to a warm welcome. They have set themselves a target of raising £42,700 to reflect the 42.7 million refugees currently displaced across the world. Donations to the charity can be made via their JustGiving page. The couple spoke about why they want to support this charity: “We have been fortunate to receive warmth and kind hospitality from local people when we’ve 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.”

The ambitious itinerary begins on Wednesday 9th July flying to Alta, Norway before heading up to North Cape, Mainland Europe’s northernmost point. The trip will follow Norway’s magnificent west coast passing through the stunning Lofoten islands and taking in the fjords and mountains, all the way down to Oslo. Then, cycling into Sweden and Denmark, before entering Hamburg, Germany and cycling down the River Elbe towards Prague. The trip will veer into the Austrian Alps at the start of September, and into Ljubljana,

Slovenia then down to the Mediterranean through Croatia. Through some of the Balkan countries, via Kosovo and North Macedonia aiming for Istanbul. The trip will take them across Turkey up to Georgia as winter sets in. A ferry across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan and continue cycling across the Uzbekistan desert. The couple must fly to New Delhi at the start of 2026 to cycle across the northern part of India into Nepal heading east into Myanmar and Thailand in the spring of 2026. Then into Malaysia and Singapore in April/ May, ending in Indonesia at the end of June.

This isn’t their first taste of extreme adventure. The couple previously kayaked the full length of the River Ganges in India, cycled from Kazakhstan to Mongolia, as well as cycling the length of Japan last summer. 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.

“There’s something magical about exploring the world on a bicycle,” says Matt. “You feel every hill, smell every change in the air, and meet incredible people you’d never encounter otherwise. Add bagpipes to the mix, and suddenly it becomes a conversation starter wherever we go and next thing you know, you’re performing at a local festival and wedding!”

Along the way, you can follow their journey on social media. 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. 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.