A CLARBESTON Road woman is one of a team of four adventurers to have completed the longest open sea kayak crossing in the UK.

At 25, Tori James was the youngest British woman and the first Welsh woman to climb Everest.

Seven years on the 32-year-old, who grew up on a Clarbeston Road farm, has just begun another extreme challenge – to be the first to travel from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a straight line.

After kayaking non-stop from Land’s End to the Pembrokeshire coast, Tori and the Beeline Britain team arrived in Dale at dusk on Sunday (May 18), completing the first leg of their journey.

Having paddled for more than 34 hours without sleep and travelled 200km+, they are the first people to have ever crossed from Land’s End to Pembrokeshire in sea kayaks.

Tori, who now lives in Cardiff, said: “I am overwhelmed by the journey that we’ve just completed. As expected the sleep deprivation was the hardest part, paddling for 34 hours non-stop.

“It was spectacular, the phosphorescence at night was magical and then dolphins welcomed us as we paddled into the coast of Pembrokeshire.

“I am so proud of the team. I am incredibly tired, but feeling good and it’s such a special feeling to arrive, after 200kms of kayaking, in my home county.”

The Beeline Britain charity challenge will see Tori spend 100 hours in a kayak, 34 hours on a bike and more than 12 hours on foot across some challenging terrain, including the UK’s second highest peak - Ben MacDui in the Caringorm mountains.

The team hope to raise £20,000 for BLESMA, a charity for limbless servicemen and women and their families.

Tori added: “We’re really excited about the rest of the challenge, having got the hardest leg out of the way.”

The 1,100km challenge is expected to take more than two weeks but whatever happens Tori has to finish by June 21 to be bridesmaid at her sister’s wedding.

Follow Tori’s journey at www.beelinebritain.com. To donate text line 59 to 70070.