Most people could be forgiven for reaching their 60th birthday and beginning to think of leading a more sedate and relaxed lifestyle.

But as Stephen Cone prepares to enter his seventh decade he is gearing up for a 3,000-mile sporting and physical challenge that would test anyone's limits.

In May Mr Cone, from Carlton Colville, will be setting out on a remarkable two-month charity trek that will take him from the country's most easterly point, Ness Point in Lowestoft, to other far-flung corners of Britain.

And as well as cycling nearly 3,000 miles to the furthest parts of the country the former Lowestoft College lecturer from Bloodmoor Lane will be indulging in three of his other favourites sporting pastimes – canoeing, surfing and climbing.

On his gruelling bike ride, which takes in Land's End, Ardnamurchan Point and John O'Groats, Mr Cone will go surfing in Cornwall, canoe across 23 miles of The Wash and climb Ben Nevis, Mount Snowdon and Scafell Pike.

But as Mr Cone recovers every night in his tent on his two-month trek, he will be spurred on by the memory of his father and the image of his injured one-year-old granddaughter.

Mr Cone, who celebrates his 60th birthday on May 4, is taking up his Length and Width charity bike tour to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and the Steps charity.

He is cycling for the heart foundation as his father Leslie Cone died aged 84 three years ago from a heart problem.

And Mr Cone is supporting Steps which supports people with lower limb problems, as his granddaughter Freya, from Portsmouth, is recovering from a serious hip displacement problem.

He will visit Freya and promote the work of Steps, which helped her, as he visits her on his journey.

Mr Cone, a former marine safety lecturer and special needs worker, said: 'In order to stay fit throughout my life I have always had a goal to work towards and now is no exception.

'I had the idea of the ride a year ago as a way to absorb all the activities I am involved in.'

To sponsor Mr Cone's Length and Width challenge visit justgiving.com/teams/lengthandwidth