'Pompey to Pompeii': Alexander Tyrell rides from Hampshire to Italy on a Vespa

A Hayling Island man has completed an extraordinary solo Vespa journey across Europe to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention — raising more than £5,252 for charity in the process.

Alexander Tyrrell, 41, rode more than 2,100 miles from Portsmouth to Pompeii, Italy, crossing nine countries alone on a Vespa scooter.

What made the challenge particularly unusual was the way the journey was completed.

On the five-day ride to Italy, Alexander avoided motorways entirely and deliberately stayed on roads with speed limits below 90 km/h, taking smaller and often more demanding routes through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy.

The return journey was dramatically different.

After reaching Pompeii, Alexander accepted a challenge from supporters who doubted he could make it back to England in just two days, with a charity donation offered if he succeeded.

He completed the return journey in two consecutive 14-hour motorway rides, arriving back in the UK just 48 hours later.

Across the entire expedition, Alexander averaged around 10 hours of riding per day.

The challenge was completed in memory of his friend, Hayling Island local Mathew Littler, who passed away in 2025, while also raising awareness and support for Solent Mind.

Speaking after returning home, Alexander said: “This wasn’t meant to feel comfortable. I wanted it to feel uncertain and difficult at times because that’s how life can feel for people struggling mentally.

The hardest part wasn’t actually the distance — it was the unpredictability. I had no proper planned stops and every day depended on weather, fuel and how far I could physically keep going.”

During the journey Alexander encountered extreme winds, heavy rain, snow, hail and temperatures as low as -3°C while riding through mountainous parts of Europe.

With the Vespa carrying only an 8-litre fuel tank, fuel shortages in remote alpine areas became a constant concern, forcing him to carry emergency spare fuel while crossing long mountain stretches.

“There were times in the Alps where fuel anxiety became very real. You’re constantly calculating distance, fuel range and whether the next station will actually be open.”

The route took him through the Black Forest in Germany, across alpine roads in Switzerland and Austria, and down through Italy before finally reaching Pompeii near Naples.

Despite the physical challenge, Alexander says the journey restored his faith in people.

“The biggest thing I’ll remember is the kindness from strangers. People stopping to help, talking to me at fuel stations and cafés, asking about the trip and wishing me luck. The world feels less lonely when strangers are kind.”

Throughout the expedition Alexander documented the journey online through his “Pompey to Pompeii” social media pages, where supporters followed his progress across Europe.

So far the challenge has raised £5,352 for Solent Mind.

And after thousands of kilometres, freezing mountain weather and nearly a week on the road, Alexander said his priorities upon returning home were simple.

“The first thing I did when I got back was sleep - it will take me a while to recover”

Following the success of the challenge, Alexander says more long-distance expeditions may now follow.

“Once you ride across Europe alone on a Vespa, your idea of what’s possible changes completely.”