TV presenter and radio host Paddy McGuinness says he was “blown away” by the support for his charity cycle ride from Wales to Scotland for BBC Children In Need.

The Top Gear presenter began his journey, which he says he has no regrets and will “keep forever”, on Monday at Wrexham AFC Racecourse, and is due to finish it on Friday in Glasgow.

The 51-year-old is undertaking the 300-mile Radio 2 Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge on his childhood dream bike, the Raleigh Chopper, with his bike painted in the colors of the association’s mascot, Pudsey.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Friday, McGuinness said: “It’s raining, it’s dark and it’s freezing, but people come anyway.

“I was absolutely blown away by the number of people, I came from Wrexham, Wales all the way to England, all the way to Scotland, and I couldn’t tell you when there were times when people n were not there.

“It feels like everyone knows what’s going on, it’s incredible.

“It’s really a privilege to be a part of it, it’s a little moment in my life that I’m going to hold on to – it’s been lovely.”

McGuinness left for the final leg from Strathaven to Glasgow early on Friday morning and said he would miss the trip when he returned to his regular job presenting Smile Every Sunday on Radio 2.

He added: “The only regret is: I should have put better padding over the (bike seat), but other than that, absolutely no regrets.

“Strangely, I think I’m going to miss Monday. When I kind of walk to the store for my pint of milk and everything else in the morning, I’m like, why is no one (here), why don’t the cars passing by say “hello.”

“I will miss that kind of revealing to people all the time and that feeling that everyone is behind you.

“Without that, I don’t think I would have been able to get through it, because it was really difficult.”

McGuinness revealed that riding a bike designed for a child had caused some problems and said his physio had helped him at every stop.

He said: “Essentially it’s a kid’s bike, and you’re in a stressful position all the time when you’re riding it.

“That’s why my back keeps seizing up, but in the last few days my knees are gone now, they’re completely affected.

“And Jeff… my physio, he corners me at every pit stop.

“We’ll stop, he’ll pull out the bed, and we’ll do all that, and then I talk to everyone who comes in, and we take selfies and everything else, and then we move on to the next town.”

So far in his journey, McGuinness has been joined by Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, greeted by 1970s pop group Black Lace, and collapsed after receiving cards and drawings from his children.

At the last count, donations had reached more than £6.8 million, with those wishing to donate able to do so on the BBC website.