| Sponsor | Self-funded and sponsored |
|---|---|
| Country | Earth |
| Leader | Ranulph Fiennes |
| Start | Greenwich, United Kingdom 2 September 1979 |
| End | Greenwich, United Kingdom 29 August 1982 |
| Goal | Surface circumnavigation from south to north poles |
| Crew | Ranulph Fiennes, Oliver Shepard, Charles R. Burton |
| Achievements | First surface circumnavigation via both geographical poles |
The Transglobe Expedition (1979–1982) was the first expedition to make a longitudinal (north–south) circumnavigation of the Earth using only surface transport. British adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes led a team, including Oliver Shepard and Charles R. Burton, that attempted to follow the Greenwich meridian over both land and water.[1][2] They began in Greenwich in the United Kingdom in September 1979 and travelled south, arriving at the South Pole on 15 December 1980. Over the next 14 months, they travelled north, reaching the North Pole on 11 April 1982. Travelling south once more, they arrived again in Greenwich on 29 August 1982.[3] It required traversing both of the poles and the use of boats in some places. Oliver Shepard took part in the Antarctic leg of the expedition. Ginny Fiennes handled all communications between the land team and their support, and ran the polar bases.[4]