EWAN McGREGOR, the actor turned motorcycling globetrotter, is planning to embark on another epic bike ride, travelling from the northernmost tip of Scotland to the toe of Africa.

The Scottish actor, who shot to fame in the cult film Trainspotting in 1996, is expected to be accompanied on the 6,500-mile journey from John O’ Groats to Cape Town by his friend Charley Boorman, son of the film director John Boorman.

The pair teamed up for three months last year to ride through Europe, Russia, Mongolia, Alaska and North America, raising money for Unicef, the United Nations children’s fund.

During the 20,000-mile motorcycle journey they faced hardships and potential catastrophes, including a dangerous encounter with an armed gang in Ukraine.

Their experiences were recounted in Long Way Round, a six-part television documentary.

They also published a book, which became a bestseller. They are now making plans for a second challenge in 2007. A spokeswoman for McGregor, who is starring in the hit musical Guys and Dolls, said: “Ewan loves bikes and he had a great time with Charley on last year’s challenge.

“He’s very busy with Guys and Dolls but another trip is in the pipeline.”

McGregor has not abandoned cinema work. His forthcoming projects include films about Bonnie Prince Charlie and Beatrix Potter.

He said the inspiration behind his marathon ride last year came from a book, Jupiter’s Travels, by Ted Simon. He was struck by the idea while on a beach in Mauritius reading the book, which told the story of Simon’s four-year journey around the world on a Triumph motorcycle in the 1970s.

“We live in such a comfortable and easy time that it doesn’t do yourself any harm to go and test yourselves, and survive with just the bare essentials,” McGregor said.

Boorman, who became friends with McGregor, 34, after discovering their passion for motorbikes when they met on the set of the film Serpent’s Kiss in 1997, said another trip was a “great idea”.

He added: “Ewan and I are always talking about future trips and this one sounds like it would be amazing.”

Since completing Long Way Round, Boorman has begun practising for Dakar 2006, the gruelling and dangerous mountain and desert rally, scheduled to be screened on television next autumn.

Training for the race has been intense and on more than one occasion has given him cause for concern. He was badly injured in Dubai, and suffered a hairline fracture on his spine.

He has said he has cracked his ribs so many times they no longer heal properly.

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