BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Cycling UK has launched a new ‘ready-to-ride’ long-distance trail linking the Peak District to Scotland’s most northerly mainland points.
The Great North Trail, which runs for 800 miles, has been created to answer a demand from cyclists for greater access to the countryside on routes largely away from traffic, the charity has said.
Around 98% of the Great North Trail is on bridleways, byways, cycle routes, unpaved roads and very low traffic minor roads.
It uses some existing established trails, such as the Pennine Bridleway and Cross Borders Drove Road, but research has been carried out to link these through a network of trails, forest roads and abandoned railway lines.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns, said: “We know that around a quarter of people who use the National Trails do so on bikes, yet only two of the 15 National Trails in England and Wales are fully open for cycling.
“We’ve created the Great North Trail because we recognised very little has been done to promote national off-road trails. For example, plans to extend the Pennine Bridleway to Scotland were published 20 years ago, but still haven’t been implemented.
“And yet we know there is an appetite for more cycling access to the countryside. Off-road trails can be ideal for families to ride safely, away from traffic and city pollution.”
Cycling UK has been assisted in creating the trail by the Obscura Mondo Cycle Club’s work in creating a route from Glasgow to Cape Wrath called the An Turas Mor, Scottish Gaelic for ‘The Long Journey’.
The Great North Trail is also part of the charity’s wider ambition to connect the National and Great Trails of England, Wales and Scotland.
