Sustrans, in partnership with Allerdale Borough Council and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are running two free cycle-tourism drop-in events in Maryport and Bowness on Solway.

The free drop-in events will take place as follows:

• Monday 11 March, 11am to 3pm, Her Citi Café, Maryport
• Friday 22 March, 4pm to 8pm, Kings Arms Bowness on Solway

Sustrans staff will be on hand to guide local businesses on how they can benefit from the growing cycle tourism industry and how they can capitalise from the long distance challenge routes, especially Hadrian's Cycleway.

There are over 160,000 trips on Hadrian’s Cycleway each year and around 650,000 cycle tourists visit Cumbria each year.

Allerdale Borough Council Officers will be present at the drop-in events to provide information about the new Allonby to Silloth cycle path as well as offering planning advice to any rural businesses looking to diversify to tap into the growing cycling tourism market.
And they’ll be joined by a representative from the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to discuss current projects and how local businesses can get involved in their work.

There’s no need to book. Just turn up for a cup of tea and a chat. 

Notes

• For more information contact 01900 702526, corp.comms@allerdale.gov.uk
• The Solway Coast was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in December 1964 in recognition of the quality of its landscape and its rich historic and scientific interest. It stretches from Rockcliffe to Maryport, covering 115 square kilometres of the Solway Plain. Through this designation a wide partnership of organisations and groups work together to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area and encourage people to enjoy and appreciate the landscape. To find out more, visit www.solwaycoastaonb.org.uk.  
• A planning application has recently been submitted to create a cycle path from Allonby to Silloth. The full proposed route and all of the planning application documents are available to view on Allerdale’s online planning portal (application number FUL/2019/0038). The path will be comprise of a number of on and off-road sections and form part of National Cycle Route 72 (Hadrian’s Cycleway). Funding for the project has been secured from the Coastal Communities Fund by the Silloth on Solway Coastal Community Team.
• Further information about cycle routes in the local area can be found at https://visitallerdale.co.uk/insider-information/top-cycling-routes-in-allerdale/