IN the ongoing debate about whether or not mountain bikers would be better if the northern area of the Howgills joins the Lake District National Park or the Yorkshire Dales National Park, we have received this reponse from the Yorkshire side!
Here Mark Allum sets out some of the interesting developments that have taken place for mountain bikers and the development of bridleways:
There have been a significant number of initiatives with regard to cycling and mountain biking over the last few years. Some have been at a strategic level but the list below should give you a flavour of the more practical projects. Infrastructure Rights of way.
The National Park Authority has delegated responsibility for rights of way within the National Park, and maintaining the network is a priority programme for the Authority. Pennine Bridleway.
We are currently close to completing the Pennine Bridleway National Trail through the National Park which is a 52 mile section.
This has involved a number of significant new creations and repair projects. This leaves the National Park at Hell Gill, but the continuation from there to the Fat Lamb pub is also complete.
Natural England is looking to extend this into Kirkby Stephen. In addition to the main route we will be looking to promote a series of mountain bike loop routes. Small things.
We have also tried to address a number of small infrastructure issues such as providing bike parking (lockers, stands etc). A local supplier was used as a source for Sheffield type cycle stands and securing rings. The latter are far more discreet and can be simply attached to a wall, often looking like an original feature. This makes them particularly useful in an area like the National Park with large numbers of listed buildings and strong planning controls.
These stands and rings were then distributed free to local shops, businesses and accommodation providers who were then responsible for fitting them. This has been highly successful with over a 100 sites now supplied with cycle securing devices. Cycle lockers were provided at Grassington and Hawes.
We have also provided taps to fill water bottles/Camelbaks at out toilet facilities.
Promotion
Nearly all our promotion work has included not just in the National Park, but also the surrounding towns and the Nidderdale ANOB. Mapping. 1:40 000 scale maps.
This is a series of four maps covering the Dales and Nidderdale designed for walkers and mountain bikers in particular, with all rights of way shown. A grading exercise was carried out on the bridleway and green lane network using the CTC grading scale.
These routes were then highlighted in ski run colours on the maps. Some routes were deliberately excluded were there are very significant management or erosion issues..
Leaflets.
We have produced leaflets on cycling in the area which are then distributed nationally through tourist information centres. Website. www.mtbthedales.org.uk is our major promotion tool providing a full range of information on businesses, routes, and news on the area.
The aim is for it to both inspire new people to visit the area, and for regular visitors to find out what new is happening.
Shows.
Attendance at a number of shows including the York Cycle Show, OpPad in the Netherlands and The Outdoors Show at Birmingham over a number of years. We have also supported a number of journalist visits from the Netherlands and Germany specifically to showcase the outdoor opportunities available. Business development We look to promote cycle businesses through the cycling websites as well as our own, and work with Cumbria Tourism and Welcome to Yorkshire to ensure information at this level also acts to promote businesses.
Cycle accommodation.
We have looked to develop cycle friendly accommodation and have supplied a number of providers with tools, bike wash facilities, maps and promotional material. Over the last five years there has been considerable cycle business development which has often attracted significant grant support.
Dales Mountain Biking has developed the Dales Bike Centre at Fremington offering a shop, accommodation, café and cycle hire in addition to their range of courses. Kudu Bikes has become well established in Hawes, as has Off the Rails in Settle. More recently bike shops have opened in Settle and Grassington.
