Mountain Biking & the North Pennines

Shane Harris: Responsible Tourism Lead

• AONBs & Protected Landscapes

• What’s special & where is it?

• Cycling in the AONB• Packhorse Trails• Electric Bike Network• Challenges • Final words

Outline

• Landscapes of equivalent value to National Parks

• Born out of the same legislation

• IUCN Category V – Protected Landscapes

• 40 in England & Wales• www.landscapesforlife.org.uk

AONBs & Protected Landscapes

Nidderdale

Arnside & Silverdale

Northumberland Coast

• Conservation and enhancement of natural beauty

Also...• Support for economic &

social activities which in themselves contribute to the purpose of designation

• Promoting enjoyment & understanding in ways compatible with primary purpose

AONBs – Purpose of designation

– tumbling waterfalls, sweeping moorland views

What’s special?

– inky-black night skies

What’s special?

– fantastic birds, colourful hay meadows

– real weather sense of ‘authenticity’

What’s special?

– fabulous landscape– snaking stone walls &

friendly faces– ‘otherness’ – wide

horizons, big skies & a sense of freedom

What’s special?

• Designated in 1988• c2,000 sq km – 2nd

largest AONB• In NE & NW

regions• 3 counties –

Cumbria, Durham & Northumberland

• 2 districts – Eden & Carlisle

Where is the North Pennines?

Where is the North Pennines?

– Glorious range of cycling– Sweeping road routes

• Tour of the Reservoir• Tour of Britain• Roof of England Sportive (28

Aug 2016)– Traffic-free family

• Disused railway tracks • Hamsterley Forest

– Mountain biking• X-country• Downhill• Forest trails

– Touring• C2C• Pennine Cycleway• Walney to Wear

Cycling in the AONB

– Five x-country mountain bike routes:

• Alston• Baldersdale• Blanchland• Hamsterley• Hartside

– Based on packhorse routes• Linked to lead mining landscapes• Historic routes trod by galloways

– Waterproof routes cards, booklet with services & further information

Packhorse Trails

– 11 Hire Points, 25 bikes, downloadable routes, Hire Points

– Launched in 2014, expanded this year

– Distinctive look and feel• Website

– www.electricbikenetwork.org.uk • Logo & brand guidelines• Downloadable routes

– Brand standard:• Quality, well-maintained bikes• Rescue and recovery• Same hire charges across the network

Electric Bike Network

– Concept• Increase accessibility• Low carbon activity• Support existing small

tourism businesses, additional revenue stream

• Small numbers at lots of Hire Points, spread the benefit

• Subsidised lease charges

Electric Bike Network

• A ‘natural destination’ but with a multi-layered identity

• Three DMOs• Fragmentation of offer due to

administrative boundaries• Declining public sector

resources - time+£• Seasonality/single night stays• Complexity of funding landscape• Health and wellbeing agenda

Challenges…Opportunities

• A special place– nationally & internationally

designated landscape• Compelling rural offer

– Cycling, dark skies, nature, culture

• Approach– Responsible Tourism– ‘responsibility is the process

and attitude, sustainability is the goal’

– ‘better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit’

• Challenging– Taking responsibility– Holistic approach– Partnership/collaboration

Last words…