Plymouth gets active with national cycling campaign
Destination Plymouth has teamed up with the National Trust and local bike emporium, Rockets and Rascals, to inspire more visitors to take a cycling holiday in the city.
Plymouth is one of 25 cities that have joined VisitEngland in a national campaign aimed at attracting more Britons to take a cycling holiday in England this year.
Launched on Friday 11 July, the campaign will include a Television advertisement which will air on Channel 5 and Demand 5. It will highlight the wide range of cycling related tourism products and experiences on offer throughout the year and aims to build on the increased enthusiasm for the sport following the London 2012 Games and the arrival of the Grand Départ in Yorkshire this weekend.
The TV ad, which will air for three weeks from Friday 11 July has been created with a range of partners and will feature the Plymouth Hoe and waterfront. The cycle route from the Barbican to Royal William Yard was also featured in a cycling themed supplement in the Guardian in June – offering 100 pages of cycling fun throughout England.
Amanda Lumley, Chief Executive of Destination Plymouth said: “Cycling is a popular sport that is growing year on year and we are thrilled to be part of this 12 month campaign which is organised by VisitEngland and funded by the Government Regional Growth Fund.
“Plymouth has some of the best cycling trails to offer and it is our place to promote Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City, as a major international attraction. With the support of Rockets and Rascals, the National Trust and Plymouth Community Healthcare we have pulled together a whole host of information from family days out to more adventurous mountain bike trails and we will be promoting this on a local, national and international level.”
Plymouth has a great deal to offer residents and visitors from tranquil family rides through to blood-pumping mountain bike trails.
As well as cycling along Plymouth’s Barbican, waterfront and harbour, the city provides a great base for those wanting to explore the stunning scenery and local history the city has to offer.
Steve Toze, Director at Rockets & Rascals, said: "From the day we opened our first Rockets & Rascals we've been focussed on getting people to feel the joy that cycling around Plymouth brings. It's a great city for cycling, it's not just a great place to explore by bike but also a wonderful starting point to explore the South West by bike. We're delighted to be involved with this initiative and looking forward to helping people with their two wheeled adventures"
Located on the National Cycle Network routes 27 and 2, Plymouth is the gateway to a number of exciting routes, with numerous National Trust estates, the Dartmoor National Park and coastal routes nearby. Plymouth also has international cycling links including Brittany and Northern Spain.
Shona Owen, South West Marketing Manager ‘Cycling’s part of the active outdoors lifestyle that locals and visitors to Plymouth can enjoy, with National Trust places like Saltram and Plymbridge Woods offering great off-road cycling experiences on the edge of the city. Plymouth’s cycling opportunities just keep increasing; the National Trust is delighted to play a part in that; and it’s great to see it getting a national profile as part of this campaign.’
For more information about the campaign, and the cycling routes that Plymouth has to offer visit www.visitengland.com/ride and www.visitplymouth.co.uk/cycling.
