The route 800 service will be run by Stagecoach Cumbria as part of the innovative GoLakes Travel sustainable transport programme, which aims to inspire visitors to the Lake District National Park to Drive Less, See More.

The new service will start on Saturday 5th May and the buses will run at weekends and bank holidays until the summer holidays when it will run every day from 16th July until 31st August and weekends until 30th September.

The ‘bike & ride’ service will see specially converted buses, that are able to carry up to 12 bikes and riders, travel through the heart of the Lakes along the A591 from Windermere Railway Station to the Whinlatter Forest visitor Centre. The buses will stop at Ambleside, Rydal, Grasmere, Thirlspot, Keswick and Braithwaite on the way.

Many visitors to the area currently use their cars to carry their bikes to where they want to ride, and other visitors are put off cycling as an option to explore the area because they think it is too difficult to get around. The bike & ride bus has been created to make it easier for people to get around more sustainably by using a combination of bike and bus.

Alistair Kirkbride, sustainable transport adviser for the Lake District National Park, said: “We hope the bike bus will become a core service for cyclists and mountain bikers visiting the Lake District.

“Visitors will use the bike bus to get to a new area to explore by bike, getting to the trails at Whinlatter Forest with mountain bikes or for families to access the trails around Thirlmere. It will also people to cycle further distances with the comfort of knowing they can hop on the bus to get back.

“The bike bus will really make it easier for people to get out of their cars for a day of their visit and explore the area on two-wheels – and they will see a lot more and have a lot more fun by doing so.”

Nigel Winter, managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: “We are keen supporters of partnerships and sustainable travel. Bike & Ride brings both together, with Stagecoach innovation and the local sustainable transport fund, delivering a new product for bike users in the lakes.

“We have converted our buses by removing seating to allow more bikes to be carried. This service will make it easier for people to be able to leave their car at their accommodation and explore the area using the greener, and more fun, options of bike and bus.”

Stagecoach has also adapted the open top 599 route buses to carry two bikes, running between Windermere and Grasmere, creating further options for cyclists to use buses to get to where they want to ride.

The GoLakes Travel programme is a £6.9 million initiative being delivered in partnership by Cumbria County Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Tourism to influence people to make fewer car journeys while visiting the Lake District. It aims to reduce the area’s CO2 emissions by to 11,000 tonnes by 2015.

The programme, which has been funded primarily through the Department for Transport, along with some matched funding, is focussed on the Central and Southern Lake District, including the towns and villages of Grasmere, Ambleside, Windermere, Kendal, Hawkshead and Coniston. This area has been chosen because it receives the majority of visitors to the National Park.

The programme includes nine interlinking projects which will deliver multiple improvements to travel infrastructure, such as improved cycleways, more and better bus stops, more frequent bus services, a low emission car hire network, the expansion of an electric cycle network, improved and more flexible ticketing and better transport information.

For more information on sustainable travel options in the Lake District visit www.golakes.co.uk
For updates on GoLakes Travel you can also follow us on Twitter @golakestravel

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The Eden Valley Trail Riding Centre is a family owned and run riding centre nestled between the Lake District National Park and the Yorkshire Dales near Kirkby Stephen.

A firm favourite with local people looking for unlimited bridleways and open-fells to explore on horse back for anything from an hour to a week, the centre is thrilled to receive the national seal of approval.

As the most widely recognised scheme of its kind in the UK, the BHS accreditation demonstrates the centre’s commitment to providing a high standard of care for both riders and horses, whilst adopting good practices set out by the charity and training its staff in line with the BHS training scheme which is a European recognised scheme.

Alison Roper, the centre’s owner said: “The British Horse Society is the first port of call for any horse enthusiast as it has such a wealth of knowledge on everything related to riding, horse care and working in the industry. The fact our centre has now been BHS approved means a great deal and we hope it draws riders to the centre to experience our unique offer.”

The centre received the BHS accreditation after a rigorous inspection process looking at its facilities, horses and management system which will be repeated annually going forward.

The Eden Valley Riding Centre offers daily trekking, riding holidays, horse holidays and trail riding holiday for riders of all levels. It is the only centre operating guided riding holidays along the Pennine Bridleway between Settle and Kirkby Stephen, which is set to officially open this summer.

Surrounded by 360 degree views of open moorland and miles of unspoilt stunning bridleways to explore, the Eden Valley Riding Centre offers small riding groups of just six, an excellent horse livery option, horsey holidays and even walking or mountain biking options for non-riding partners. Renowned for its in-depth knowledge of the surrounding terrain and combining high-quality, professional guided riding trails with a personable and friendly approach.

For more information on Eden Valley Riding Centre please visit www.edenvalleyridingcentre.com.

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Following a rigorous three-part process, reviewed and scored by Peter Burns, professor of International Tourism and Development and director of the Centre for Tourism Policy Studies at the University of Brighton, the hotel was one of just three European hotels to be commended for dynamic green policies.

Langdale was praised for successfully incorporating green thinking in to the day-to-day tourism trade, inspiring forward-thinking environmental guidelines such as supporting local projects and campaigns, sourcing recyclable, fair-trade and organic supplies wherever possible, planting native trees, protecting indigenous wildlife, and training its staff in energy conservation.

Langdale was also applauded for investing in several significant energy-saving devices such as a biomass carbon neutral energy system and a revolutionary UV system for its pool disinfectant.

Nick Lancaster, Director of Resort Operations at Langdale said: “It is excellent that we have been recognised by such an iconic brand as RCI. We have strived to develop, implement and maintain an environmentally friendly approach to every element of what we do and will continue to do so wherever possible.”

The latest additions to Langdale’s green portfolio include the installation of the National Park’s first electric car charging point and a brand new electric bike charging point at nearby Wainright’s Inn. For further information on the Langdale Hotel please visit www.langdale.co.uk.

RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with over 4,000 affiliated resorts in approximately 100 countries. To learn more about the RCI Green Award, visit www.rciaffiliates.com.

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