Cycling in Nottinghamshire applauded by national media

For many cycling enthusiasts, the wide range of routes across the county is a truly fantastic experience, taking in some magnificent views. Experience Nottinghamshire – the Destination Management Organisation responsible for driving leisure and business visitors to the county – has been working on a VisitEngland led campaign to guarantee national exposure for Nottinghamshire.

The campaign is funded by money from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, VisitEngland’s Growing Tourism Locally project, which is aimed at growing domestic tourism within England. Experience Nottinghamshire is one of a number of destinations to benefit from the funding and has worked in partnership with the national tourism body to highlight all of the key selling points of Nottinghamshire for the feature.

As part of Cycling Breaks in England, a journalist, from The Guardian, and his daughter visited Nottinghamshire at the beginning of May, hosted by Experience Nottinghamshire. Together they experienced cycling trails with Ken Barker, Cycle Guide for Raleigh, in Sherwood Pines Forest Park, explored the City and the Big Track on a Citycard Cycle bicycle, dined out at the likes of Annie’s Burger Shack, enjoyed resting their head at Saco Apartments and Forest Holidays, and even met up with Nottinghamshire’s legendary son, Robin Hood, otherwise known as Ade Andrews, the face behind Ezekial Bone Tours of Nottingham. The 100-page guide on cycling breaks in England will be published on Saturday 14 June.   

Alongside the cycling feature, Experience Nottinghamshire has also organised a competition to be featured on The Guardian’s website, offering entrants the chance to win a family break in Nottinghamshire. The competition opens on Saturday 14 June and will close on 10 August, and the lucky winner will enjoy an overnight stay for a family of four at Clumber Park Hotel & Spa.

Sarah Thursfield, Marketing Manager, Experience Nottinghamshire, said: “Cycling and Nottingham go hand in hand as our bicycle heritage includes the world famous Raleigh brand which was founded here in 1887. We were delighted to host the freelance journalist for The Guardian, and his daughter, on a weekend cycling break, in order to experience our destination of cycling first-hand. 

“One of our main campaign objectives is to establish Nottinghamshire as a UK destination of choice for leisure cycling breaks. The Guardian receives a Saturday circulation figure of 344, 003, and with such a positive write up from the journalist about his experience of cycling in the county, we hope to put Nottinghamshire on the map as a capital for active family breaks.”

Cycling in Nottinghamshire is a wheely great experience, with an abundance of set routes you can follow, depending on your level of cycling experience. If you have no wheels, it’s not a problem as cycle hire is available at Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Clumber Park, Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of The National Water Sports Centre, and at many points across the city, including the Tourism Centre, in Smithy Row.

To find out more about cycling in the county visit: www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/cycling.