WIREDGOV

Yessterday, Jane Davidson, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, formally launched two maps from Sustrans that cover the 251-mile National Cycle Route that runs from Holyhead to Cardiff. The maps are of the north and south sections of Lôn Las Cymru and detail how to undertake the entire tour, as well as providing several options for day rides.

Lôn Las Cymru, or National Cycle Route 8, stretches from Holyhead and Bangor in the North to Cardiff and Chepstow - taking riders along tranquil coastline and through Snowdonia National Park, the post-industrialised Valleys and urban heartland of South Wales.

The revised maps – which include local transport information and gradients – allow users to see the route in its geographical context and provide more detail on the surrounding areas than previous maps.

Ms Davidson said:

“I urge people throughout Wales to get out and cycle, and these new maps are a great way of helping people to take up cycling for recreation and hopefully as a means of transport too.

“If more people walk and cycle across Wales it will help reduce their dependence on the car, and contribute to cutting CO2 emissions. Cycling is a cheap, healthy, and sustainable activity and I hope that these maps inspire even more people to discover the National Cycle Network in Wales."

The launch will be attended by Clare Gore of Mental health and wellbeing charity New Horizons, who cycled the length of Lôn Las Cymru between 28th June and 4th July to raise awareness of the mental health benefits of physical activity.

Ms Davidson added:

“Cycling has clear health benefits; it can reduce the risk of serious illnesses and help recovery from mental ill health. I congratulate New Horizons for successfully cycling Lôn Las Cymru in the last week and for reinforcing the link between physically activity and well being.”

Sustrans Area Manager Helen Davies said:

“The scenery along this route is fantastic so we would love the Lôn Las Cymru to become just as popular as more-established challenge routes over the border. There are few other rides which offer such a variety of landscapes in such a short space of time, whether cyclists zip through it in three days or enjoy their surroundings at a more leisurely pace over the course of a week.

“The route is fully signed and is easy to follow when combined with the new maps, so riders will be able to devote their effort to the hills and to soaking up the fantastic views.”

The Minister launched the maps as she formally started the Merlin Ride cyclosportif charity cycle event. Supported by Carmarthenshire County Council and Local Health Board, the organisers Phil Edwards and Peter Jones run the event to raise the profile of cycling in Wales and funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Wales Air Ambulance. The Minister, herself a keen cyclist, completed the 2008 inaugural Merlin Ride.

New interactive maps for the National Cycle Network are also available on the Sustrans website (external link).

Walking and Cycling Strategy for Wales

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