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Wheels
for hire at Wicken Fen
Cycling is the perfect way to enjoy the unique landscapes of the Cambridgeshire fens and the best bit - there's not a hill in sight!
To help visitors get out and explore the
countryside, the National Trust are introducing cycle hire at Wicken Fen
Nature Reserve from Monday 1st August.
A range of adult, children's cycles, tandems, tag bikes and cycle buggies will be available for hire daily from 10am to 5pm. Prices for children's/adults' bikes start at £5/£7 for two hours hire to £14/£10 for all day hire.
Speaking on the new venture, Chris Soans, Wicken Fen Property Operations Manager said:
"We're really excited to be able to offer a new activity to help our visitors discover the amazing countryside and wildlife of the Wicken Fen Vision lands, local villages and attractions.
"In addition to cycling, we've introduced a range of new activities at Wicken Fen in recent years such as paddle boarding and geocaching providing new and exciting ways to access and explore the countryside.
"We appreciate the financial support of the Fens Adventurers Rural Development Programme in helping to develop the cycle hire business which will hopefully stimulate local tourism and produce financial benefits for local attractions and hospitality outlets."
The introduction of cycle hire has been supported by a grant from the Fens Adventurers Rural Development Programme, an RDPE initiative funded by Defra, and the EU's European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.
The National Trust has produced a leaflet with ideas for great family cycle rides including:-
Family Discovery Ride - An easy ride for all the family to enjoy, heading out across Baker's Fen to spot Wicken's herds of konik ponies and highland cattle. (3.5 miles 1hr)
Village Explorer -Learn about fen life and history by riding through local villages and visiting their museums, churches and archaeological sites including Burwell Museum and castle, the Anglo Saxon Devil's Dyke in Reach or the historic churches of Swaffham Prior. (11 miles 2hrs)
Lodes Way - Cycle the Lodes Way to explore historic Anglesey Abbey, gardens, Lode Mill and Hoe Fen Wildlife Discovery Area. (16 miles 3 hrs)
Wildlife Watching - Head out to visit wildlife hides over looking new and developing areas of wet grassland habitats. (11 miles 2hrs)
Upware Loop - An adventurous route for off-road cyclists. (9 miles 1.5 hrs)
Ely Explorer - Take National Cycle Route 11 to discover the attractions of historic Ely. (14 miles 2hrs)
To co-inside with the launch of cycle hire, a number of National Trust Community Cycle Hoops have been installed at places of interest and hospitality outlets throughout the Vision lands where visitors and local residents alike can secure the cycles.
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. Cycle Hire rates - effective from 1 August 2011
| Wicken Fen Cycle Hire | 2 hours | All day |
| Adult | £7 | £14 |
| Child | £5 | £10 |
| Tandem | £15 | £30 |
| Adult+ child seat | £8 | £16 |
| Adult+tag bike or buggy | £12 | £24 |
2. Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 10am-5pm. Entry is free to National Trust members and under 5's. Adults £5.99, children £2.99, family ticket £14.99 (two adults and up to 3 children). The reserve is located of the A1123 near the village of Wicken. 9 miles south of Ely &17 miles north-east of Cambridge via the A10. The postcode for SatNavs users is CB7 5XP
3. The introduction of cycle has been supported financially by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The RDPE is funded by Defra and the EU's European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EARFD): Europe investing in rural areas. http://www.ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm
4. The National Trust is a charity with a love for preserving historic places and spaces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In short, we're a conservation charity that protects over 350 historic houses, 160 gardens, 1,100 kilometres of coastline, 254,000 hectares of land of outstanding natural beauty, 6 World Heritage Sites, 28 castles and 60 pubs - and opens them for people like you to enjoy. Find out more at: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Further Information
To find out more please contact: Howard Cooper, Communications Officer,
National Trust Wicken Fen - Tel 01353 720274 Mobile 07826 874133 or
e-mail: howard.cooper@nationaltrust.org.uk
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