⚠️ Archived Content
This page relates to the 2019–2024 National Park Management Plan, which is now archived. For the latest aims and objectives, please visit the 2025–30 Management Plan landing page.
Promote and encourage responsible cycling by supporting world class events that showcase the National Park, enabling the development of four ‘cycle hubs’, and creating at least one further family-friendly cycling route by 2024.
How the local partners are doing on this objective
Progress: Negotiations with landowners along the Garsdale–Hawes multi-use route have continued throughout 2024/25, with several landowners having agreed in-principle to establish access by creation agreement.
2 ‘cycle hubs’ were developed – at Reeth and Settle – in 2019.
Press Releases & related articles:
17 June 2022 – Strong Public Support for Hawes-Garsdale Proposal
Rationale: The 2014 Tour de France dramatically raised the profile of cycling as a way of enjoying the National Park. The Tour de Yorkshire and 2019 Cycling World Championships will continue to showcase the area. Facilitating the development of cycle hubs – places with cycle hire, good routes and supporting businesses – should be encouraged, along with more family-friendly and off-road routes for the benefit of visitors and residents
Lead partners: North Yorkshire Council; Westmorland & Furness Council
Supporting partners: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority; North Yorkshire Council; Westmorland & Furness Council; Welcome to Yorkshire
Further information: Cycle the Dales;
Cost over 5 years: £700,000
Funding shortfall: £600,000
Related objectives: B2; B8, E2; E3
Ecosystem services: Recreation
Trade-offs: Cycling events and heavily-used routes have the potential to have impacts on tranquility (A2); priority habitats (C1) and species (C2). Management and mitigation of these are guided by principles set out in the Special Qualities, Special Experience.
Baseline: No cycle hubs; 3 ‘family-friendly’ cycle routes