Trafford gears up for free cycle guide (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford gears up for free cycle guide

2:00pm Wednesday 4th January 2012 in News

PEOPLE in Trafford are being encouraged to get on their bikes and explore the landscape that makes up Greater Manchester’s countryside.

A free 20-page cycle guide has been launched as part of a project called Manchester’s Countryside, which aims to promote the area as a rural tourism destination.

The guide contains family friendly rides, more challenging mountain bike routes and longer distance road treks.

The eight routes featured take in trails, tracks and tow paths with stop offs at attractions, vistas and food and drink establishments.

In Trafford, a 3.3 mile circular ride leaves Red House Farm, in Dunham, and travels around the village and the surrounding woodlands and parklands.

The Trans Pennine Trail links directly with the route described in the guide, meaning people can lengthen their route if they want to.

Trafford Council’s cxecutive councillor for highways and transportation Alan Mitchell said: “Cycling is a fantastic way of discovering what’s on the doorstep in Trafford.”

Manchester’s Countryside was introduced in May 2011 following a successful application to the Rural Development Programme for England Funding.

A £226,000 financial injection will be added to private sector and local authority support to enable the development of countryside activities in Greater Manchester.

Rural tourism in Greater Manchester is currently valued at more than £120 million.

This initiative will aim to attract an additional 70,000 visitors, pushing the total number to approximately 5.9 million by December 2012.

Download the guide at manchesterscountryside.com or get it at tourism information centres or order it by calling 0161 253 5111.