World Heritage Cycle Ride launched

Submitted by vicky on Thursday, 24 June 2004 Page Views: 876

**Stonehenge Rainbow** submitted by vicky : Rainbow over Stonehenge (Vote or comment on this photo)

This year is the 20th Anniversary of the UK's ratification of the World Heritage Convention. To celebrate, The Department of Culture, Media & Sport has teamed up with Sustrans, English Heritage and the National Trust to organise a series of cycle rides to a number of these sites. The first organised cycle ride in the series is a 5-mile ride to Maritime Greenwich ending in front of the Cutty Sark. Subsequent rides will take place to World Heritage Sites all over the UK and include Stonehenge, the Giant’s Causeway and Hadrian’s Wall.

The programme will end in September with an eight-day ride from London to the Eden Project in Cornwall, along the Jurassic Coast.

World Heritage Sites are among the world's most important places of natural beauty and historical interest. Designated by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), in recognition of their 'outstanding universal value' in terms of cultural heritage, they include the Great Barrier Reef, Timbuktu and the Pyramids. In all there are over 750 World Heritage Sites, of which 26 are in the United Kingdom.

The series of rides aims to make people more aware of the wonderful selection of World Heritage Sites in the UK and to encourage them to visit by means other than their car.

A journey of discovery

The rides will follow existing or proposed sections of the National Cycle Network - a UK wide network of safe and attractive places to cycle - so even if you are unable to attend on the day, plenty of information is available to help you plan your own trip.

Where possible, rides will call in at other sites and historic properties along the route, managed by the partners listed above. These include one of the most outstanding Stuart houses in the country, an Augustinian Priory and castles built by the Romans, Henry VIII and a Victorian sugar baron.

Source: The National Trust 17/06/2004

Contributor Bio for vicky: Ex Megalithic Portal Editor, Co-author of 'Rock Around the Peak - Megalithic Monuments of the Peak District' and... More

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