THE most popular travel guide in the world has told people to get on their bikes and come to the Island.
Lonely Planet has named the Island among the world’s best cycling areas.
The Best in Travel Guide, which is one of around 500 titles published in eight languages by Lonely Planet, features the best places to go and things to do for the year ahead, from wildlife watching in South Africa, to catching a space flight launched from the Mojave Desert — and now, cycling on the Island.
With around 200 miles of cycle paths and 12 marked routes, the Isle of Wight Council promotes cycling as an environmentally friendly way for visitors to explore.
"To get a mention in a travel guide of this stature is a pat on the back to all those involved in maintaining our excellent cycleway network and is also a firm endorsement of our cycling festival, which attracts around 5,000 people each year," said Cllr George Brown, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member with responsibility for tourism.
As well as receiving national coverage in the Daily Mail and London Metro, the award has been picked up internationally, including major Australian on-line publication, theage.com, which states: "Wight has started to attract young and trendy Londoners looking for a romantic weekend by the sea with a buzz."
• CycleWight, the campaign group for cyclists, has invited Roger Geffen, the campaigns and policy manager of the CTC, formerly the Cyclists’ Touring Club, to give the keynote speech at its forthcoming AGM.
He is to spend two days on the Island, looking at cycle routes and other provision for the pastime, before being the meeting next Friday at Newport CE Primary School, at 7.30pm.
Reporter:
richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk