Do you want to explore the countryside, stay local and keep your carbon footprint low this Summer? Well now you can.
You can now visit the South Downs, towns and coast of Brighton & Hove collectively known as The Living Coast, the UK’s only urban UNESCO World Biosphere Region, by bike.
To encourage more people to explore sustainably and connect with nature we worked with So Sussex to create a selection of cycle routes that highlight some of our unique habitats, species and cultural heritage.
With routes that pass some of the most iconic local environmental landmarks, The Living Coast by Bike provides an excellent way to discover the region, giving you a unique experience of the natural habitats a stone’s throw from our city’s doorstep.
Be a low impact traveller this summer and explore the glorious coast and countryside by bike.
The Living Coast by Bike website offers a variety of cycle routes around the region with a range of difficulty by colour, from a green route that can be easily enjoyed by a family, to red routes which will challenge even the keenest of cyclists - there is something for everyone.
The website is free to use and each route is available to download providing logistical information, and includes an overview of some of the natural and cultural heritage to keep your eye out for on the way.
Some of the routes can be linked together to create a longer journey and all the routes start and end at train stations, to keep your journey low impact even if you’re travelling from further afield.
As the UK weather can often be unpredictable, we’ve also tried to ensure that most routes can be enjoyed throughout the year. The ones that aren’t are highlighted on the website, so that you can plan well ahead.
What are you waiting for?
Grab a bike and start exploring the unique natural habitats and landmarks that surround you.
The Living Coast by Bike is part of the BioCultural Heritage Tourism project funded by the EU Interreg Channel programme as part of the European Regional Development Fund.
The aim of the project is to increase the exploration of UNESCO biospheres without increasing the negative impacts on the environment.
The project has funding of £3.7m and is led by Devon County Council, covering The Living Coast Biosphere and the North Devon Biosphere Reserve in the UK and Marais Audomarois and Iroise Islands and Sea in France.
Collectively these four Biosphere reserves attract over 20 million visitors every year, so it is important that the impacts on the environment by visitors is minimal, so they can continue to be enjoyed by everyone.
