OUT AND ABOUT
MOUNTAIN BIKERS – THOSE
UNCERTAIN RIDES ARE OVER!
Ever discovered a bridleway
that looked easy on the
Ordnance Survey Map is
actually a rock-strewn
canyon? We often get
feedback saying routes that
look easy on the map are
actually very challenging.
Family riders are unsure which
routes are suitable for them
whilst experienced mountain
bikers also want to know
which routes will challenge
their fitness. Well worry no more because the days of
guessing how difficult a track will be are over. From
Summer 2007 a map grading the severity of off-road
cycling routes on Exmoor will be available, leaving less
chance for any nasty surprises on a mountain biking day out.
Feedback from public consultation has led Exmoor
National Park Authority to produce a graded cycle map of
all the off-tarmac cycling routes on Exmoor. This map
uses the Cyclist’s Touring Club nationally recognised
grading system, with routes ranging from green (easy) to
black (very challenging). This style of grading has been
used successfully at skiing resorts for many years,
ensuring that novice skiers don’t set off down a very steep
IRONMAN 70.3
and challenging piste and ensuring a good day out is had
by skiers of all standards. The same principle has now
been successfully applied for Mountain Biking in a few
areas of Britain and we hope that this map improves the
RETURNS
enjoyment of all mountain bikers coming to Exmoor.
TO EXMOOR
The graded routes can be viewed at www.exmoor-
nationalpark.gov.uk or can be purchased as a waterproof,
rip-proof paper copy to carry with you from one of the
National Park Centres.
On Sunday 17th June 2007 the UK
IRONMAN 70.3 European qualifying
round returns to Exmoor. IRONMAN UK,
CYCLING TOUR OF BRITAIN
who organise this event, have once again
booked Wimbleball Lake to host the UK’s
only qualifying event where 1500 athletes
COMES TO EXMOOR
from around the world compete for one
of the 75 places in the FORD IRONMAN
The 2007 Tour of Britain national cycle race will come to
70.3 World Championships to be held in Exmoor on 11th September 2007, taking in some of the
Florida later in the year. This brings an
South West’s most stunning scenery and thrilling roads.
This event is the pinnacle in the UK’s cycling calendar
international field of the most dedicated
and should not be missed by anyone with an interest in
cycling.
triathletes to the area.
The exact route for the South West stage of the Tour of
June 2006 saw the first ever UK IRONMAN 70.3 to be held
Britain will be confirmed closer to the time but it is
on Exmoor. The event passed remarkably smoothly and
guaranteed to include some of the steepest and longest
astounded those who saw it. The thrill of hundreds of
climbs and descents of the whole tour, leading to some
silent swimmers, working tirelessly as they sliced through
exciting racing for spectators as well as competitors
the glassy waters of Wimbleball Lake brought a shiver of
and opportunities for the best riders in Britain to flex
excitement (and cold) to all who witnessed it. The cycle
their muscles against their arch rivals.
ride proved that Exmoor really is one of the country’s
leading venues for challenging road cycling and as if that
In the weeks running up to the main event an ‘etape de
wasn’t enough, the half-marathon run around Wimbleball
tour’ is also being planned for national club cyclists who
Lake exhausted all onlookers.
may number over 1,000. The event is anticipated to
attract in excess of 3,000 visitors to the region and will
A potential audience of over 900 million viewers worldwide
generate in excess of £150,000 for the regional
had access to see the race on television with Channel 4
economy.
and SKY being the main players in the UK. The knock-on
effect of this for Exmoor is not only the financial benefits of
The Active Exmoor team have worked closely with The
hosting the event, but the huge advertisement it provides
Tour Of Britain Committee, Somerset County Council
for Exmoor as one of the UK’s best destinations to ‘get
and Exmoor National Park Authority on planning the
away from it all’ and enjoy peaceful, active recreation. If
2007 event. For more information on Active Exmoor, the
you want to know more, enter the event (anyone can
‘etape de tour’ or the Tour of Britain please visit
enter!) or even volunteer to help with running next year’s
www.activeexmoor.com/ and www.tourofbritain.co.uk
event then please visit www.ironmanuk.com/
Exmoor Visitor 2007 5
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