A popular charity cycling event is to return.
Watchtree Nature Reserve is relaunching its Cycle the Solway charity event on May 14 and May 15, sponsored by Carlisle accountancy firm Dodd & Co.
The weekend will feature four marshalled and signposted routes, for all abilities, with medical and mechanical support and feed stations at set points.
The Solway Plain offers some of the best cycling in the UK: quiet, flat country lanes with incredible views of the Lakeland fells to the South, the Scottish coastline to the North and West and the Pennines to the East.
Saturday’s rides include ‘The Allonby Eight’, a 108-kilometre route from Watchtree, priced at £30 per rider and ‘Round the Island’ – 60km from Watchtree, £30 each.
Sunday’s rides are shorter distances and suitable for families, including ‘Life’s a Beach’ – a 25km from Watchtree, £18; and finally, the ‘Tour de Turbines’ – as many 3km loops of Watchtree’s perimeter route as you can, £8.
The Event Village will add a finish line atmosphere and all participants will receive a special Watchtree medal and goody bag.
After a three-year break, Watchtree has taken over Cycle the Solway with the endorsement of Carlisle firm Scott Self Storage, who held the original ride as a small staff teambuilding event and developed it into a huge charity fundraiser with the enthusiasm of Scott’s employee Ian Dixon, who tragically passed away the day before the 2015 event.
His daughter, Stephanie Norman, is now helping to manage the event for Watchtree.
Joanne Thomlinson, Partner at Dodd & Co said: “Dodd & Co are proud to sponsor Cycle the Solway in 2022. As an organisation, we like to encourage activities that promote the general wellbeing of both our staff and the community, and we hope that many people will come along and enjoy the fun that this wonderful weekend of cycling activities will provide”.
Stephanie Norman, of Watchtree Nature Reserve, said: “We are honoured to take over the challenge of running Cycle the Solway here at Watchtree. It is a fantastic opportunity to not only raise money for Watchtree as an accessible cycling venue but also to enable the work dad put into the original ride to live on.”
Stephen Scott, of Scott’s Self Storage said: “I am delighted that Watchtree wants to take on Cycle the Solway; I can’t think of any place better than Watchtree to run it. It would be great for the event to continue and to be as successful.”
Registration for the event is available by visiting the Watchtree website www.watchtree.co.uk/events or by calling into Watchtree’s Visitors Centre. Enter EBIRD20 for 20 per cent off entry fees.
Watchtree Nature Reserve is a registered charity with a mission to provide a nature reserve haven for a wide range of habitats and species and a community asset for people to enjoy, appreciate and be educated in the values of living with wildlife and nature.
Watchtree Wheelers offer specialist cycle facilities, equipment and training for the public and group use boasting a range of adapted equipment for disabled riders as well as cycle skills training for new riders of all abilities.
Cycle hire and sales, memberships, events and donations, along with an onsite café all support the work of the Reserve staff and its active volunteer force.
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