A new sustainable travel initiative has launched in the Lake District to encourage people to ditch their cars for short trips this summer.
The Five Miles with Smiles project challenges people to reimagine short journeys, with half of all car trips nationally covering under five miles.
Running until November 1, the pilot campaign celebrates the most inspiring, fun or inventive five-mile journeys made without a car.
People are encouraged to travel by bus, foot, bicycle, scooter, wheelchair, paddleboard or horseback.
The project is being delivered by organisations including the National Trust, Lake District National Park, Friends of the Lake District, Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail,and The Eddington in Kendal.
Dan Taylor, general manager for south Cumbria and Lancashire at the National Trust, said: “This project is all about little adventures and big memories.
“We want to celebrate the most inspiring, fun or inventive five-mile trip within or connecting to the Lake District and Cumbria made without a car.
“This is all about building awareness of travel choices, and demonstrating the affordability of alternative options which – as well as being great for the environment – can be beneficial for mental and physical health, and most importantly a lot of fun.”
Kelley Sproston-Heath, engagement lead for Friends of the Lake District, said: “Friends of the Lake District is proud to support this fantastic partnership project. Protecting Cumbria’s spectacular landscapes means finding greener, healthier ways to explore them that reduce our environmental footprint.
“It’s vital that we connect people with nature and the landscape in a sustainable way, and this challenge proves that making eco-friendly travel choices can be both accessible and immensely fun.”
The challenge will end with a celebration event hosted on the basecamp stage at the Kendal Mountain Festival in November.
Creative travellers will be recognised with locally donated prizes including family passes to local attractions, e-bike rental vouchers and public transport tickets.
The group is also looking for more partners who would like to get involved by helping to promote the initiative or offering prizes.
If this year’s pilot is successful, organisers plan to expand the campaign in 2027 to coincide with the Tour de France visiting Cumbria.
