Welsh Government | Minister takes to his bike for a four day trip across Wales

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Minister takes to his bike for a four day trip across Wales

Environment Minister, John Griffiths is cycling the 285 miles ride from Holyhead to Cardiff in an effort to highlight some of the beautiful cycle routes within Wales.

Friday 30 March 2012

He will set off on Sunday 1st April and is scheduled to cycle back into Cardiff Bay at around 5pm on Wednesday 4th April.

The Minister is promoting cycling as an excellent from of sustainable travel, and recreation and as an enjoyable way of maintaining health and well being. He will also be visiting some key attractions and partners along the way.

Speaking ahead of the bike ride the Minister said:

“I am delighted to be undertaking the 285 mile bike ride from Holyhead to Cardiff. I am very much looking forward to cycling through Wales’ stunning countryside and to making use of some of our fabulous cycling routes which attract so many tourists to Wales.

“Although 285 miles might be a bit much for some people, I would encourage anyone to get out on their bikes. It really is a great way of keeping fit, and an enjoyable way of enjoying Wales’ unique coast and countryside, particularly over the Easter break.

“Cycling is also often a quick, cheap and easy way of travelling short journeys and could really help us to reduce our reliance on cars and cut down on our carbon emissions.”

As part of his bike ride the Minister will be visiting Coed y Brenin, one of Forestry Commission Wales premier recreation sites renowned for its world class mountain bike trails.

He will stop at Carnfagallt, the RSPB site in Rhayader that is set to benefit from the money that Tesco has collected as a result of the Welsh carrier bag charge, and there will also be a stop off in Merthyr where the Minister will join a local youth group in clearing litter from a section of the Taf Trail.

The Minister will be joined by a representative of, Sustrans, the charity that supports sustainable travel, and by Welsh Government staff for short legs of the journey.

Proceeds from the bike ride will be passed to official Welsh Government charities for 2012 which are the Alzheimer’s Society and Tools for Self Reliance Cymru.

The Minister will also be tweeting along the way. You can follow him @EnviroMinWales.