Three-month closure of A435 planned for work on new cycle path
Work on the final phase of a cycleway which will connect three parts of Gloucestershire is due to begin later.Once complete, the path along the A435 will connect Gloucester, Bishop's Cleeve and Cheltenham and provide access to the 26-mile (41km) Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, which will eventually extend to Stroud.The third phase, from Cheltenham Racecourse Roundabout to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) Bridge, is due to begin later and finish by the end of January 2026. The work will close the A435 between Cheltenham Racecourse and Southam traffic lights from 8 June to 8 September, with the northbound lane closed until 31 October.
The first section of the route, between the Honeybourne Line and Cheltenham Racecourse, was finished in 2024.Work on the second section to link the GWSR Bridge and the GE Roundabout, in Bishop's Cleeve, began in January and is due to be completed in autumn.Gloucestershire County Council said the scheme would "deliver significant cycling and walking improvements" as well as "essential" repairs to the GWSR Bridge.It said diversion routes will be in place during the A435 Evesham Road closure and advised people to plan their journeys in advance.
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BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Morocco's new cross-country cycling route
Winding from southern deserts into snowcapped mountains towards northern beaches, the Route of Caravans offers adventurous travellers a stunning glimpse of the nation few tourists see. "No route, no route!" said a smiling man wearing a long white robe and holding a stout shepherd's staff, his donkey in tow. He pointed over his shoulder, down the U-shaped canyon I had planned to follow to the nearest road, which was still several kilometres away. He then motioned towards the ground, indicating that the rough terrain my travel companion and I were pushing our bicycles over continued long into the canyon. "That's okay," I said to him in French, shrugging in the direction we'd come from. "There's no route back that way, either." It wasn't precisely true. While the canyon trail we'd been traversing in Morocco's soaring High Atlas mountains wasn't exactly manicured, it was nevertheless part of a brand-new bikepacking route. We had just set out on the 837km Route of Caravans: Morocco Traverse (North), the second leg of a recently completed two-tier cycling trail traversing the length of Morocco from the town of Tiznit on the country's south-western coast to Tangier in the north. Since a digital map of the route's northern leg debuted on the adventure-cycling website Bikepacking in autumn 2024, it has lured bikepackers (off-road cyclists who carry overnight gear) to wind, slalom and climb their way from the town of Imilchil in the High Atlas Mountains past rolling hills and alpine passes to the Mediterranean port city, where they can catch a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. Tracing its arc from southern desert to northern beaches, the trail's two legs make use of ancient caravan roads trod by camels' hooves and shepherd paths used by the country's Indigenous Amazigh (long referred to as "Berber" by outsiders) communities who have called Morocco home for some 20,000 years. The route is the result of a long-held dream of a handful of adventurous international cyclists keen to forge a path through some of Morocco's least-visited regions. To me, it felt like slipping through the country's backdoor and, occasionally, a bit like time travel. Following narrow paths through pastures where shepherds graze flocks on rain-fed grass, I got a firsthand glimpse of the seasonally nomadic lifestyle that still thrives in the mountains. In remote canyons, I met Amazigh women who piled their donkeys high with edible herbs and wildflowers foraged in meadows far from their mud-brick homes. The Route of Caravans is one of many long-distance bikepacking routes sprouting up around the world in places like the Peruvian Andes, North America's Continental Divide and the Scottish Highlands where intrepid two-wheeled travellers can immerse themselves in stunning natural settings and remote communities. The challenges these routes present – such as terrain so rugged you may occasionally "hike-a-bike" instead of pedalling it – are all part of the appeal. The new route also had a personal draw for me. Having travelled to Morocco decades earlier and following the classic tourist's itinerary between cities like Fez, Marrakech and Essaouira, I was haunted by glimpses of the more remote places I passed between such sites, and curious about those who lived there. Riding the Route of Caravans would be a return, of sorts – one focussed less on sites themselves than on the places in between. After checking my steel mountain bike as baggage on the flight and strapping it with bags to carry my clothes, camping gear and equipment, I set off from the bus station at Beni Mellal, a 135km ride from the route's starting point in Imilchil, beginning a slow climb into the still-snowy summits of the High Atlas mountains. Over the next two weeks, the Route of Caravans would carry me across three mountain ranges, into ancient cities, through Amazigh villages and towards Tangier, where two seas and continents meet. "[The route is] shockingly diverse," said Evan Christenson, a cyclist from San Diego, California, who scouted and designed the route for Bikepacking. "You go from the High Atlas, which is just exposed raw granite, and into the green and rolling pastures of the Rif Mountains… There are different cultures you go through, too." More like this:• Scotland's epic 210-mile bikepacking adventure• A new 5,500km bike trail connecting one of Europe's most remote regions• Canada's delectable 235km food trail Cycling between the villages of the High Atlas mountains, I saw the anthropomorphic yaz symbol (representing freedom and independence for the Amazigh) scrawled on the houses and shepherd huts. And while I'd heard intermingled French and Arabic in the streets of Marrakech, many of the people we met in the mountains spoke dialects of the Amazigh language Tamazight. "Azul," I said, on the second day on the route, when I joined a handful of women filling bottles at a public tap in a community too small to be named on the map. The oldest among them had geometric facial tattoos on their chins and cheeks, the intersecting lines creased and blurred with time. I sat down to wait my turn, but they ushered me to the front of the line. "Azul," they said, smiling. The Tamazight greeting translates, literally, as "from the heart". In such moments, I felt a world away from the Morocco that has recently seen explosive tourism growth – 17.4 million travellers arrived in 2024, representing a 20% increase compared to 2023. A 2024 McKinsey & Company report on global tourism listed Marrakech as one of the cities most impacted by overtourism worldwide, with an additional 86% rise in tourism projected by 2030. Yet the Route of Caravans' far-flung villages, sheep-dotted meadows and remote stone shelters offer travellers a glimpse of Morocco few experience. Arriving in the small town of Boumia after days camping under stars and frost-touched pines, we shopped for dates and bread on the single main street and met Nabil Abdullah, a young man who'd clocked us as outsiders and hoped to practice his English. "Here, we get maybe five or 10 tourists a month. With you, this month, I think it's seven," he said, before inviting us to his home for lunch. Creating an 837km cycling route that avoids main roads in settings that are sometimes profoundly isolated requires a huge amount of work – and in this case, collaboration. In spring 2024, Christenson spent about six weeks crisscrossing the northern half of Morocco on two wheels, riding back roads and donkey trails, and exploring shepherd paths he'd spotted on satellite maps of the region. "I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to go," he explained. "And then, if it didn't go through, I would turn around and try again." As Christenson created the digital map, he dropped occasional hints for riders about where to sleep, find water and buy food. Fortunately for cyclists, wild camping is tolerated across much of rural Morocco: we set up our two-person tent in rocky canyons; pine forests; and in an ancient, long-abandoned mudbrick building. One night, as dusk fell on a hilltop site in the Middle Atlas mountain range, we watched as a family of endangered Barbary macaques leaped between the crowns of towering Atlas cedars. "It's a special perspective to be travelling through these places on a bicycle," said Sarah Swallow, an American cyclist who completed the 1,266km southern portion of the Route of Caravans this spring. "It's more intimate – not only with the landscape and the natural environment, but also the people… you're vulnerable in a lot of ways, so you open yourself up to more experiences, like needing people's help, or leaning on people at times." Already, some ambitious cyclists are linking up the two halves for an extraordinary, country-spanning journey. Early on our trip, we met south-bound cyclists Julia Winkelbach and Christian Wagner, who had left their home in Germany the previous summer and were riding the entire 2,103km route from Tangier to Tiznit. They told me they sometimes carried 20 litres of water while riding through the Sahara, had camped through a sandstorm and found scorpion tracks around their tent. It speaks to Morocco's astonishing contrasts that as Winkelbach and Wagner travelled deeper into the world's largest hot desert, we wound north through the softening topography and lush vegetation of the Rif Mountains. The increasingly gentle landscape and hint of sea salt in the breeze hinted that Tangier wasn't far. Approaching the coast drew us closer to the city's big resorts and tourist crowds, yet our route still felt like a rolling ramble through remote landscapes cloaked in green. Wishing to savour the quiet for one night more, we gave a final glance towards the path leading to Tangier and turned onto a paved road that hugged a quiet stretch of coastline. Our final campsite was on a sandy beach at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. With bare feet in the sand, we stood by our bikes and waited for sunset, watching as Venus flickered above the far horizon. The mountains at our back, we woke to the sound of waves. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
19 hours ago
- BBC News
Eden Project Morecambe set to open by winter 2028
The Eden Project Morecambe is set to open in 2028, it has been revealed. John Pye, the new project director for the eco-visitor attraction set for Morecambe promenade, said the aim is to open towards the end of that said by next summer a main contractor is expected to be appointed and the main construction set to news comes after new images were released showing what the shell-inspired structure - the sister site to the original Eden Project in Cornwall - might look like. Described as a "global garden", the attraction will feature three large shell-shaped pavilions overlooking Morecambe Bay, "inspired by the natural geometries, beauty and efficiency of seashells".The former head of estates in the north for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gave the updates at the latest Eden Project Morecambe community conversation at Morecambe Football Club, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said by this summer the concept design stage should be finished and a start made on detailed designs for the attraction on the former Bubbles leisure complex land. Site investigations are expected this autumn, with some planning amendments this early on-site activity could start summer 2026 the main contractor will be appointment and the start of main construction work. Mr Pye said the new building's "shell" should be up by mid-2027 and major building work done by winter 2027. The internal fit-out will be done through 2028. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Idyllic town besieged by travellers after three encampments set up on public parks in just one week
An idyllic market town has been besieged by travellers who have moved onto three public parks in just one week. A large number of caravans and vehicles began arriving in Taunton, Somerset, last week and have since taken over a number of sites up and down the area. They arrived at Hamilton Park on Friday June 6 where at least nine caravans are parked up with several other vehicles spotted with the campers. Just two days later, around 20 vehicles, including cars, vans, small trucks, mobile homes and caravans were driven onto Lyngford Park. And in the latest incident, a convoy of vehicles have pitched up in Stoney Furlong Field, where eight caravans were seen parked up on Monday. It isn't the first time a group of travellers of that size have come to Taunton this year - the first arrived at Silk Mills Park and Ride in March, before moving onto council-managed parks around town. They also set up temporary homes at Galmington Park, Moorfields Park, Maidenbrook Country Park, Victoria Park, and previously Hamilton Park among others. The situation has divided Taunton residents, with some complaining they are preventing the fields from being used by children, while others have defended the travellers, saying they don't leave any mess and hardly make any noise. On woman said: 'I don't have a problem, because they've got to go somewhere. 'They live different lives but they're still just people. I think it's wicked what people say about them sometimes. 'We had them last year and they were only there for a week. They let the kids see the horses. They said "don't go near the dogs, they're on guard, and that's it". 'I think they get a lot more flack than they deserve. I know it winds people up but they made their choices and you made yours. 'All they need is a car park. They're not hurting anyone.' Neil Eglin, 50, has lived behind Stoney Furlong Field for two and a half years. Earlier this week it was overtaken by eight caravans. He said: 'This is the third time in 18 months, only for a few days each time. 'To be fair, they didn't make any noise apart from one lad revving his motorbike last time. But no trouble, and they didn't leave any mess.' But one resident, who has lived in the area for seven years, expressed concerns. They said: 'Last time the council got them removed, so I hope that will happen again. A lot of people have reported it. 'I used to live in Devon, so I'm used to it. But the countryside is different, completely different from them being in a town, being in fields where children play football after school. If I was a parent I'd be upset.' Another said: 'The general feeling with travellers is not really a good one. But personally I've not had any bad experience with them. We've not had any trouble. 'There are areas of Taunton where you wouldn't go at night, or alone. This area, it's quite nice, it's a respectable area.' Anthony Fletcher, 86, has lived behind the field for over eight years. He said: 'In the past they've always tried to come and the council clears them out, and they come back again. We see them come, we see them go.' A spokesperson from Taunton Town Council said: 'We're aware of an unauthorised encampment currently at Hamilton Gault Park. 'The council is following its agreed policy and legal process to see the encampment cleared as soon as possible. 'If you're visiting the area, please be mindful of the situation and take extra care. 'A report is also going to Full Council on 10 June 2025, which - if approved by councillors - will see investment in new defences to better protect our parks in future. 'We'll keep you updated here as things progress. Thank you for your understanding.' Cllr Tom Deakin, the leader of Taunton Town Council, said he had been informed of the 'incursion at Lyngford Park' by a number of residents. He added: 'Officers at Taunton Town Council are aware and working with the police and bailiffs to move the group on as soon as possible. 'I'm immensely frustrated at the number of incursions around the town recently, 'The town council will be discussing putting in place further prevention measures when we meet on Tuesday. 'We also need a designated transient site made available immediately. 'It's unfair that important public, community spaces funded by local tax payers are taken out of action for extended periods of time.'
