National Cycle Network
Sustrans was founded in 1977, by a group of people in Bristol keen to work towards a future in which people travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. The first route was the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, a 17-mile traffic-free trail along a disused railway.
In September 2005 Sustrans wished the National Cycle Network a happy 10th birthday, commemorating the day in 1995 when a cheque for £43.5 million was deposited into the Sustrans bank account - a Millennium Commission Lottery Grant to develop the National Cycle Network.
The Network now passes within one mile of half the population and as it continues to grow so does its popularity - over 354 million walking and cycling trips were made on the Network in 2007 alone.
Working in partnership with hundreds of local authorities, and many other organisations and funders, just over 12,000 miles of routes and links were completed by December 2007.
The routes are free to use and open to all, making them a great way for you and your family to stay fit and healthy while enjoying a breath of fresh air.
Download a copy of our 2009 National Cycle Network map illustrating routes throughout the UK - published Feb 09 (PDF, 3.5MB).