'Drive Less, See More' campaign offers buymper prize for car-free couples and families.
The Lake District is looking for couples and families who'd like to spend a long weekend exploring the area without a car and recording their experiences as they go. What's more, there are prizes up for grabs including a three-night stay in the Lakes.
The initiative is part of the GoLakes Travel, 'Drive Less, See More' campaign, which aims to encourage people to use more sustainable means to explore the region. That might mean using public transport like buses, and boats or cycling or walking - yes, walking - between stops.
Throw Your Car Keys Away!
To take part, you need to be either a family or a couple who'd like to experience the Lakes without the aid of the internal combustion engine. You can arrive by car, but on arrival, you have to hand the keys over and use alternative.
You have 300 words to tell GoLakes why you want to explore the Lakes without a car. The winners, one family and one couple - or two singles, it says here - land a three-night stay at a luxury 4-star hotel near Newby Bridge plus various freebies including a ticket for unlimited travel on Stagecoach buses and free bike hire for the family for one day. The couple, for some reason, get much the same, but electric bike hire and a goodie bag from the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop.
You'll also get a camera supplied to film your adventures over the extended weekend and 'other additional goodies to help you plan your trip'. Highlighting that in your application will probably help your cause - hint...
Sounds like a good idea to us. Anyone who's experienced the delights of summer traffic congestion in the Lake District will understand only too well why taking cars off the road can only be a good thing.
Meeja Friendly
So what's the catch? You'll also need to be publicity friendly, willing to speak to the media - boo hiss, that'll be us then - and do your bit for sustainable transport by blogging and via social media.
If that sounds like you, pop over to www.golakes.co.uk/carfree to find out more and submit your entry. You have until Friday 3 August and the winners will be decided by Eric Robson, the chair of the BBC’s Gardeners Question Time and Cumbria Tourism.
