Visit Peak District Archives - Destination Chesterfield

Partnership to encourage more car-free journeys into the Peak District

6th February 2024

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire has announced a new Strategic Partnership with bus operator Stagecoach as part of its ongoing mission to encourage visitors to go ‘car-free’ when visiting the destination.

The organisations will work together to highlight the benefits of travelling by bus and promote car-free days out – giving visitors a practical way to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and do their bit to protect local landscapes at the same time.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s Strategic Partners are an influential network of key tourism-related businesses who share its core aims to grow the value of the area’s visitor economy and build a brighter, more sustainable future.

Through the new Strategic Partnership, Stagecoach is highlighting its commitment to working alongside the destination’s official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) to champion the long-term success of the area’s tourism industry and the communities it supports.

Stagecoach is Britain’s largest bus operator and its network incorporates some of the most popular visitor spots in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Local services include the recently-extended X17 which runs from Barnsley to Wirksworth via Sheffield, Chesterfield and Matlock, and the 65 which runs from Sheffield to Buxton via Tideswell – and is often called ‘one of the most scenic bus routes in Britain’.

Stagecoach also operates the Peak Sightseer hop-on, hop-off service which connects the historic market towns of Bakewell and Chesterfield with key tourist attractions including Chatsworth and Hassop Station for visiting the Monsal Trail.

The Strategic Partnership strengthens Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s long-term mission to encourage more visitors to choose sustainable transport methods, and the organisations will work together to produce ‘car-free’ content and itineraries that encourage both tourists and residents to enjoy all the area has to offer without increasing pollution and congestion in towns, villages and the countryside.

The news follows the launch of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s Sustainable Tourism Action Plan, which has been produced in partnership with local stakeholders including the Peak District National Park Authority and the National Forest and sets out the destination’s vision to lead the way in green tourism, active travel and transport connectivity.

Tourism contributed £2.59bn to the Peak District and Derbyshire’s economy in 2022, supporting thousands of jobs and driving prosperity in local communities.

Matt Kitchin, Managing Director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, says: “We are really excited to be partnering with Visit Peak District & Derbyshire to promote bus travel to the fantastic tourist attractions in the area, reducing the pressure caused by cars and congestion on the local environment.

“Buses in our network such as the Peak Sightseer open top bus, the X17 and the 65 make visiting the Peak District more accessible and affordable and have proven to boost the local economy through an increased number of tourists.

“We look forward to working with the team at Visit Peak District & Derbyshire to encourage more people to opt for sustainable methods of travel and enjoy a car-free day out in the countryside.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “We are delighted to announce our Strategic Partnership with Stagecoach, a company that shares our commitment to encouraging car-free travel for visitors and residents alike.

“Our Strategic Partners are a core network of organisations who want to support us in our role as one of England’s leading LVEPs, growing the value of the county’s tourism sector in a sustainable way.

“Stagecoach’s buses offer an easy and accessible way to reach and enjoy the historic landmarks of our destination and the glorious scenery of Britain’s original National Park. As well as supporting the strategic aims highlighted in our Sustainable Tourism Action Plan, partnerships such as this will help to lessen the impact of cars on fragile locations, reducing congestion and pollution and helping us develop more sustainable travel choices for those who live, work and visit here.”

Stagecoach joins existing Strategic Partners Northern, Breedon Group, the Institute of Quarrying and Severn Trent.

Businesses interested in becoming a Strategic Partner of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire should contact Lisa Woolhouse, Membership & Sales Manager, at lisa.woolhouse@visitpeakdistrict.com.

Details of Stagecoach services across the Peak District and Derbyshire can be found at: www.stagecoachbus.com.

Chesterfield is the perfect base to explore the Peak District and Derbyshire. Find out more about visiting our town here.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield and Derbyshire businesses to receive a pedal power boost

18th August 2023

Tourism businesses in the Peak District and Derbyshire can benefit from a new series of free webinars aimed at boosting the local cycling economy.

Supported by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire and Derbyshire County Council, visitor economy businesses can learn about the benefits of being a cycle-friendly business on a series of webinars taking place in September and October.

The webinars aim to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Derbyshire to be more competitive and to gain a greater understanding of the cycle tourism market, which is worth £2.9 billion to the UK economy annually and is growing at a rate of 10-15% every year.

As well as helping businesses learn how to attract cycle tourists, the webinars will help businesses understand how they can play a valuable role in making the area the ultimate destination for active travel.

Derbyshire has over 260 miles of traffic-free cycle routes to explore, and the webinars are part of Derbyshire County Council’s ambition to make Derbyshire the most connected and integrated county for cycling in England.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire has identified cycle tourism as a key area of growth for the local visitor economy, highlighting its ability to increase the value of tourism, extend the visitor season and enhance the area’s sustainable visitor offer.

The 60-minute webinars will be held weekly from 20^th September to 17^th October 2023 and consist of five modules:

What cyclists want: Wednesday 20^th September, 10:30am
Hear top tips from local cycle-friendly businesses, understand how becoming cycle friendly can boost your business, and discover the free resources available to help your business attract cyclists.
Cycling for all: Wednesday 27^th September, 10:30am
Learn how to encourage participation in cycling for all abilities and discover the steps you can take to provide a warm welcome for visitors with additional access needs.
Enabling sustainable travel: Wednesday 4^th October, 10:30am
Understand the importance of active travel and how cycling can support the development of sustainable tourism.
The cycling pound: Wednesday 11^th October, 10:30am
Learn about the economic value of cycle tourism and discover how your business can access the fast-growing domestic and international cycling tourism market.
How to become cycle friendly: Tuesday 17^th October, 10:30am
Learn about the facilities that make a business ‘cycle friendly’, gain top tips on how to exceed customer expectations, and hear about some of the latest cycling tourism developments.

The webinars are FREE for visitor economy businesses (accommodation, attractions, activity providers, cafes, pubs, restaurants etc) based in Derbyshire.

To book a place and find out more, please visit: www.visitpeakdistrict.com/industry/business-support/cycling-webinars.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Change Councillor Barry Lewis said:
“This joint initiative shows our commitment to supporting local businesses to be more sustainable in a way that can also help them to thrive and gain more share of the cycle tourism market.

“It also supports our ambitions to become a net zero county by 2050 or sooner. We have some great speakers lined up and I hope local tourism businesses will sign up for these free sessions and find out about how they can benefit their business and enhance the well-being of our communities and visitors.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Derbyshire County Council to offer local tourism businesses this new programme of cycling webinars, which will provide useful and practical information on how to provide a warm welcome for cyclists.

“As an environmentally sustainable form of tourism, cycling benefits local communities as well as bringing numerous economic benefits to the area, and making your business cycle friendly doesn’t always require major or expensive changes. These webinars offer a fantastic opportunity for businesses to gain a share of the growing cycle tourism market, helping to extend the tourism season, obtain loyal customers, and, above all else, promote our world-class cycling offer.”