Chilterns Safari!

Have you ever considered the Chiltern Hills as a destination for a holiday? It may be just at the end of the road but to many the great landscape of the Chiltern Hills. A travel business is focusing on this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a destination for tourists from around the country and even from abroad and has just received a substantial grant from LEADER, Rural Business Grants to purchase a new luxury tour bus.

Ian Thomson, founder of Walkfree Breakfree recognises the draw of the Chilterns.

The Chilterns have some of the most spectacular scenery in the country and we are delighted to support a business that recognises this great asset and will be drawing tourists to the Chiltern Hills. This in turn will help support the cafes, pubs and B&Bs of the Chilterns. Said Nick Phillips, Programme Manager LEADER Rural Grants.

The award of a Leader Grant for a new local business will help increase the number of walkers and cyclists visiting our beautiful Chiltern Hills one of the UKs best kept outdoor secrets. With the huge number of visitors to the south-east during Olympic year this timely grant award will help a new local outdoor business develop its services and encourage walkers and cyclists to come and enjoy short breaks and tours in our amazing countryside and quaint villages.

The company name Walkfree Breakfree means exactly that offering opportunities for groups of all kinds, singles and couples to change their views and get outdoors to enjoy a little exercise, activity and truly memorable experiences. The award of a LEADER Tourism grant is just the type of healthy news we need for the tourist business in the Chilterns. The LEADER programme is a source of funding for rural businesses from the EU and Defra through the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

We will be offering fun and healthy activities and green travel in the Chilterns to bring in tourists from the UK and overseas the Chilterns in many ways an outdoor secret is coming out and that can only be good for business.

Our Leader grant is a real business boost it will help us to focus our walks and short breaks to the beautiful Chiltern countryside and its maze of hundreds and indeed thousands of miles of well kept footpaths which are one of England’s best kept secrets its an area renowned for its sweeping chalk grasslands and wild flowers, its magnificent beech woods, its sparkling chalk streams, deeply wooded valleys and quiet lanes that are perfect for walking and cycling. The Chilterns with its superb views, quiet hamlets, stately homes, heritage and culture and yet so close to London offers a unique walking or cycling short break and the quality of our new vehicle will encourage visitors to enjoy an Olympic escape from London during 2012 its fair to share! Iain Thomson (founder and Director)

Furthermore you dont have to be a visitor to enjoy Walkfree Breakfree walks as Iain wants us all to have an opportunity to walk in our beautiful Chilterns throughout 2011 Walkfree Breakfree will be offering the Free: Try Before You Buy programme of Chiltern day walks www.walkfreebreakfree.co.uk

What is the LEADER Programme?

LEADER is a scheme for delivering a source of funding for farmers, foresters, rural business and community organisations. The funding is part of the Rural Development Programme for England.

4 million has been secured for allocation to local projects between now and 2013. The funding is targeted mainly to support farmers in diversification adding value to tourism, timber and exciting projects that will benefit local communities.

Projects have been supported in areas such as new small businesses, tourism projects, new on farm businesses, community run shops, and local food businesses.