The Government has announced the winners of a local ‘cycling ambition’ competition that has awarded £2.7m to help facilities in five national parks.
The cash will be put towards developing new cycle and linking the parks to nearby residential areas.
Transport minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘I want to get more people on their bikes and this funding will open up cycle access to some of the country’s most scenic routes.'
The winners include the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, which will be given £715,000 to construct a shared cycleway footway connecting Hoveton to Horning - the first phase of the Three Rivers Way, a long-planned project to join Wroxham Hoveton, Horning, Ludham and Potter Heigham.
Peter Howe of Broadland Cycle Hire and the Three Rivers Way Association said: ‘This is truly fantastic news for the Three Rivers Way Association and for the area. We have been working on this project for around ten years, so it is hard to believe that we have been successful at last.
'It's a much-needed improvement that will allow people to get out into the countryside... it also recognises that investment in cycling is needed in rural areas, as well as cities.'
Other winners were Dartmoor, which has been awarded £675,000 to deliver five schemes, including additional routes, the Yorkshire Dales which has won £450,000 to transform a stretch of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal creating a gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.
The South Downs will receive £450,000 to create cycle routes with easier access and the Peak District will receive £430,000 to create a new short cycle link providing access from North West Matlock to the Monsal Trail.
