A NEW cycle route which starts in Poole and links tourist hotspots in Dorset to areas of Brittany and Normandy in France has been launched.

The Tour de Manche cross-channel route is 745 miles (1,200km) long and is one of three routes based around ferry services.

The route has been designed to boost cycle tourism and it takes in Dorset highlights including Sandbanks beach, Brownsea Island, the Jurassic Coast and Corfe Castle. The Cycle West project has cost a total £6.8million, paid for primarily with EU funding and some local authorities contributing smaller amounts.

Victoria Stonex from Cycle West said: “It’s all about promoting cycle tourism in both countries and getting people to visit attractions and experience a different culture.”

Dorset County Council has spent £270,000 on improvements to existing cycle routes, completing missing links and installing cycle parking at key attractions.

A ‘baguette baton’ relay took place on Saturday to officially launch the Tour de Manche and Dorchester cyclists Graham Baynes, Shirley Rogers, Bill Rogers and Terry Holder took on the leg from Poole to Dorchester Michael Filer, Bournemouth Council cabinet member for Transport said: “Anything we can do which will encourage people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes has to be a positive move.

“Until now there has been a very patchy network of cycle routes, so this should really help to join everything up and improve both the routes cross-county and cross-continent.”

The French leg of the cycle route guides riders through Contenin Regional National Park, the Bay of Morlaiz, emerald coast and Dinan.