5 Miles with Smiles challenge for everyday journeys

A sustainable travel initiative, 5 Miles with Smiles, has launched across Cumbria. It encourages residents and visitors to ditch their cars for short trips this summer.

With half of all car journeys nationally covering under five miles, the project challenges people to re-imagine these short trips. Running from now until 1 November 2026, the pilot campaign celebrates the most inspiring, fun, or inventive five-mile journeys made without a car. Participants are encouraged to travel by bus, foot, bicycle, scooter, wheelchair, paddleboard, or even horseback! The project is being delivered by a collaborative network of local organisations, including the Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail, National Trust, Lake District National Park, Friends of the Lake District, and The Eddington in Kendal.

Dan Taylor, general manager for South Cumbria and Lancashire at the National Trust, said: “This project is all about little adventures and big memories. We want to celebrate the most inspiring, fun or inventive five-mile trip within or connecting to the Lake District and Cumbria made without a car. This is all about building awareness of travel choices, and demonstrating the affordability of alternative options which – as well as being great for the environment – can be beneficial for mental and physical health, and most importantly a lot of fun.

Friends of the Lake District support

Commenting on the launch, Kelley Sproston-Heath, engagement lead for Friends of the Lake District, said: “We’re proud to support this fantastic partnership project. Protecting Cumbria’s spectacular landscapes means finding greener, healthier ways to explore them that reduce our environmental footprint. It’s vital that we connect people with nature and the landscape in a sustainable way, and this challenge proves that making eco-friendly travel choices can be both accessible and immensely fun.”

The challenge will culminate in a celebration event hosted on the basecamp stage at the Kendal Mountain Festival in November. Creative travellers will be recognised with a variety of locally donated prizes, including family passes to local attractions, e-bike rental vouchers, and public transport tickets. The group is also on the lookout for more partners who would like to get involved by helping to promote the initiative or offering prizes.

If this year’s pilot is successful, organisers plan to expand the campaign in 2027 to coincide with the Tour de France visiting Cumbria.

Find out how to share your journey and enter the Five Miles with Smiles challenge by visiting the official website at www.fivemileswithsmiles.org.uk or following @5mileswithsmiles on Facebook and Instagram.

About the 5 Miles with Smiles partnership

A range of partners are working voluntarily to develop this challenge and include Martha Wood Marketing, The Eddington in Kendal, Lancaster Canal Towpath Trail, the National Trust, Lake District National Park, Friends of the Lake District, Windermere Lake Cruises, Kendal Mountain Festival, Westmorland and Furness Council, Action with Communities Cumbria, Age Friendly South Lakeland, Staveley Community e-bikes, Active Cumbria, Outdoor Mobility, Bendrigg Trust, Better and Cicerone Press.