AN intrepid woman has been training for an epic 1,658 mile charity cycle ride on an unforgiving Saddleworth moorland road.

Lorna Fisher, a Peak District National Park engagement manager who leads a team of rangers, plans taking in all 15 UK national parks in just two weeks.

The plucky 36 year old begins her challenge in the Cairngorms on April 13 and will then pedal through national parks in Scotland, Wales and England, ending at Norfolk Broads National Park on April 27.

She will cycle through the Peak District on Friday, April 19 where she regularly holds gruelling evening training sessions on the Isle of Skye A635 Greenfield to Holmfirth Road.

The punishing cross-nation route is about twice the distance as cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats.

And her cycling marathon coincides with National Parks Fortnight (April 6 to 21), reflecting on the 70th anniversary of legislation which ultimately led to the Peak District becoming the UK’s original national park in 1951.

Throughout her challenge, Lorna will be raising funds for #70kfor70 – the first campaign of the newly-launched Peak District National Park Foundation.

The Foundation has been set up to grow support and raise funds to care for the Peak District National Park.

This year, it is working to raise £70,000 for a range of high impact projects that care for the landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Peak District – and enable more people to enjoy the National Park.

During her journey, Lorna hopes to meet people from as many local communities as possible, inspiring people about the UK’s National Parks – which attract millions of local and international visitors each year.

She also plans to raise awareness of 2019 as the "Year of Green Action", urging people to say #iWill to new challenges that help contribute to sustainable lifestyles.

Lorna has been a keen cyclist for seven years, but this will be by far her greatest challenge. “I’ve been doing lots of training at evenings and weekends to get in the miles and also the hills – the Isle of Skye hill climb is on one of my regular practice routes.

“I’m an explorer at heart who loves being outside. I am at my happiest when walking in the hills, whizzing along country lanes, simply exploring.

“I’ve previously taken part in 400km and 600km audaxes (time-limited distance rides), but at around 2,500km over two weeks this will be like nothing else I’ve attempted before.”

She added: “In my role at the Peak District National Park I’m incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to inspire and engage others, sharing my passion for the natural world.

“There’ll certainly be plenty of time to tune in to the landscapes and meet some of those who live and work in our national parks throughout the challenge. Seeing the world from two wheels always brings a new perspective.”

A full map of Lorna’s route can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/pedallingtheparks

You can follow Lorna’s progress on social media on @peakdistrict on Twitter and Facebook, and with the hashtag #PedaltheParks.